After three and a half decades working in broadcast journalism, Georgie Gardner is stepping away from television news. The respected Nine News Sydney presenter announced her resignation on social media, confirming she will deliver her final 6pm bulletin on Friday, April 17.
Gardner's departure marks the end of a broadcasting career that spans cities and networks. She began with a cadetship at Radio 2NX in Newcastle in 1992, moved to Sydney radio in 1994, and worked across the commercial networks before joining Nine in 2002, presenting 6pm weekday weather with Brian Henderson and reading the morning news.
What distinguishes Gardner's tenure at Nine is the breadth of her on-air roles. She joined the Today Show in 2007 as newsreader and fill-in host until 2014, and in 2018 rejoined Today as host for two years alongside Deb Knight. For the better part of 17 years, Gardner has anchored Nine News Sydney's 6pm weekend bulletin.
"I could not be more grateful for the range of opportunities Nine has afforded me over nearly a quarter of a century," Gardner said. "Anchoring news bulletins across the day, as well as reporting and hosting roles on virtually every news program at the Network has been incredibly satisfying and an enormous privilege."
Nine's Executive Director of News and Current Affairs acknowledged Gardner's standing within the organisation. Fiona Dear noted that "Georgie's versatility as a presenter has seen her hold almost every on-air news role at Nine. It's a remarkable achievement and during that time Georgie has been loved and respected by audiences across Australia."
Gardner "has had a front row seat to some of the most important moments in history, delivering the biggest news stories to audiences first thing in the morning, in prime time at 6pm and late into the evening with Nightline," according to Dear's statement.
The industry response to Gardner's departure has been warm. Nine presenter Belinda Russell expressed surprise at the news, writing that while she was sad to see Gardner leave, "you're so right, still so much to contribute and so many more exciting adventures to be had." Former Today show weatherman Stevie Jacobs paid tribute to his former colleague, commenting that "it was an honour to spend some of those years working with you. One of the best in the biz."
Gardner has not yet outlined what her next chapter will hold. The 55-year-old said the decision brings a mixture of nerves and excitement as she prepares to move into the next stage of her life and career. In her announcement, she acknowledged the weight of her decision, noting that the contribution of colleagues and viewers made stepping away anything but straightforward.
Outside the newsroom, Gardner has been active in community work. She is an ambassador for Redkite, Literacy Planet, and School for Life and is deeply committed to supporting charities that support youth.
Nine has indicated that a replacement for Gardner will be announced in due course. Her departure comes amid broader changes in Australian television news, where several high-profile presenters have departed commercial networks in recent years.