If you’ve tuned into Melbourne’s evening news over the past quarter-century, Peter Hitchener’s voice is unmistakable. For 52 years at the Nine Network, he’s become a fixture in living rooms across Victoria — a calming presence through floods, elections, and late-breaking headlines. With more than six decades in broadcasting, his career offers a window into how trusted news anchors adapt when the industry around them changes faster than ever.
Full name: Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener ·
Born: 21 February 1946 ·
Career at Nine Network: 52 years ·
Total years in news: 60 years ·
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 2022 ·
Current role: Weekend presenter, 9 News Melbourne
Quick snapshot
- Born 21 February 1946 in Melbourne (Wikipedia)
- Joined the Nine Network in 1973 (Peter Hitchener official site)
- Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022 (Star Observer)
- Still presenting 9 News weekends as of 2024 (Wikipedia)
- Exact salary amount (reported at ~A$800,000 but not official)
- Net worth (no public disclosure)
- Whether he has children or a partner
- Specific home suburb in Melbourne
- 1964 – Started career in radio (Official site)
- 1973 – Joined the Nine Network (Official site)
- 1998 – Became chief weeknight anchor (Official site)
- 2022 – Awarded OAM (Star Observer)
- Jan 2024 – Moved to weekends (Wikipedia)
- Continue presenting 9 News weekends (no confirmed retirement date)
- Possible further role reduction as age advances
- No announced plans to leave the network entirely
Eight career milestones, one pattern: Hitchener has consistently stayed with one network while adapting to changing roles.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter Donald Beauchamp Hitchener |
| Birth Date | 21 February 1946 |
| Age | 78 (as of 2024) |
| Profession | Television news presenter |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Years Active | 1964–present |
| Awards | Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) – 2022 |
| Marital Status | Not publicly disclosed |
What happened to Peter Hitchener?
Is Peter Hitchener still on Nine News?
- Yes — he moved from weeknights to weekends in January 2024 (Wikipedia).
- Nine leadership described the change as “a move to weekends, not a retirement” (Star Observer).
- He continues to maintain active social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, regularly posting behind-the-scenes content.
Moving a beloved anchor off weeknights isn’t a retirement — it’s a deliberate retention strategy. Nine protects its brand equity while allowing a veteran to ease his schedule.
Has Peter Hitchener retired?
- No — as of late 2024 he presents 9 News Melbourne on weekends (Wikipedia).
- His health remains good; a 2021 on-air migraine scare turned out to be a minor incident. Hitchener told Mediaweek: “Everything’s good. I’m very good now and making sure I drink plenty of water.”
- No public announcement of a full exit exists.
The implication: Hitchener’s decades of trust aren’t being phased out — they’re being parked in a less demanding time slot, keeping his face on air for viewers who grew up with him.
What does Peter Hitchener earn?
What does Nine pay its talent?
- A leaked 2023 payroll report suggested Hitchener earned approximately A$800,000 per year (B&T, a marketing trade publication).
- The New Daily, an independent news site, separately reported the same A$800,000 figure.
- The figures are not officially confirmed by Nine.
Salary leaks serve public curiosity but also fuel negotiating leverage — every network anchor’s pay is now a talking point.
How does Peter Hitchener’s salary compare?
- The same B&T report placed Sydney anchor Peter Overton in a higher band (reportedly A$900,000–A$1 million).
- Hitchener’s pay reflects his 52-year tenure and seniority at the network.
What this means: Without official disclosure, these estimates rely on industry leaks. The gap between reported figures and silence from Nine leaves room for speculation.
What is Peter Hitchener worth?
What is Peter Hitchener’s net worth in 2024?
- No public financial disclosure exists.
- Based on reported salary of ~A$800,000 for decades, plus property and appearance income, industry observers estimate his net worth in the range of A$2–5 million.
- These figures are not independently verified and should be treated as speculative.
The catch: Without a verified figure, net worth remains a talking point for gossip sites rather than a documented fact.
Where does Peter Hitchener live?
Does Peter Hitchener live in Melbourne?
- Yes — his professional base is Nine’s Melbourne studios in Richmond.
- His official biography does not list a specific suburb, but he has stated he lives in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
What suburb does Peter Hitchener live in?
- His exact home suburb has not been publicly confirmed.
- No reliable source has published his residential address as of 2024.
The pattern: Hitchener guards his private life carefully — a trait that’s rare in an era of social media oversharing.
Does Peter Hitchener have kids?
Is Peter Hitchener in a relationship?
- His Wikipedia page notes that he acknowledged being gay in 2008, but no partner is mentioned.
- The official Peter Hitchener website does not include family information.
Who is Peter Hitchener’s wife?
- He has never been publicly married or listed a spouse.
- No public records confirm children.
Why this matters: In a profession where personal lives are often part of the story, Hitchener’s silence is a conscious boundary — and one that the press largely respects.
Timeline
- — Peter Hitchener born in Melbourne, Australia (Wikipedia).
- — Started career in news, initially at a Melbourne radio station (Official site).
- — Joined the Nine Network as a newsreader and reporter (Official site).
- — Became chief anchor for National Nine News, later moved to Nine News Melbourne weeknights (Official site).
- — Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours (Star Observer).
- — Moved to weekends as Alicia Loxley and Tom Steinfort take over weeknights (Wikipedia).
This chronology shows a career defined by steady progression and strategic transitions, not abrupt exits.
What’s confirmed and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Peter Hitchener was born 21 February 1946 (Wikipedia).
- He has worked for the Nine Network for 52 years (Official site).
- He was awarded the OAM in 2022 (Star Observer).
- His official website and social media accounts are verified.
What’s unclear
- Exact salary amount.
- Net worth figure.
- Whether he has children or a partner.
- Specific home address or suburb.
The clear separation between documented facts and open questions helps readers calibrate their trust in the information presented.
Quotes from the record
“Everything’s good. I’m very good now and making sure I drink plenty of water.”
— Peter Hitchener, after a 2021 on-air health scare (Mediaweek)
“This is a move to weekends, not a retirement.”
— A Nine Network spokesperson, 2023 (Star Observer)
For Melbourne viewers, the nightly news without Hitchener will take some getting used to, but his weekend bulletins mean the familiar voice isn’t gone — it’s just on a different schedule.
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Like fellow Nine News anchor Peter Overton, Hitchener has built a decades-long career in Australian television news.
Frequently asked questions
Is Peter Hitchener still married?
His marital status is not publicly disclosed. He has never confirmed a spouse or partner.
How old is Peter Hitchener?
Born 21 February 1946, he is 78 as of 2024.
What time does Peter Hitchener present Nine News?
Since January 2024 he presents Nine News Melbourne on weekends. Check local listings for exact times.
Does Peter Hitchener have cancer?
No. The only public health incident was a 2021 migraine that caused a brief on-air stumble; he recovered quickly and reported feeling fine.
Why is Peter Hitchener not on the news tonight?
If it’s a weeknight, he now works weekends. He may also take scheduled leave. His official social media sometimes posts updates.
How can I contact Peter Hitchener?
You can send a message via his verified Facebook page or Instagram account, or through the contact form on his official website peterhitchener.com.au.
What does OAM stand for?
Medal of the Order of Australia, a civil honour awarded for service to the community or the nation.
These questions address the most common curiosities about Hitchener’s personal and professional life, drawing a line between what is known and what remains private.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.