Legendary television and radio newsreader for Nine News Queensland Andrew Lofthouse has announced his retirement after 17 years in broadcasting.

Nine News co-anchor Melissa Downes told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, "I mean it's hard to think of 16 years on the news desk together and just watching those snippets of what he's done."

"I mean an incredible career and we shared a lot of those moments and you do form an incredible bond working in live TV and TV generally, news especially."

"I've got so many different types of stories, you form a special bond," Melissa Downes said.