SA Newspapers: Yorke Peninsula

Despite its title, the Ardrossan News mostly contained Port Wakefield news. Using a syndicated double page of general interest articles and stories (probably produced in Melbourne), the publisher simply added a front and back page of local news and advertisements. News from the towns of Ardrossan, Port Wakefield, Maitland, Price and Lochiel is most often included. Occasional news items from Dowlingville and Port Clinton also appear.

The State Library has only a few issues of this newspaper. It was printed by the proprietors of the Northern Argus at Clare, on behalf of William George and James Sisley. Its first issue was titled the Port Broughton Echo.

The first few issues of this newspaper were titled the Southern Yorke's Peninsula Clarion. For thirty years it ran in opposition to the Pioneer newspaper.

John Southwood and George Spring founded the Copper Age as a Tuesday evening adjunct to the Plain Dealer newspaper in 1906. The content was largely the same in both titles.

Despite two pre-existing newspapers in the district, the Wallaroo Times gained an advantage by publishing more frequently at twice weekly. In 1888 the newspaper moved to Kadina. Reporting covered Kadina and Wallaroo, and to a lesser extent also Moonta. Initially the newspaper was outspoken, advocating free trade and independence from Britain. Its low opinion of politicians caused a Parliamentary debate about the newspaper's 'contempt of this House.' (18 June 1870, p. 3-4) It became more conservative under editor David Bews, but supported votes for women. (25 July 1885, p. 2) The newspaper gave much space to mining, including the 1865, 1874 and 1891/92 miners’ strikes. Local Methodism was reflected strongly, but space was also given to Roman Catholic news. Early issues occasionally contained articles in the Welsh language. (19 July 1865, p. 3, and 16 October 1867, p. 3) In 1963 the newspaper was taken over by the (Moonta) People's Weekly and eventually became part of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times.

Despite two pre-existing newspapers in the district, the Wallaroo Times gained an advantage by publishing more frequently at twice weekly. In 1888 the newspaper moved to Kadina. Reporting covered Kadina and Wallaroo, and to a lesser extent also Moonta. Initially the newspaper was outspoken, advocating free trade and independence from Britain. Its low opinion of politicians caused a Parliamentary debate about the newspaper's 'contempt of this House.' (18 June 1870, p. 3-4) It became more conservative under editor David Bews, but supported votes for women. (25 July 1885, p. 2) The newspaper gave much space to mining, including the 1865, 1874 and 1891/92 miners’ strikes. Local Methodism was reflected strongly, but space was also given to Roman Catholic news. Early issues occasionally contained articles in the Welsh language. (19 July 1865, p. 3, and 16 October 1867, p. 3) In 1963 the newspaper was taken over by the (Moonta) People's Weekly and eventually became part of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times.

This newspaper covered news for the towns of the central and northern Yorke Peninsula. In particular it covered Maitland, Ardrossan, Port Victoria, Arthurton and Urania. In 1969 it was merged with the SYP Pioneer to become the short-lived Yorke Peninsula News Pictorial.

This newspaper began in 1890 as the Peoples’ Weekly.

Between 1924 and 1931 the Northern Sportsman was published as a special edition of the Sport newspaper. It covered a broad geographical readership including Golden Grove, Port Augusta, and Kadina. The publisher was Fred Jennings.

The People’s Weekly served the largest Yorke Peninsula town, Moonta, for almost 80 years. It included coverage for surrounding towns, but concentrated mainly on the activities and interests of the people of Moonta. Throughout its life, the newspaper reflected the importance of the copper mining industry, providing detailed mining reports and covering industrial activity. In 1891, the title claimed the largest circulation on the Peninsula, with 1,000 subscribers in Moonta alone.

The Southern Yorke's Peninsula Pioneer (shortened to SYP Pioneer) was established by Ben Wilkinson in Yorketown in 1898. He was later joined by his brother Richard. The newspaper absorbed the Maitland Watch in 1969, and later became the short-lived Yorke Peninsula News Pictorial. For thirty years an opposition newspaper, the Clarion, existed.

The life of the Plain Dealer was tied strongly to the final years of the Wallaroo and Moonta Mining Company. As well as the demise of the famous copper mine, the newspaper reflects the political upheavals that took place in the district during and after the First World War. The Plain Dealer was a small and outspoken competitor to the long-running Kadina and Wallaroo Times, as other newspapers noticed: "[The Plain Dealer] ... takes a living interest in politics ... and is very outspoken and fearless on all topics of the day, especially those affecting the well-being of workers." (Central Advocate, 18 March, 1904, p. 2) Between 1901 and 1902 an interesting series of humorous articles appear, written in the Cornish dialect. Between 1906 and 1908 the Copper Age was printed as a mid-week subsidiary to the Plain Dealer.

The Port Wakefield Times was published by Edward Richardson of Port Wakefield. It mainly comprised advertisements for local business. There were snippets of local news and very brief items from adjacent towns such as Balaklava, Hoyleton and Blyth. Only one issue is known to exist.

This newspaper under various titles traces its beginnings back to the Wallaroo Times in 1865. It continues today as the Yorke Peninsula Country Times.

This is the full title of the Clarion newspaper which for almost thirty years ran in opposition to the Pioneer.

The Pioneer was established by Ben Wilkinson in Yorketown in 1898. He was later joined by his brother Richard. The newspaper absorbed the Maitland Watch in 1969, and was re-named the Yorke Peninsula News Pictorial. It ran in opposition to the shorter-lived Clarion.

The Southern Yorke's Peninsula Pioneer (shortened to SYP Pioneer) was established by Ben Wilkinson. He was later joined by his brother Richard. The newspaper absorbed the Maitland Watch in 1969, becoming the short-lived Yorke Peninsula News Pictorial.

Despite two pre-existing newspapers in the district, the Wallaroo Times gained an advantage by publishing more frequently at twice weekly. In 1888 the newspaper moved to Kadina. Reporting covered Kadina and Wallaroo, and to a lesser extent also Moonta. Initially the newspaper was outspoken, advocating free trade and independence from Britain. Its low opinion of politicians caused a Parliamentary debate about the newspaper's 'contempt of this House.' (18 June 1870, p. 3-4) It became more conservative under editor David Bews, but supported votes for women. (25 July 1885, p. 2) The newspaper gave much space to mining, including the 1865, 1874 and 1891/92 miners’ strikes. Local Methodism was reflected strongly, but space was also given to Roman Catholic news. Early issues occasionally contained articles in the Welsh language. (19 July 1865, p. 3, and 16 October 1867, p. 3) In 1963 the newspaper was taken over by the (Moonta) People's Weekly and eventually became part of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times.