SA Newspapers: Dailies

Adelaide Express was the new title given to Adelaide's first evening newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, when it was taken over by the Advertiser. It was later named the Express and Telegraph. As an evening newspaper it contained condensed news from the columns of the morning Advertiser, and brief late news items.

The Adelaide Times was established by colourful James Allen on his return from England in 1848. Allen trained as a Baptist minister, but worked as a reporter in London and was associated with writers including Charles Dickens. Modelled in appearance on the London Times, with an almost identical masthead, the content of this newspaper was very different to the conservative English title. The Times was one of a handful of Adelaide newspapers to survive the effects of the 1850s Victorian gold rush. Allen took advantage of the rush by sending his son to Mount Alexander to establish a local office for the Times at the diggings, (8 May 1852, p. 3) and printed detailed reports for readers at home in South Australia. From March 1850, along with its rival, the Register, the Times pioneered daily publication, but during the gold rush it was forced to return to a weekly. From January 1853 an expanded Saturday edition of the Times was published for country readers under the title South Australian Weekly Dispatch. Julian Tenison-Woods was sub-editor at the Times between 1855 and 1856. This was before he began studying for the priesthood. In 1853 Allen sold the newspaper to an influential group of Adelaide gentlemen, but re-purchased it in 1855. These men were: Richard Hanson (Advocate General), Robert Torrens (Treasurer), George Stevenson (Coroner and former editor of the Register), John Brown (former Emigration Agent), and Edward Gwynne (lawyer and MP). (South Australian Register, 17 November 1853, p. 3) Historian Douglas Pike described the Times as, ‘an unpredictable waverer from abject support of the government to the wildest republicanism.’ (Paradise of Dissent, p. 395) The Adelaide Times closed in May 1858 due to Allen's insolvency. It was the first newspaper in Adelaide contracted to record and publish Parliamentary Hansard, a role later shared by the Register and the Advertiser.

The South Australian Advertiser was founded by the Rev. John Henry Barrow, a pastor and politician. The earliest issues were four-page productions with a large advertising content. John Langdon Bonython joined the Advertiser in the 1870s and in a short time rose to editor, and in 1893 sole proprietor of the newspaper. Through the 19th century the Advertiser and Register were major competitors. Researchers would find it useful to check reports of the same events in both titles, because there are often interesting variations. Both newspaper companies published a weekly version. The Advertiser’s weekly was the Chronicle. In 1863 the Advertiser purchased the evening Telegraph, which was renamed the Express and became the Advertiser’s afternoon tabloid. Both the Advertiser and the Register companies were sold to a consortium led by Keith Murdoch of the Melbourne Herald in 1929. In 1983 the Advertiser took control of the suburban Messenger Newspapers. The Advertiser on-line news site is Adelaide Now.

The South Australian Advertiser was founded by the Rev. John Henry Barrow, a pastor and politician. The earliest issues were four-page productions with a large advertising content. John Langdon Bonython joined the Advertiser in the 1870s and in a short time rose to editor, and in 1893 sole proprietor of the newspaper. Through the 19th century the Advertiser and Register were major competitors. Researchers would find it useful to check reports of the same events in both titles, because there are often interesting variations. Both newspaper companies published a weekly version. The Advertiser’s weekly was the Chronicle. In 1863 the Advertiser purchased the evening Telegraph, which was renamed the Express and became the Advertiser’s afternoon tabloid. Both the Advertiser and the Register companies were sold to a consortium led by Keith Murdoch of the Melbourne Herald in 1929. In 1983 the Advertiser took control of the suburban Messenger Newspapers. The Advertiser on-line news site is Adelaide Now.

The South Australian branch of the Labor Party took a risk in 1910 by turning its Weekly Herald into the Daily Herald. This was Australia’s first metropolitan daily Labor newspaper. Engaging with industrial issues and adopting a genuinely socialist stance, it was a stark contrast to the two relatively conservative Adelaide morning newspapers. Job printing for the trade unions helped the Herald to make ends meet, but competition from the News contributed to its eventual closure.

The Telegraph was Adelaide's first evening newspaper. Founded by the printer David Gall, it passed to experienced journalist Frederick Sinnett after one year. The title was taken from a highly successful London newspaper, the Daily Telegraph but perhaps also reflected the opening of Australia’s first public telegraph, between Adelaide and Melbourne, in July 1858. As an evening paper, and in the early period of the emerging of popular journalism, the emphasis was on summarising the news and on entertainment. The infant telegraphic network extending across Australia provided a new promptness to news delivery. The evening press came to have a strong sports focus. In 1867 the Telegraph was taken over by the Advertiser.

The Journal (originally titled Evening Journal) was established as an afternoon edition of the Register in 1869. It summarised the morning headlines and printed sports results. During the First World War the Journal was an important means of disseminating information about the conflict and published various editions, including a 'special cable edition.' The Friday edition had a particular focus on sports news. From 1923 with the creation of the News, the Journal was published only on Saturday. The Saturday edition was a larger issue with week-end reading matter, including sports and humour.

In 1863 the Advertiser purchased Adelaide's first evening newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, and began a new title, the Adelaide Express. This eventually became simply the Express, but varied its title at different periods. As an evening newspaper it contained condensed news from the columns of the morning Advertiser, and brief late-breaking news items. It also published the literary work of both established and budding writers and poets. In many respects the evening press came into its own during the First World War when the telegraph for the first time was used to provide continuous updates of the conflict. Through this period Adelaide’s two evening newspapers, the Express, and the Journal published up to four editions per day. In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Express and the rival Journal were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Express continued until 1929.

In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Express and the rival Journal were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Express continued until 1929, when it merged with the Register’s Saturday Journal to become the Express and Journal.

In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Express and the rival Journal were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Express continued until 1929, when it merged with the Register’s Saturday Journal to become the Express and Journal.

In 1863 the Advertiser purchased Adelaide's first evening newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, and began a new title, the Adelaide Express. This eventually became simply the Express, but varied its title at different periods. As an evening newspaper it contained condensed news from the columns of the morning Advertiser, and brief late-breaking news items. It also published the literary work of both established and budding writers and poets. In many respects the evening press came into its own during the First World War when the telegraph for the first time was used to provide continuous updates of the conflict. Through this period Adelaide’s two evening newspapers, the Express, and the Journal published up to four editions per day. In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Express and the rival Journal were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Express continued until 1929.

In 1863 the Advertiser purchased Adelaide's first evening newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, and re-named it the Adelaide Express. This later became the Express and Telegraph, and finally the Express. As an evening newspaper it contained condensed news from the columns of the morning Advertiser, and brief late news items. It also published the literary work of established and budding writers and poets. The evening press came into its own during the First World War, as for the first time the telegraph was used to provide continuous updates of the conflict. Through this period Adelaide’s two evening newspapers (the Express and the Journal) published up to four editions per day.

The Journal (originally titled Evening journal) was established by the Register in 1869 as an afternoon newspaper. It summarised the morning headlines and printed sports results. During the First World War the Journal was an important means of disseminating information about the conflict by publishing various editions, including a 'special cable edition.' The Friday edition had a particular focus on sports news. The Saturday edition was a larger issue with week-end reading matter, including sports and humour. The Journal was also a place where hopeful writers and poets might have their work published. In 1923 the weekday publishing rights of both the Journal and the rival Express were purchased by the newly established News. However, the separately published Saturday Journal continued until 1929, when it merged with the Advertiser’s Saturday Express to become the Express and Journal.

This was Adelaide’s signature evening newspaper. The tabloid was founded by James Edward Davidson in 1923 through the merging two old titles, the Express and the Journal. The News was popular from the start, with a strong initial circulation. By 1953 the circulation was 160,000. After Davidson’s sudden death in London in 1930, Keith Murdoch, already owner of the Advertiser, joined the News’ Board. By 1949 he had secured a major personal share of the newspaper. His son, Rupert, joined the News in 1952. He became publisher and managing director, before selling the title to Northern Star Holdings in 1987. When it closed in 1992, the News was the last metropolitan afternoon newspaper in Australia. Many prominent journalists cut their teeth on the News.

This was South Australia’s first newspaper. It was founded by partners Robert Thomas and George Stevenson under the auspices of the Public Officers of the Colonisation Commission. It is the major printed source covering the establishment of the colony. In some cases it is the only source describing events such as the first government land sales, and the establishment of schools, businesses, churches and self-government. For nearly one hundred years it was Adelaide’s morning paper. It was arguably a better quality newspaper than its competitor, the Advertiser. The Register was purchased by Keith Murdoch of the Melbourne Herald in 1929. It continued under a new title and new format as the Register-News Pictorial, a pictorial newspaper. It finally closed in 1931. The Observer was the Register’s weekly version, and the Journal was its associated evening title.

This was South Australia’s first newspaper. It was founded by partners Robert Thomas and George Stevenson under the auspices of the Public Officers of the Colonisation Commission. It is the major printed source covering the establishment of the colony. In some cases it is the only source describing events such as the first government land sales, and the establishment of schools, businesses, churches and self-government. For nearly one hundred years it was Adelaide’s morning paper. It was arguably a better quality newspaper than its competitor, the Advertiser. The Register was purchased by Keith Murdoch of the Melbourne Herald in 1929. It continued under a new title and new format as the Register-News Pictorial, a pictorial newspaper. It finally closed in 1931. The Observer was the Register’s weekly version, and the Journal was its associated evening title.

The South Australian Advertiser was founded by the Rev. John Henry Barrow, a pastor and politician. The earliest issues were four-page productions with a large advertising content. John Langdon Bonython joined the Advertiser in the 1870s and in a short time rose to editor, and in 1893 sole proprietor of the newspaper. Through the 19th century the Advertiser and Register were major competitors. Researchers would find it useful to check reports of the same events in both titles, because there are often interesting variations. Both newspaper companies published a weekly version. The Advertiser’s weekly was the Chronicle. In 1863 the Advertiser purchased the evening Telegraph, which was renamed the Express and became the Advertiser’s afternoon tabloid. Both the Advertiser and the Register companies were sold to a consortium led by Keith Murdoch of the Melbourne Herald in 1929. In 1983 the Advertiser took control of the suburban Messenger Newspapers. The Advertiser on-line news site is Adelaide Now.

This was South Australia’s first newspaper. It was founded by partners Robert Thomas and George Stevenson under the auspices of the Public Officers of the Colonisation Commission. It is the major printed source covering the establishment of the colony. In some cases it is the only source describing events such as the first government land sales, and the establishment of schools, businesses, churches and self-government. For nearly one hundred years it was Adelaide’s morning paper. It was arguably a better quality newspaper than its competitor, the Advertiser. The Register was purchased by Keith Murdoch of the Melbourne Herald in 1929. It continued under a new title and new format as the Register-News Pictorial, a pictorial newspaper. It finally closed in 1931. The Observer was the Register’s weekly version, and the Journal was its associated evening title.