Southern Australian
Encyclopedia
The Southern Australian was a newspaper published in South Australia
from 1838 to 1851. It was founded by the Crown Solicitor, Charles Mann
, and James Hurtle Fisher
. The printer was Tasmanian Archibald Macdougall. James Allen
was the editor. The newspaper was founded as an opposition to South Australia's first newspaper, the South Australian gazette and colonial register
, edited by George Stevenson
. As private secretary to Governor John Hindmarsh
(as well as holding a number of other government appointments) Stevenson espoused a strong party line in the pages of the Register. He was also notoriously outspoken against those who disagreed with Governor Hindmarsh, and was taken to court many times for libel, and even once was attacked in the street by Robert Torrens
in response to his articles. A clear aim of the Southern Australian was to provide a different perspective to the Register.
The founding of the Southern Australian carried the stated support of prominent early colonists, including William Light
, Robert Gouger
, John Barton Hack
, BT Finniss
and John Morphett
. Although its stated purpose was to provide more balanced news reporting in the infant colony, a second aim was clearly to also give a very critical analysis of the news reporting of the rival newspaper.
The Southern Australian was a mixture of advertisements for the city auctioneers, the expanding mines at Burra
and Kapunda, the New Queen's Theatre and local shops; together with long court reports and news from Britain and the other Australian colonies. A 'local news' column covered South Australian news. Local horse racing was well represented in its pages.
Initially the newspaper was published weekly on a Thursday, at the fairly expensive price of one shilling per six-page issue. From May 1840 it became bi-weekly, published on Tuesdays and Fridays at sixpence for four pages. In 1844 the proprietor, Richard Blackham, sold the newspaper to Andrew Murray. The original editor, James Allen, left in 1842 when he purchased the Register. From the time of Murray's ownership the Southern Australian title was changed to the South Australian. In July 1851 the newspaper became weekly again and the following month it ceased altogether. This was probably due to the rush to the Victorian gold fields
, when South Australia lost much of its male work force and the colony suffered an economic down turn.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
from 1838 to 1851. It was founded by the Crown Solicitor, Charles Mann
Charles Mann (advocate-general)
Charles Mann was the first South Australian advocate-general.-Biography:Mann was born in Syleham, East Suffolk, England, son of Charles Mann and his wife Sarah, née Moxon...
, and James Hurtle Fisher
James Hurtle Fisher
Sir James Hurtle Fisher was a lawyer and prominent South Australian pioneer. He was the first Resident Commissioner of South Australia, the first Mayor of Adelaide and the first resident South Australian to be knighted....
. The printer was Tasmanian Archibald Macdougall. James Allen
James Allen (Australian colonial author)
James Allen was an English-born writer, journalist and newspaper owner, who worked in colonial Australia and New Zealand.Allen was born at Birmingham in 1806, and educated at Horton College...
was the editor. The newspaper was founded as an opposition to South Australia's first newspaper, the South Australian gazette and colonial register
South Australian Register
The Register, originally the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, was the first South Australian newspaper. It was first published in London in June 1836 and folded almost a century later in February 1931....
, edited by George Stevenson
George Stevenson (editor)
George Stevenson was a pioneer South Australian newspaper editor and horticulturist.-Early life:Stevenson was born at Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland, England the son of a gentleman farmer who died when George was 12 years old. Soon afterwards Stevenson went to sea with an uncle...
. As private secretary to Governor John Hindmarsh
John Hindmarsh
Rear-Admiral Sir John Hindmarsh KH RN was a naval officer and the first Governor of South Australia, from 28 December 1836 to 16 July 1838.-Early life:...
(as well as holding a number of other government appointments) Stevenson espoused a strong party line in the pages of the Register. He was also notoriously outspoken against those who disagreed with Governor Hindmarsh, and was taken to court many times for libel, and even once was attacked in the street by Robert Torrens
Robert Torrens
Sir Robert Richard Torrens, GCMG was the third Premier of South Australia and a pioneer and author of simplified system of transferring land.-Early life:...
in response to his articles. A clear aim of the Southern Australian was to provide a different perspective to the Register.
- It is needless to shew [sic] that up to this time we have had no Free Press in the Colony. It will on all hands be admitted that one Journal devoted to sectional interests in the community, does not realize the idea entertained of a Free Press. ... We have had indeed a pernicious and corrupting monopoly.
The founding of the Southern Australian carried the stated support of prominent early colonists, including William Light
William Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
, Robert Gouger
Robert Gouger
Robert Gouger was one of the founders of South Australia and colonial secretary.-Early life:Gouger was the fifth son of nine children of George Gouger , who was a prosperous city merchant, and his wife Anne, née Sibley. Robert was educated at Nottingham, England, and on leaving school he entered...
, John Barton Hack
John Barton Hack
John Barton Hack was an early settler in South Australia; a prominent farmer, businessman and public figure. He lost his fortune in the financial crisis of 1840 and despite his best efforts, never regained anything like his former influence and prosperity...
, BT Finniss
Boyle Finniss
Boyle Travers Finniss was the first Premier of the Colony of South Australia, serving from 24 October 1856 to 20 August 1857.-Early life:...
and John Morphett
John Morphett
Sir John Morphett was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician.-Early life:Morphett was born in London, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon, and was educated at Plymouth and Highgate Grammar Schools...
. Although its stated purpose was to provide more balanced news reporting in the infant colony, a second aim was clearly to also give a very critical analysis of the news reporting of the rival newspaper.
- The Register of last Saturday informed the public, that upwards of twenty persons were buried in the Cemetery during the previous week, and that they had principally died from the slow fever, which it reported was prevalent. The truth is, that only four or five persons have been buried during the last few weeks ... The slow fever, of course, is equally apocryphal. We cannot suppose the Editor such an idiot as to publish a statement of this kind knowingly. We charitably presume it to be a very cruel hoax, to which system our solemn brother seems to be peculiarly subject.
The Southern Australian was a mixture of advertisements for the city auctioneers, the expanding mines at Burra
Burra, South Australia
Burra is a pastoral centre and historic tourist town in the mid-north of South Australia. It lies east of the Clare Valley in the Bald Hills range, part of the northern Mount Lofty Ranges, and on Burra Creek. The town began as a single company mining township that, by 1851, was a set of townships ...
and Kapunda, the New Queen's Theatre and local shops; together with long court reports and news from Britain and the other Australian colonies. A 'local news' column covered South Australian news. Local horse racing was well represented in its pages.
Initially the newspaper was published weekly on a Thursday, at the fairly expensive price of one shilling per six-page issue. From May 1840 it became bi-weekly, published on Tuesdays and Fridays at sixpence for four pages. In 1844 the proprietor, Richard Blackham, sold the newspaper to Andrew Murray. The original editor, James Allen, left in 1842 when he purchased the Register. From the time of Murray's ownership the Southern Australian title was changed to the South Australian. In July 1851 the newspaper became weekly again and the following month it ceased altogether. This was probably due to the rush to the Victorian gold fields
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
, when South Australia lost much of its male work force and the colony suffered an economic down turn.