Press timeline 1951-2011

Select chronology of significant Australian press events to 2011 Compiled by Rod Kirkpatrick for the Australian Newspaper History Group 1951-1960
YearDateDetails
195116 AugAustralian Financial Review launched as a weekly newspaper.
19528 FebFirst issue of Northern Territory News, Darwin, began as a weekly.
195228 JulyFirst use of colour news photography in Argus, Melbourne. Claimed to be first time that a newspaper anywhere in the world had produced an action news photograph in colour within hours of the event.
195218 AugJohn Fairfax sells its interest in Woman’s Day and Home to The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd.
19524-5 OctDeath of Sir Keith Murdoch, managing director of the Herald and Weekly Times Ltd and father of Rupert Murdoch.
19531 JanJohn Pringle appointed editor of the Sydney Morning Herald.
195317 JuneKalgoorlie Miner is the last daily newspaper in Australia to make Page 1 its main news page.
1953AugJohn Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd acquires interest in Associated Newspapers Ltd (publishers of The Sun).
1953SeptRupert Murdoch flies home to take up his small newspaper inheritance.
195311 Oct

Sydney Sun-Herald results from merger of the broadsheet Sunday Herald and the tabloid Sunday Sun.

195324 OctFirst issue of Sunday Advertiser, Adelaide.
195511 JulyFirst issue of Darling Downs Star, Toowoomba, a daily competing against the long-established Toowoomba Chronicle.
195521-22 DecJohn Fairfax and Sons moves (from Hunter Street) into new buildings at Broadway, Sydney.
19569 AprilJohn Fairfax Ltd incorporated as a public company.
195611 JuneCanberra Times converts from broadsheet to tabloid format.
19566 SeptTCN Channel 9 (owned ultimately by Sir Frank Packer, proprietor of the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and the Australian Women’s Weekly) begins television transmission in Sydney.
19562 DecATN Channel 7 (owned by John Fairfax) begins television transmission in Sydney.
195719 JanFinal issue of the Argus, Melbourne, published since 1846. Herald & Weekly Times Ltd plans to continue all the remaining activities of the Argus company by an allotment of £350,000 of shares.
19579 SeptDubbo Liberal, New South Wales, becomes a daily.
1957 First use of tape to operate line-casting machines at Fairfax’s Broadway plant.
195823 MayAngus Maude appointed editor of Sydney Morning Herald.
195820 NovSydney’s Mirror group bought from Ezra Norton by O’Connell Pty Ltd, financed by John Fairfax.
1959JulyToowoomba furniture retailer, J. Rowe Pty Ltd, takes over the Darling Downs Star.
195910 OctFirst 80-page ordinary issue of the Sydney Morning Herald.
19598 NovFirst issue of Newcastle’s Sunday Mirror; publishes four issues.
1960FebRupert Murdoch makes first move into Sydney, acquiring Cumberland Newspapers Pty Ltd, a chain of 24 suburban titles.
1960 In response to Murdoch’s purchase of Cumberland, John Fairfax and Consolidated Press establish Suburban Publications Pty Ltd.
196020 MayRupert Murdoch buys Daily Mirror, Sydney, from O’Connell Pty Ltd (Fairfax).
1960 Sir Frank Packer’s Consolidated Press acquires the Maitland Mercury.

 

Select chronology of significant Australian press events to 2011 Compiled by Rod Kirkpatrick for the Australian Newspaper History Group 1961-1970
YearDateDetails
19614 JanW.O. Fairfax resigns from the chairmanship of John Fairfax Ltd.
196111 MarchW.O. Fairfax re-appointed chairman of John Fairfax Ltd.
196130 SeptJohn Fairfax acquires 45 per cent interest in Newcastle Newspapers Pty Ltd, publisher of Newcastle Morning Herald and Newcastle Sun.
196124 OctThe weekly Australian Financial Review becomes a bi-weekly.
19631 AprilWestern Advocate, Bathurst, results from amalgamation of the Western Times and the National Advocate, both dailies.
196321 OctAustralian Financial Review becomes a daily.
196410 FebNorthern Territory News, Darwin, becomes a daily; published on weekday afternoons (see 1968 and 1991)
196430 AprilJohn Fairfax acquires Federal Capital Press of Australia Pty Ltd, publisher of Canberra Times.
19641 JulyCanberra Times converts from tabloid to broadsheet, shifting the printing to Fairfax's newly installed press at Fyshwick.
196415 JulyNews Ltd launches the Australian.
196613 DecJohn Fairfax acquires interest in David Syme & Co Ltd, publisher of the Age.
19687 MayThe Australian is now printed in Brisbane.
1967 First production computer installed at Broadway (Sydney) plant of the John Fairfax group.
1968/69 The Maxwell Newton South Coast newspaper purchases begin, especially two at Nowra.
196815 AprilNorthern Territory News changes from afternoon to morning daily (see 1964 and 1991).
1968midThe Australian is now printed in Adelaide.
196927 AprilFirst issue of the Independent, a Perth Sunday newspaper; published to December 1970 under that title and then 1971-1986 as Sunday Independent.
19691 SeptArea News, Griffith, bi-weekly, and Riverina Advocate, Griffith, weekly, merge to become the Riverina Daily News (morning daily), the first NSW regional daily printed on a web offset press.
1969SeptJohn Fairfax acquires South Coast Times Pty Ltd, publisher of Illawarra Mercury, Wollongong.
196930 SeptDavid Syme launches evening daily, Newsday, in Melbourne to compete directly with the Herald.
196912 NovFairfax launches a daily afternoon paper in the national capital, the Canberra News.
196923 DecSir Warwick Fairfax is appointed a committee of one at John Fairfax, with all the administrative and management powers exercisable by the directors under the Articles of Association, subject to the overriding authority of the board.
197014 FebFirst 128-page issue of the Sydney Morning Herald.
19703 MarchFirst issue of Southern Riverina News, Finley, NSW; results from merger of Finley Mail, Berrigan Advocate and Tocumwal Guardian.
19703 MayDavid Syme’s Melbourne evening newspaper Newsday ceases publication after seven months; it cost Syme $3 million and 67 journalists their jobs.
19701 JulyG.E.W. Harriott is appointed editor of Sydney Morning Herald.
197011 SeptThe John Fairfax group acquires 25 per cent of Land Newspaper Ltd. (forerunner of Rural Press Ltd).
196914 SeptFirst issue of Sunday Observer, published till 7 March 1971; succeeded by Melbourne Observer and later a new Sunday Observer.
197011 OctFirst issue of Sunday Review, forerunner of the Review and Nation Review.
19702 DecFinal issue of the Independent, Perth Sunday newspaper under that title. Continues from 3 January 1971 as the Sunday Independent.

 

Select chronology of significant Australian press events to 2011 Compiled by Rod Kirkpatrick for the Australian Newspaper History Group 1971-1980
YearDateDetails
19713 JanFirst issue of Sunday Independent, Perth; continues the Independent.
197118 JanSydney Morning Herald leader page moves from Page 2 to 6.
19716 FebFinal issue of Riverina Daily News, Griffith, NSW, as a morning daily (estab. 1969).
19717 FebFairfax launches weekly National Times.
19718 FebFirst issue of Riverina Daily News, Griffith, as an evening daily.
197128 FebFirst issue of Sunday Australian.
197121 MarchFirst issue of Melbourne Observer, a weekly that later became the Sunday Observer.
19712 JulyClosure of Riverina Daily News (evening); reverts to tri-weekly issue as Area News. Mon/Wed/Fri.
19719 JulySunday Review ceases; becomes the Review from 16 July.
197116 JulyFirst issue of the Review, formerly the Sunday Review.
19724 JuneSir Frank Packer sells the mastheads of the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs to Rupert Murdoch for $15 million.
19724 JuneSunday Australian ceases; Rupert Murdoch incorporates it in his newly acquired Sunday Telegraph from 11 June.
1972JuneFairfax increases holding in Syme to more than 50 per cent, making Syme a subsidiary but Fairfax/Syme partnership agreement remains.
19723 JulyJohn Fairfax increases its interest in David Syme (principally The Age, Melbourne) to more than 50 per cent.
19723 JulyNews, Shepparton, Vic., becomes an afternoon daily, stepping up from tri-weekly issue.
197229 JulyFirst issue of Nation Review; formed by amalgamation of Nation and The Review. Published in Melbourne; later Sydney.
1973 Rupert Murdoch enters United States markets, buying San Antonio Express and News, Texas.
197312 AugFirst issue of Sunday Observer, Melbourne, formerly the Melbourne Observer.
19739 SeptFirst issue of Melbourne Sunday Press, later the Sunday Press.
197310 OctFirst issue of Independent Sun, daily, Perth, published by Sunday Independent; ceased 8 November 1973 .
19741 MayDeath of Sir Frank Packer, former owner of the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, Sydney.
197316-22 OctFirst issue of Living Daylights, weekly; ceased April 1974; incorporated in Nation Review.
19743 MayNation Review incorporates the Living Daylights.
197412 MaySunday Press is new title for former Melbourne Sunday Press, which appeared until 5 May 1974.
197419 JulyJohn Fairfax group closes the evening Canberra News (estab. 1969).
197410 SeptCentral Coast Express, Gosford, becomes a daily, issued Tuesday to Saturday.
197427 NovBarrier Miner, published daily since 1888, ceases publication.
19753 FebNorthern Territory News changes to afternoon (daily) publication.
19758 DecJournalists employed by Rupert Murdoch’s News Ltd in Sydney strike for 24 hours in protest at a “very deliberate and blatant bias” in the presentation of news during the election campaign following the dismissal of the Whitlam government.
19761 JulyThe Australian Press Council is established. Retired High Court judge Sir Frank Kitto is the first chair.
19771 MarchJames Fairfax succeeds his father, Sir Warwick Fairfax, as chairman of the John Fairfax group.
19772-3 JulyFirst issue of Weekend Australian, a distinctively titled weekend edition of the weekday Australian.
19773 AugMr Justice Cahill’s judgment is handed down on demarcation of visual display terminals.
197717 DecFinal issue of Central Coast Express, Gosford, NSW, as a daily.
19787 AprilJohn Fairfax acquires full ownership of Newcastle Newspapers Pty Ltd.
197828 MayFirst Sunday issue of the Canberra Times.
197822 JuneClosure of Nation Review under Gordon Barton’s ownership.
19797 OctFinal issue of Sunday, formerly Sunday Mirror (and Truth).
197910 OctFirst issue of Newcastle Star as free weekly; established by Michael Wansey, former part-proprietor of Newcastle Morning Herald and Sun.
197911 OctNation Review ceases publication, its circulation having dipped to 15,000 compared with 54,000 in 1973. Resumed publication in 1980 in magazine format, eventually ceasing September 1981.
197919 NovFinal commitment by Australian Newsprint Mills to build a newsprint mill at Albury.
1979NovRupert Murdoch makes a $125 million takeover bid for the Herald & Weekly Times Ltd, but withdraws with a profit after John Fairfax takes a 14.9 per cent stake in HWT for $50 million.
198016 AprilFirst issue of Young Guardian, NSW.
19806 JuneFirst issue of Newcastle Clarion, published during national journalists’ strike.
19804 JulyClosure of afternoon daily Newcastle Sun.
19807 JulyFirst issue of Sunshine Coast Daily, Maroochydore, Qld.
19808 NovFirst issue of Western Mail, Perth, a Sunday paper.

 

Select chronology of significant Australian press events to 2011 Compiled by Rod Kirkpatrick for the Australian Newspaper History Group 1981-1990
YearDateDetails
19811 JanFirst issue of Times Regional Newspaper, Deniliquin, NSW.
198124 FebFirst issue of Tamworth Times; weekly.
1981SeptFirst issue of Newcastle Post – after the Newcastle Herald acquired a 49pc interest in Lake Macquarie Post, a free weekly.
19806 OctThe 104-year-old title, the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, is shortened to the Newcastle Herald.
1982JanMaryborough Chronicle, Maryborough, becomes the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Chronicle.
19822 AugFirst issue of B First issue of the Daily Sun, launched by Rupert Murdoch in direct competition with the morning Courier-Mail.
198427 JanNews Ltd. takes over the North Queensland Newspaper Co. Ltd (flagship: Townsville Bulletin).
19849 MayFirst issue of the Northern Leader, Bowen. Tri-weekly. Founder: Asher Joel Media group.
198424 SeptDaily Liberal, Dubbo, shifts from evening to morning publication.
19846 OctFirst issue of Good Weekend, Australia's first newspaper colour magazine insert; inserted initially in the Saturday issue of the Sydney Morning Herald, it became an insert in the Melbourne Age, too, 11 months later.
198514 FebBombala Times (NSW) is the last Australian newspaper to make Page 1 its main news page.
198531 MayFinal issue of Northern Leader, Bowen. Survived 13 months.
19861 JanNews Ltd., via North Queensland Newspaper Co., takes over Bowen Independent from Darwen family.
198624-25 MayFinal issue of Sunday Independent in Perth.
19861 JulyCairns Post converts from broadsheet to tabloid.
198630 SeptLithgow Mercury ceases daily issue and becomes a tri-weekly from the first issue in October.
19863 DecRupert Murdoch launches takeover bid for Herald & Weekly Times Ltd.
198620 DecThe Herald, Melbourne, publishes its final Saturday issue (it was Australia’s last Saturday evening paper).
198714 JanDeath of Sir Warwick Fairfax, former chair of John Fairfax group.
19876 FebRupert Murdoch wins fight to take over Herald & Weekly Times Ltd.
198724 AprilCanberra Times' new editorial and office complex at Fyshwick officially opened after move from Braddon site occupied for 60 years.
19876 JulyFirst issue of Business Daily, weekly national business newspaper.
19877 AugNorthern Star Holdings announces it will sell titles of Brisbane Daily Sun and Sunday Sun and Adelaide News to the managements in each city, who will buy with help from Westfield, Northern Star’s parent. News Corporation will still print and distribute its competitor.
198718 AugBusiness Daily closes.
198731 AugWarwick Fairfax, 26-year-old son of Sir Warwick and Lady Mary, launches takeover bid for Fairfax media empire.
1987SeptKerry Packer buys Canberra Times from Fairfax.
198712 OctGoulburn Evening Post shifts from evening to morning publication and drops Evening from title.
19871 NovAPN buys Chinchilla News, Qld, from David and Dorothy Fuller.
19877 DecWarwick Fairfax jun. formally takes over as proprietor of Fairfax. Chairman James Fairfax, deputy chairman John B. Fairfax and rest of board resign.
19882 JanFinal issue of Perth’s Western Mail, a Sunday paper. Losses over seven years estimated at $50 million.
19885 FebFinal issue of the Brisbane Telegraph (estab. 1872).
198815 FebBrisbane Daily Sun shifts to afternoon slot vacated by Telegraph on 5 February; changes title to Sun.
198813 MarFinal issue of Times on Sunday, formerly National Times (estab. 1971).
198814 MarFinal issue of Sydney’s Sun (estab. 1910).
198826 JulyO’Reilly family trust takes over Provincial Newspapers (Qld) Ltd.
198813 AugHaswell Pty Ltd’s takeover offer for Provincial Newspapers (Qld) Ltd expires.
19888 SeptMornington Mail, Vic., established.
19882 NovProvincial Newspapers (Qld) Ltd becomes Australian Provincial Newspapers Ltd (APN).
19893 MarHaswell sacks senior Provincial Newspapers (Qld) Ltd staff from pre-takeover days; the Irish are firmly in control of APN.
19895 JuneMaitland Mercury, NSW, shifts from afternoon to morning daily publication.
198911 JuneFinal issue of Sunday Observer, Melbourne.
19893 JulyKerry Stokes buys Canberra Times from Kerry Packer.
198913 AugClosure of Melbourne Sunday Press (joint publication of Herald & Weekly Times and David Syme & Co).
198920 AugFirst editions of Melbourne Sunday Herald, Sunday Sun News-Pictorial and Sunday Age.
19906 AugShepparton News switches to morning issue after publishing as an afternoon daily since 3 July 1972; the last of Australia’s provincial afternoon dailies.
199011 SeptClosure of Perth Daily News (estab. 1882).
19905 OctClosure of Sydney’s Daily Telegraph (estab. 1879) and Daily Mirror (1941), and Melbourne Sun News-Pictorial (1922) and Herald (1840).
19908 OctBirth of “24-hour” newspapers to replace the above: Sydney Daily Telegraph-Mirror and Melbourne Herald-Sun.
1991 Protracted battle throughout the year for the John Fairfax newspaper empire, which was in receivership.
199131 MarClosure of the Melbourne Sunday Herald (estab. 1989) and Sunday Sun News-Pictorial (1989); replaced by Sunday Herald Sun.
199129 JulyNorthern Territory News shifts from afternoon to morning daily issue.
199110 DecClosure of the Brisbane Sun (afternooner since February 1988, morning 1982-1988).
199115 DecConrad Black’s Tourang wins control of Fairfax empire.
199225 MarRelease of News & Fair Facts, report of the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Print Media.
199227 MarClosure of the News, Adelaide (estab. 1923) last afternoon newspaper in Australia.
199229 MarBrisbane Sunday Mail goes tabloid.
199214 AprilClosure of Brisbane Sunday Sun announced. Sunday Telegraph and Sun-Herald commence publishing south-east Queensland editions.
199214 JuneFirst issue of Sunday, launched by the APN-owned Sunshine Newspaper Company daily.
199315 FebHobart Mercury converts from broadsheet to tabloid format.
19939 OctFirst edition of Brisbane Weekend Times (80c). Proprietor Michael Hawke sold the (free) City News to Rupert Murdoch reportedly for $1.5 million.
199320 NovBrisbane Weekend Times ceases.
199322 DecAPN takes over Peter Isaacson Publications, Melbourne, publisher of more than 40 titles including the Daily Commercial News.
19948 MayClosure of south-east Queensland edition of Sunday Telegraph.
1995JulyClosure of Sydney News and Gold Coast News, both weekly lifestyle and real-estate colour magazines.
199415 MayClosure of south-east Queensland edition of Sun-Herald.
199511 DecRural Press pays $68.9 million to acquire the Bathurst Western Advocate, Orange Central Western Daily, Dubbo Daily Liberal, Goulburn Post and other Macquarie Publications newspaper properties.
19962 JanSydney Daily Telegraph-Mirror reverts to title of Daily Telegraph.
19964 NovGoulburn Post, a daily since 1927, reverts to tri-weekly issue.
199714 MarFirst issue of national weekly, the Republican.
199729 JuneSunday Canberra Times renamed Sunday Times.
199716 AugFirst issue of the Good Weekend (Saturday Sydney Morning Herald and Age insert) in enlarged format.
199729 AugClosure of the Republican.
19976 SeptFirst Saturday edition of Australian Financial Review.
199714 SeptIntroduction of Sunday magazine into Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Herald-Sun and Sunday Life! Magazine into Sun-Herald and Sunday Age.
199727 OctTownsville Bulletin’s new printing plant inaugurated and changes from broadsheet to tabloid.
19973 NovAdelaide Advertiser changes from broadsheet to tabloid.
199810-13 AprilWest Australian shifts headquarters from Forrest Centre, St George’s terrace, in Perth’s CBD, to newly built premises at Herdsman Lake, 8km to the north. The paper had been at Forrest Centre since 1987.
199827 AprilRedesign of Australian; price reduced in Victoria to 40c and increased elsewhere by 10c to $1; page of local news inserted in Melbourne edition.
199829 JuneBendigo Advertiser changes from broadsheet to tabloid.
199827 JulyNewcastle Herald changes from broadsheet to tabloid.
19982 SeptBarossa & Light Herald, Tanunda, South Australia, becomes a free paper.
199823 SeptRural Press acquires Canberra Times from Kerry Stokes for $160 million.
19981 NovNewcastle Herald’s new printing plant at Beresfield is inaugurated.
199925 MarInaugural weekly “Media” liftout section appears in the Australian.
199921 JuneBorder Mail, formerly based at Albury, NSW, opens for business at Wodonga, Vic., operating from new printing, editorial and business premises.
199928 JuneFairfax announces $220 million new printing plant for Age and Financial Review to be built at Tullamarine, northwest Melbourne to come on line in 2001.
199930 JuneThe 111-year Johnston dynasty ends at Riverine Grazier, Hay, NSW, with sale by the widowed Isabel Johnston before her second marriage.
1999JulyNews Ltd’s new Perth printing plant inaugurated, completing replacement of News’ printing plants in all State capitals; inauguration of full colour of Perth Sunday Times (25 July); inauguration of full colour of Perth edition of the Australian (completing colour printing in all editions) and page of local news in Perth edition.
19995 AugPrinting of Wollongong Illawarra Mercury transferred to Fairfax plant at Chullora, Sydney.
19996 AugAPN News & Media Ltd acquires Gympie Times from Rural Press Ltd.
1999OctFirst issue of Australian Newspaper History Group Newsletter appears (No. 35 was December 2005).
19991 NovCommencement of separate rural and national editions of the Age, with marketing of the national edition in Adelaide (sale at Victorian price of $1, and home delivery).
19998 DecDavid Syme & Co announce company name change to The Age Co.
199912 DecThe longest-serving editor of an Australian metropolitan daily, Paul Murray of the West Australian, announces his resignation after ten years.
200024 JanSydney Daily Telegraph introduces layout changes.
200031 JanPerth West Australian goes online (www.thewest.com.au), the last major metropolitan paper to take that action.
200022 FebFormal commencement of work on Fairfax’s new printing plant in Melbourne.
200024 MarFairfax announces $70 million expansion for its Chullora printing plant in Sydney’s south-west.
20004 AprilWilkie Watson family completes 100 years as owners of the Tumut & Adelong Times, New South Wales.
20007 AprilBrian Rogers, news director of Channel Nine, Perth, is appointed editor of West Australian, replacing Paul Murray who joined Radio 6PR.
200020 AprilThe Eye ceases publication (Vol 2, No. 7). It had appeared fortnightly since October 1999.
20007 MayThe Canberra Times’s Sunday edition, the Sunday Times, becomes the Canberra (small print) Sunday Times (big print) and converts from broadsheet to tabloid.
200030 JuneCameron O’Reilly quits as chief executive of APN News & Media Ltd to pursue private investment interests in Europe.
20001 JulyGST (Goods and Services Tax) implemented throughout Australia, lifting prices of newspapers.
20002 JulyFirst issue of the Southeast Asian Times, a broadsheet, in Darwin.
200024 OctRobert Whitehead is named the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, replacing Paul McGeough.
200027 NovTruth, Melbourne, placed in receivership.
200010 DecSydney Sun-Herald introduces a subscribers-only magazine.
2000ChristmasRural Press Ltd. shifts its executives out of Kensington, in inner-Sydney, back to North Richmond, NSW.

 

Select chronology of significant Australian press events to 2011 Compiled by Rod Kirkpatrick for the Australian Newspaper History Group 2001-2011
YearDateDetails
20015 FebFairfax and News Ltd launch commuter papers in Melbourne: Melbourne Express and mX respectively (see ANHG Newsletter, item 11.2).
200110 FebWeekend Australian introduces design changes (see ANHG, 11.11).
200126 MarThe Victorian cover price of the weekday Australian is restored to the national price of $1.10 (see ANHG, 12.8).
200129 MarFinal issue of Blackall Leader, Queensland (see ANHG, 12.31).
200118 AprilSydney Morning Herald is 170 years old today (see ANHG, 12.49.13).
200129 AprilFirst issue of Ipswich on Sunday, a free newspaper published by the Queensland Times (see ANHG, 13.27).
200120 MayThe Sunday Advertiser, Geelong, established in September 2000, ceases publication with no warning (see ANHG, 10.15 and 13.24).
200121 MayThe Australian announces (p.3) it has revamped its website, theaustralian.com.au, offering summaries of each day’s news along with insights into what editor Michael Stutchbury and the reporters are working on for the next day’s edition.
200130 MayThe media empires of Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch are rocked by the collapse of cut-price mobile phone company One.Tel, exposing them to losses of up to $1 billion.
200125 JuneTotal editorial production of the Kalgoorlie Miner, Western Australia’s only regional daily, returned to the Eastern Goldfields centre (see ANHG, 14.45).
200119 JulyKerry Packer sells his 14.9 per cent interest in the Fairfax newspaper group (see ANHG, 14.2).
200123 JulyDaily Telegraph, Sydney, launches project to deliver more than 90,000 free books to schoolchildren through NSW and the ACT.
20016 AugEntire edition of the Australian is available to download online.
20017 SeptFinal issue of Melbourne Express, Fairfax’s Melbourne commuter paper that was launched on 5 February 2001 (see ANHG, 11.2).
200111 SeptTerrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre and Pentagon in Washington: biggest news story in decades. Metropolitan dailies produce special editions on 12 September and cover aftermath widely during coming weeks (see ANHG, 15.58.1, 15.58.2 and 15.13)
200119 SeptSenate privileges committee finds the Australian in contempt over publication of a leaked Senate committee draft report (see ANHG, 15.20).
200131 OctMoruya Examiner title resurrected on south coast of NSW (see ANHG, 15.50).
200112 NovWoman’s Day, Australia’s biggest-selling weekly magazine, gets a facelift (issue of 19 Nov., available 12 Nov.); printed on a 20 per cent larger sheet (as deep as an A4 and 1.5cm wider), glossy paper.
200121 NovFirst tabloid issue of Geelong Advertiser on 161st birthday.
200117 DecFrank Devine’s final column appears in Australian (see ANHG, 16.6).
200121 DecHerald Sun, Melbourne, a 24-hour paper since 8 October 1990, publishes its final afternoon edition (see ANHG, 16.11).
200225 JanAustralia’s final paid-circulation metropolitan afternoon newspaper edition is produced: the Daily Telegraph, Sydney, a 24-hour paper since 8 October 1990, publishes final afternoon edition (see ANHG, 16.11).
20022 FebThe Aussie Post magazine closes; estab. 1 October 1864 in Melbourne as Australasian; many changes of title and format over the years.
200227 FebFirst issue of National Indigenous Times, established by Owen Carriage, founder 11 years ago of the Koori Mail (see ANHG, 17.2 and 17.63.5).
2002MarchFinal and biggest issue (300 pages) of Elle magazine, Australia.
2002AprilAustralian edition of Rolling Stone turns 30 this month.
200225 MayIn Perth, after more than 13 years as a broadsheet, the Big Weekend converts to a tabloid and changed its title to Weekend Extra. It began on 24 December 1988. An insert in the West Australian each Saturday, it carries features, travel articles, lifestyle hints and various columns.
200226 JuneNew editor-in-chief announced for the Australian, Chris Mitchell, and a new editor for the Courier-Mail, David Fagan (see ANHG, 18.2).
200229 JulyWOW (or What’s On Weekly), the first magazine to challenge TV Week in more than 20 years, hits the news stands in Australia (see ANHG, 19.23).
200227 SepFirst issue of 'Central Coast Extra' as an insert in the Daily Telegraph for Gosford-Wyong readers.
200228 SepFirst issue of Fairfax's daily Central Coast Herald, Gosford-Wyong.
200230 SepFirst issue of News Ltd's Central Coast Express Advocate as a free daily and first day of half-price Daily Telegraphs for Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter Valley readers (50c instead of $1). Full price restored from Feb 2003.
2002OctFirst issue of Melbourne magazine. Steve Harris is managing director and editor in chief and John Allan is publisher. Cover price is $8.95
20037 JanMaitland Mercury, New South Wales, celebrates its 160th birthday (see ANHG, 21.26).
20031 MarAustralian Newspaper History Group holds one-day symposium at State Library of New South Wales to mark 200th anniversary, on 5 March, of publication of first issue of first Australian newspaper.
20035 MarThe 200th anniversary of the publication of the first Australian newspaper, the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser.
200312 MarNews Ltd launches monthly Sydney Live Magazine as pre-emptive strike against Fairfax’s Sydney Magazine, to begin 19 March.
200319 MarFirst issue of Fairfax’s monthly Sydney Magazine, inserted in Sydney Morning Herald; some copies available for sale separately through newsagents.
200331 MarBarnet family sells Bunyip, Gawler, South Australia, having owned it since William Barnet established it on 5 September 1863 (see ANHG, 22.28).
20032 JuneCentral Coast Herald becomes simply the Herald (Central Coast) and the Newcastle Herald becomes the Herald (Newcastle and Hunter) to satisfy Audit Bureau of Circulations requirements.
20031 JulySouth East Newspapers (SEN) launches three new weekly free Star editions in the suburbs of Melbourne to serve: Footscray, Yarraville; Williamstown, Altona, Laverton; and Werribee, Hoppers Crossing. These join the three Brimbank editions: Sunshine, Ardeer, Braybrook; St Albans, Deer Park, Caroline Springs; and Keilor, Taylors Lakes, Sydenham. Each Star now carries the North West Property Guide that SEN launched in March 2000.
20038 JulyCity Chronicle, Canberra, begins – a city-centric edition of the Chronicle launched in 1981 by Federal Capital Press, publisher of the daily Canberra Times. The various Canberra Chronicles now have a distribution of 126,500. About 350 people now deliver the Chronicle to more than 90 per cent of homes in the ACT, Queanbeyan and surrounding region.
200324 OctCentral Coast Express Advocate, Gosford-Wyong, NSW, ceases to appear daily; appears four times a week from Tuesday, 28 October.
200317 NovIllawarra Mercury introduces a new section called “Vibe” of articles about the Illawarra. This is not a separate section, but, in what is claimed to be a first for Australian newspapers, starts at the back of the paper, with the paper flipped the opposite way around.
20045 FebBroadsheet “Media and Marketing” section begins in the Australian (see ANHG, 26.9). This section began as a tabloid liftout on 25 March 1999 (see ANHG, 4.8).
20046 AprilThe News Corporation Ltd announces it will shift its primary stock exchange listing to Wall Street (see ANHG, 27.2).
20046 MayCastlemaine Mail celebrates 150th birthday.
200412 JuneFinal issue of Central Coast edition of the Newcastle-based Herald—the end of the Central Coast Herald publication which began 28 Sept 2002.
20045 JulyHobart’s Mercury celebrates 150th birthday (see ANHG, 28.53).
200415 JulyAustralian celebrates 40th birthday (see ANHG, 28.2, 28.60.28 and 28.60.32).
200431 JulyAustralian begins publishing in its business section “The Financial Times International page”.
200418 SeptFirst Australian edition of British Financial Times printed in Sydney.
200419 SeptFairfax’s Sunday Life magazine revamped (see ANHG, 30.6).
200419 SeptFirst issue of Independent Weekly, Adelaide; Sunday paper (see ANHG, 30.2).
20042 OctFirst edition of Financial Review’s new glossy, quarterly magazine Life & Leisure The Sophisticated Traveller (see ANHG, 30.6).
20043 OctFirst edition of APN’s Auckland Herald on Sunday (a 188 page, four section tabloid) in opposition to Fairfax NZ’s national Sunday titles
200415 OctMelbourne Age commemorates its 150th anniversary.
20041 NovLondon Times appears only in tabloid (compact) form for first time.
200413 NovSydney Morning Herald and Age include special 20th anniversary edition of Good Weekend magazine.
20056 Jan150th birthday of the Ovens & Murray Advertiser, Beechworth.
200519 JanAustralian newspapers report the resignation of Mark Latham as Leader of the Federal Opposition and as a parliamentarian. He was the shortest serving Federal Leader of the Labor Party.
20054 JulyFirst issue of Sydney’s mX free daily commuter newspaper (see ANHG, 33.6).
20058 JulyAustralian newspapers report the terrorist bombings that hit the London public transport system on 7 July.
200514 JulyFirst issue of Alpha, News Magazines’ sport/lifestyle title, with a million print run and 156 pages; home-delivered to more than 500,000 News Ltd newspaper subscribers; sold in newsagencies for $2 with a News Ltd paper.
20059 AugOfficial opening of $17 million extension to the Canberra Times’ press facilities (see ANHG, 34.22).
20051-2 OctFirst issue of Qweekend, the colour magazine that is to appear each Saturday with the Courier-Mail.
20057 OctFirst issue of Wish magazine, a lifestyle magazine that appears on the first Friday of each month with the Australian; 88 pages.
20058 Oct150th birthday of the Illawarra Mercury, Wollongong’s daily (see ANHG, 35.59.8).
200516 OctFirst issue of Messenger Community Newspapers’ Adelaide Sunday suburban newspaper, the Northern Weekly.
200613 MarBrisbane’s Courier-Mail changes from broadsheet to tabloid format (it liked to call it ‘compact’).
200614 MarCommunications Minister Helen Coonan issues discussion paper on overhaul of Australian media industry. Feedback is sought by 18 April.
200618 AprSydney Morning Herald, Australia’s oldest newspaper, is 175 years old.
20061 JulThirtieth anniversary of formation of the Australian Press Council. Retired High Court judge Sir Frank Kitto was the first chair.
2006JulyThe Mott family dynasty at the Border Mail, Albury, ends with John Fairfax Holdings Ltd acquiring the daily established by the family in 1903.
20064 SepUK Associated Newspapers announce the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday will be printed and distributed in Australia (from Guardian UK website).
20066 SepFirst issue of the Australian Literary Review is published as a monthly tabloid insert in the Australian.
20063 OctAPN News & Media Ltd opens new Sunshine Coast production centre, at Yandina, and soon after closes Ipswich production centre, leaving five APN east-coast production centres: at Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Toowoomba (Qld), and Lismore (NSW).
200617 OctPublishing & Broadcasting sells a half-share in its media assets for $4.5bn to PBL Media, which is half-owned by private equity firm, CVC Asia Pacific. [PBL’s media assets include the Nine Network and ACP Magazines.]
200618 OctThe successful passage of the new media laws through Federal Parliament is completed with the House of Representative passing them.
200618 OctSeven Network completes the purchase of a 14.9 per cent strategic stake in West Australian Newspapers after taking an 8.4 per cent stake the previous evening.
200619 OctNews Corp pays $385m for a 7.5pc strategic stake in John Fairfax Holdings Ltd
2006OctRural Press Ltd acquires daily North-West Star, Mount Isa, from Joel family which had established it in 1966.
200610 NovJohn Fairfax Holdings Ltd officially changes its name to Fairfax Media Ltd
200620 NovSeven Network secures $3.2 billion to build itself into one of Australia’s largest media companies after selling its TV, magazines and online businesses into a new group (Seven Media) that is jointly owned with private-equity firm KKR – Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
20064 DecKerry Stokes’s Seven Network buys a small stake (less than 2 per cent) in Fairfax Media.
20066 DecFairfax Media Ltd and Rural Press Limited announce a proposal to merge and create Australasia’s largest integrated metropolitan, regional and rural print and digital media business.
20075 MarNews Limited launches Brisbane edition of mX.
20077 MarFairfax Media launches Brisbane online publication, brisbanetimes.com.au
20074 AprAustralia’s new media-ownership laws take effect.
200724 AprRural Press Ltd shares cease trading on the Australian Stock Exchange before the merger with Fairfax Media Ltd.
20078 MayThe merger of Fairfax Media Ltd and Rural Press Ltd becomes official.
200725 MayBid by O’Reilly family to buy out other shareholders of APN fails despite overwhelming support from small shareholders.
20079 JunTheNewspaperWorks [sic], the newspaper marketing body established in 2006, advertises for an independent consultant to review the current Australian newspaper readership system and to define world’s best newspaper readership measurement.
20075 JulKerry Stokes’ Seven Network increases its shareholding in West Australian Newspapers to 16pc.
20076 JulNational newsagency Australian Associated Press acquires the Media Monitoring Group, a media analysis, monitoring and related services company.
200725 JulNews Ltd announces that it will spend $31 million on giving the Hobart Mercury a state-of-the-art printing press within two years.
20071 AugNews Corporation’s $US5 billion bid for Dow Jones (flagship is Wall Street Journal) is accepted.
200724 NovThe Howard-led conservative-coalition government is voted out of office after 11 years. Kevin Rudd’s Labor team is elected.
200829 JanFinal issue of the Bulletin magazine which began on 31 January 1880.
200813 FebThe Federal Parliament says sorry to the Stolen Generations of indigenous Australians; extensive reporting of the speech and the response of Australians appears in daily newspapers the next day.
200823 AprExtraordinary meeting of shareholders of West Australian Newspaper Holdings discusses Seven Network’s proposals for “refreshing” the WAN board but does not elect Kerry Stokes and Peter Gammell to the board.
20088 MayOfficial opening by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Fairfax Media’s new Sydney headquarters in the inner-city suburb of Pyrmont.
200810 JunFairfax Media launches Perth’s first online-only news publication: WAtoday.com.au/.
200826 AugFairfax Media Ltd announces it will shed 550 jobs, 180 of them jobs held by journalists.
200822 SepFirst Monday edition of the Media section of the Australian; it formerly appeared on Thursdays.
20083 DecKen Steinke resigns as CEO of West Australian Newspaper Holdings Ltd. less than two hours after chairman Peter Mansell and two other non-executive directors, Jenny Seabrook and Mel Ward, step down at the annual general meeting.
20085 DecDavid Kirk resigns as CEO of Fairfax Media the day after editor Alan Oakley departed.
200810 DecBrian McCarthy, formerly the deputy CEO, is appointed CEO of Fairfax Media Ltd.
200811 DecKerry Stokes is elected chairman of the board of West Australian Newspapers Holdings. Chris Wharton, Seven’s Perth managing director, is named the new CEO. Two independent directors, Don Voelte and Sam Walsh, are appointed.
200815 DecWAN’s new CEO Chris Wharton appoints Bob Cronin, 65, as the editor-in-chief of the West Australian, stripping editor Paul Armstrong of editorial control over the Perth daily. Cronin was editor-in-chief of the paper 1986-1996.
200920 AprFairfax Media runs one-off promotion in Queensland and Western Australian – a 24-page tabloid newspaper under the brisbanetimes.com.au and WAtoday.com.au masthead brands.
200930 AprFairfax closes Central Coast Sun Weekly, the last link with the failed Central Coast Herald daily experiment of 2002-04
200922 JuneMerger of the Age and Sydney Morning Herald bureaus in the Canberra press gallery
200917 AugThe Australian is printed in Hobart for the first time
200912-13 DecThe Age moves from Spencer Street to its custom-built building, Media House, at the corner of Collins and Spencer Streets, near Southern Cross Station
201028 MayApple’s iPad goes on sale in Australia, and the Australian becomes the first newspaper in Australia to launch an iPad digital edition
201030 OctFirst issue of the Weekend West, the revamped and newly titled weekend edition of the West Australian, Perth.
20106 DecBrian McCarthy steps down as chief executive of Fairfax Media Ltd and is replaced temporarily by director Greg Hywood, who, on 7 February 2011, is confirmed in the position.
2011FebAmanda Wilson becomes the first female editor of the Sydney Morning Herald.
201113 AugBundaberg NewsMail printed in Bundaberg for final time. It is now printed at APN’s Yandina’s print centre. The Fraser Coast Chronicle of 20 August was the last paper printed on the Bundaberg press—on the evening of Friday, 19 August.
201110 SepMackay Daily Mercury printed at Mackay for final time. It is now printed at APN’s Rockhampton print centre
201110 NovJohn B. Fairfax sells his 9.7 per cent stake in Fairfax Media Ltd, ending again the Fairfax family’s interest in the Fairfax company

Updated to 25 January 2012