Evening Star (Dunedin)
Encyclopedia
The Evening Star was a daily evening newspaper
published in Dunedin
, New Zealand
from June 1863. Second-longest lasting of Dunedin's newspapers, it was the only rival to the Otago Daily Times
(ODT) to survive beyond the first few years of the twentieth century.
The Star - as the paper was originally called - was founded by G. A. Henningham and Co., edited by George Henningham, and originally printed in Stafford Street, above the Exchange
area of the city. In its first few years the company was bought by William Henningham, the founder's brother. In June 1869, William Henningham ran into financial difficulties and the Evening Star was sold by liquidators to George Bell
, who also ran a small evening paper, the Independent. Bell merged the two newspapers to form firstly the short-lived Morning Star, and then the far more suuccessful Evening Star, which was first published under this title on June 14, 1869. Under Bell's editorship the paper thrived and it soon began to outsell almost all of its rivals. Bell remained editor until 1895.
The paper's readership slowly declined during the period from the 1960s to the 1970s. In 1975 the Star's owners bought the ODT and in 1979 the Evening Star was closed. The resulting merger of companies formed Allied Press
, which still publishes the ODT and numerous smaller papers throughout New Zealand, as well as running Dunedin's local television station, Channel 9
. The name of the newspaper lives on in The Star, a twice-weekly free community paper, which has been issued by Allied Press in Dunedin since 1979.
Julian Smith, the managing director of Allied Press since 1986, is a great-great-grandson of George Bell.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from June 1863. Second-longest lasting of Dunedin's newspapers, it was the only rival to the Otago Daily Times
Otago Daily Times
The Otago Daily Times is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand.-History:Originally styled The Otago Daily Times, the ODT was first published on November 15, 1861. It is New Zealand's oldest surviving daily newspaper - Christchurch's The Press, six months older, was a...
(ODT) to survive beyond the first few years of the twentieth century.
The Star - as the paper was originally called - was founded by G. A. Henningham and Co., edited by George Henningham, and originally printed in Stafford Street, above the Exchange
Princes Street, Dunedin
Princes Street is a major street in Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs south-southwest for two kilometres from The Octagon in the city centre to the Oval sports ground, close to the city's Southern Cemetery...
area of the city. In its first few years the company was bought by William Henningham, the founder's brother. In June 1869, William Henningham ran into financial difficulties and the Evening Star was sold by liquidators to George Bell
George Bell (publisher)
George Bell was an English publisher who founded the book publishing house George Bell & Sons.-Location of the Bell houses:*1839: 1 Bouverie Street*1840: 186 Fleet Street...
, who also ran a small evening paper, the Independent. Bell merged the two newspapers to form firstly the short-lived Morning Star, and then the far more suuccessful Evening Star, which was first published under this title on June 14, 1869. Under Bell's editorship the paper thrived and it soon began to outsell almost all of its rivals. Bell remained editor until 1895.
The paper's readership slowly declined during the period from the 1960s to the 1970s. In 1975 the Star's owners bought the ODT and in 1979 the Evening Star was closed. The resulting merger of companies formed Allied Press
Allied Press
Allied Press is a New Zealand publishing company based in Dunedin. The company's main asset is the Otago Daily Times, New Zealand's oldest daily newspaper...
, which still publishes the ODT and numerous smaller papers throughout New Zealand, as well as running Dunedin's local television station, Channel 9
Channel 9 (New Zealand)
Channel 9 is a regional television station operating in Dunedin, New Zealand. The channel is an operating division of Allied Press, also the publishers of the local daily newspaper. It commenced transmission in 1995 as a tourism station. In 1997 the station was expanded to a full service regional...
. The name of the newspaper lives on in The Star, a twice-weekly free community paper, which has been issued by Allied Press in Dunedin since 1979.
Julian Smith, the managing director of Allied Press since 1986, is a great-great-grandson of George Bell.