South Australian Register
Encyclopedia
The Register, originally the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, was the first South Australia
n newspaper. It was first published in London
in June 1836 and folded almost a century later in February 1931.
The newspaper is the sole primary source for almost all information about the settlement and early history of South Australia. It documented shipping schedules, legal history and court records at a time when official records were not kept. According to the National Library of Australia
, its pages contain "one hundred years of births, deaths, marriages, crime, building history, the establishment of towns and businesses, political and social comment".
, a law stationer, who had purchased for his family 134 acres (54.2 ha) of land in the proposed South Australian province after being impressed by the ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield
. The first issue (printed by William Clowes & Sons
, Duke-street, Stamford-street, Lambeth, London),appeared in London on 18 June 1836 with his friend and partner, George Stevenson
, as editor. Thomas embarked for South Australia aboard the Africaine later that year, arriving on 10 November 1836 with his family and equipment to set up a printing plant. It was six months before the first colonial edition of The Register was printed on 3 June 1837 in a small mud hut on an acre in Hindley Street
, near what is now named Register Place. (The colloquialism "mud hut" would seem to be an understatement for a substantial pisé building in which was operated a demy Stanhope press, an ancient wooden press, and racks holding "half a ton of bourgeois and brevier type, a good fount of small pica for printing official documents, and a quantity of general jobbing type" with all the other requirements for editing, setting up, printing and distributing an admittedly small circulation newspaper.)
From the start, the paper asserted a strongly independent stance. Stevenson's style was vigorous and provocative, making himself and The Register several enemies. His opposition to Colonel William Light's
choice of site for the new capital and J.H. Fisher
as Resident Commissioner, led them and others to found the Southern Australian
in direct competition with The Register. The paper's antagonism of Governor Gawler
led to The Register losing government business notably the South Australian Government Gazette, and Thomas's printing business lost about £1,650 a year. His protest that he was authorised by the British Government to do its printing failed and, insolvent, he sold the paper for £600 to James Allen in 1842, as Stevenson withdrew from journalism.
It was purchased by John Stephens in 1845. Anthony Forster became part owner in 1848; With the death of Stephens in 1850, his share was taken over by John Taylor. Forster's share was taken over by Joseph Fisher
in 1853, then sold to John Howard Clark
in 1865.
The paper, having been printed sporadically previously, became weekly in June 1838 and later twice-weekly from February 1843. By 1840, The Register employed a staff of 21 and had reached a circulation of 900. On 1 January 1850, it became a daily publication, and three years later the paper was bought back by Thomas's son William Kyffin Thomas as part of South Australia's first media syndicate with Anthony Forster, Edward William Andrews and Joseph Fisher
. They also purchased its weekly sister publication, the Adelaide Observer, and established in 1869 the Evening Journal, which later became The News
.
The Register outlasted many competitors throughout its long history, holding a monopoly on the market at various stages, but it ultimately met its match in The Advertiser
. The Advertiser, founded in 1858, first emerged as a serious challenger to the paper in the 1870s, and eventually bought out and closed down The Register in February 1931 after the Great Depression
had severely reduced its fortunes, forcing it to become largely pictorial.
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...
n newspaper. It was first published in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in June 1836 and folded almost a century later in February 1931.
The newspaper is the sole primary source for almost all information about the settlement and early history of South Australia. It documented shipping schedules, legal history and court records at a time when official records were not kept. According to the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, its pages contain "one hundred years of births, deaths, marriages, crime, building history, the establishment of towns and businesses, political and social comment".
History
The Register was conceived by Robert ThomasRobert Thomas (newspaper proprietor)
Robert Thomas was a newspaper proprietor, printer and early settler of South Australia.In 1836, Thomas migrated to the new colony with his wife Mary and family on the Africaine, arriving at Holdfast Bay on 8 November...
, a law stationer, who had purchased for his family 134 acres (54.2 ha) of land in the proposed South Australian province after being impressed by the ideas of Edward Gibbon Wakefield
Edward Gibbon Wakefield
Edward Gibbon Wakefield was a British politician, the driving force behind much of the early colonisation of South Australia, and later New Zealand....
. The first issue (printed by William Clowes & Sons
William Clowes Ltd.
William Clowes Ltd. is a British printing company founded in London in 1803 by William Clowes. It grew from a small, one press firm to one of the world's largest printing companies in the mid-19th century. The company merged with Caxton Press, operated by William Moore in Beccles, Suffolk in the...
, Duke-street, Stamford-street, Lambeth, London),appeared in London on 18 June 1836 with his friend and partner, 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 editor. Thomas embarked for South Australia aboard the Africaine later that year, arriving on 10 November 1836 with his family and equipment to set up a printing plant. It was six months before the first colonial edition of The Register was printed on 3 June 1837 in a small mud hut on an acre in Hindley Street
Hindley Street, Adelaide
Hindley Street is located in the West End of the centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street and West Terrace. The street was named after British parliamentarian and social reformist, Charles Hindley....
, near what is now named Register Place. (The colloquialism "mud hut" would seem to be an understatement for a substantial pisé building in which was operated a demy Stanhope press, an ancient wooden press, and racks holding "half a ton of bourgeois and brevier type, a good fount of small pica for printing official documents, and a quantity of general jobbing type" with all the other requirements for editing, setting up, printing and distributing an admittedly small circulation newspaper.)
From the start, the paper asserted a strongly independent stance. Stevenson's style was vigorous and provocative, making himself and The Register several enemies. His opposition to Colonel William Light's
William Light
Colonel William Light was a British military officer and the first Surveyor-General of the Colony of South Australia...
choice of site for the new capital and J.H. 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....
as Resident Commissioner, led them and others to found the Southern Australian
Southern Australian
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...
in direct competition with The Register. The paper's antagonism of Governor Gawler
George Gawler
-External links: – Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK...
led to The Register losing government business notably the South Australian Government Gazette, and Thomas's printing business lost about £1,650 a year. His protest that he was authorised by the British Government to do its printing failed and, insolvent, he sold the paper for £600 to James Allen in 1842, as Stevenson withdrew from journalism.
It was purchased by John Stephens in 1845. Anthony Forster became part owner in 1848; With the death of Stephens in 1850, his share was taken over by John Taylor. Forster's share was taken over by Joseph Fisher
Joseph Fisher (Australian politician)
Joseph Fisher was a South Australian politician and newspaper proprietor born in Brighouse, Yorkshire.-Early Days:...
in 1853, then sold to John Howard Clark
John Howard Clark
John Howard Clark was editor of The South Australian Register from 1870 to 1877 and was responsible for its Echoes from the Bush column and closely associated with its Geoffry Crabthorn persona.-Early years:...
in 1865.
The paper, having been printed sporadically previously, became weekly in June 1838 and later twice-weekly from February 1843. By 1840, The Register employed a staff of 21 and had reached a circulation of 900. On 1 January 1850, it became a daily publication, and three years later the paper was bought back by Thomas's son William Kyffin Thomas as part of South Australia's first media syndicate with Anthony Forster, Edward William Andrews and Joseph Fisher
Joseph Fisher (Australian politician)
Joseph Fisher was a South Australian politician and newspaper proprietor born in Brighouse, Yorkshire.-Early Days:...
. They also purchased its weekly sister publication, the Adelaide Observer, and established in 1869 the Evening Journal, which later became The News
The News (Adelaide)
The News was an afternoon daily tabloid newspaper in the city of Adelaide, South Australia.The newspaper was established in 1869 as the Evening Journal. In 1933, a controlling stake was taken by The Advertiser, controlled by the Herald and Weekly Times. HWT sold off The News in 1949, and Sir Keith...
.
The Register outlasted many competitors throughout its long history, holding a monopoly on the market at various stages, but it ultimately met its match in The Advertiser
The Advertiser (Australia)
The Advertiser is a daily tabloid-format newspaper published in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. First published as a broadsheet named "The South Australian Advertiser" on 12 July 1858, it is currently printed daily from Monday to Saturday. A Sunday edition exists under the name of the Sunday...
. The Advertiser, founded in 1858, first emerged as a serious challenger to the paper in the 1870s, and eventually bought out and closed down The Register in February 1931 after the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
had severely reduced its fortunes, forcing it to become largely pictorial.
Chronology
Details are from article marking 50th anniversary of its first publication in South Australia and from 1886 the article "Sketch of the History of the Register" except where noted.- 1836 Vol. 1 No. 1 printed in London by Clowes and Sons for Robert Thomas and George Stevenson on 18 June
- Proclamation of South Australian printed for government on 30 December; the first printing job in the new colony.
- 1837 The press was moved to Acre 46, 37 Hindley Street just west of Morphett Street on 1 June.
- The South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register Vol 1, issue 2 appears, dated 3 June 1837. Although suscribers were promised weekly publication, subsequent issues were published on 8 July, 29 July, 12 August, 16 September, 4 October, 19 October, 11 November. Price at this time was 6d. per issue.
- 1838? Robert's son William Kyffin Thomas, aged 16, began work for the paper.
- 1839 Government retracted Thomas's right to publish Government Gazette on 15 June. The paper was henceforth titled South Australian Register. Price was raised to 1s. (12d.)
- 1840 Thomas and Stevenson purchased The Adelaide Chronicle copyright and equipment from W. C. Cox; the newly-incorporated Chronicle (edited by J. F. Bennett) being published on Wednesdays and the Register on Saturday.
- Early in year enlarged from 6 demy pages to 8, then on 29 August turned to broadsheetBroadsheetBroadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
format.
- Early in year enlarged from 6 demy pages to 8, then on 29 August turned to broadsheet
- 1842 Purchased by James Allen
- 1843 Premises moved to corner of Rundle and King William Streets - the "Beehive Corner".
- Publication moved to twice-weekly.
- 1845 Register purchased in June by John Stephens, who had acted as editor for some months several years previously. Stephens' own paper The Observer, first published 29 June 1843, printed by George Dehane and directed at regional South Australia, was published concurrently. Sir R. D. Hanson was his hard-working lawyer and occasional contributor.
- Moved to larger premises in Hindley Street
- 1848 Anthony Forster became part owner, but after a few months took no part in its running.
- 1850 Daily publication began in January. Around this time price was reduced to 4d.
- Stephens died 28 November. Publication taken over by W. Kyffin Thomas.
- 1853 The paper was taken over by a syndicate of seven, which soon reduced to four: Forster, Joseph FisherJoseph Fisher (Australian politician)Joseph Fisher was a South Australian politician and newspaper proprietor born in Brighouse, Yorkshire.-Early Days:...
, E. W Andrews and W. Kyffin Thomas. - 1854 Move from Hindley Street to Grenfell Street and Steam-powered press installed
- 1860 Robert Thomas died
- editorship was taken over by John Taylor. Andrew Garran and J. H Barrow became co-editors around this time. W. R. Whitridge succeeded Barrow.
- Gas lighting installed (from their own generator until town gas was available)
- 1864 Price reduced to 3d.
- 1865 Fisher's share sold to John Howard ClarkJohn Howard ClarkJohn Howard Clark was editor of The South Australian Register from 1870 to 1877 and was responsible for its Echoes from the Bush column and closely associated with its Geoffry Crabthorn persona.-Early years:...
- 1868 Sister newspaper Evening Journal began publication
- 1870 Format changed from broadsheet to 8 pages of smaller size. Price was unchanged at 3d.
- 1877 E. W. Andrews died
- J. Howard Clark died
- Charles Day, J. H. Finlayson and Robert Kyffin ThomasRobert Kyffin ThomasSir Robert Kyffin Thomas was a South Australian newspaper proprietor.Sir Robert was born at Nailsworth, South Australia, the son of William Kyffin Thomas, proprietor of The Register...
(who were all involved with its production) were brought in as partners.
- 1878 W. Kyffin Thomas died
- Circulation reached ten thousand
- 1882 Price reduced to 2d.
- 1890 C Day resigned from the partnership
- 1892 Knickerbocker press installed
- Price reduced to 1d.
- 1899 W. J. Sowden and Evan Kyffin Thomas joined the partnership
- 1900 Name changed from South Australian Register to The Register
- 1901 3-decker Hoe press installed
- 1929 The company was restructured as Register Newspapers Limited with directors E. Kyffin Thomas, C. Kyffin Thomas and Keith MurdochKeith MurdochSir Keith Arthur Murdoch was an Australian journalist and the father of Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and Chairman of News Corp.-Life and career:Murdoch was born in Melbourne in 1885, the son of Annie and the Rev...
. - 1930 Became Register News-Pictorial
- 1931 Circulation improving but still unprofitable. Last issue 20 February 1931
- Incorporated with The Advertiser as Advertiser and Register on 21 February
- Last issue 30 September.