Bunyip (newspaper)

The Bunyip is a weekly newspaper originally published and printed in Gawler, South Australia, covering the Barossa, Light, Playford and Adelaide Plains regions. Since 2003 it has been a member of the Taylor Group of publications, printed in Renmark along with The Murray Pioneer (Riverland), The Loxton News (Loxton), The River News (Waikerie), The Border Times (Pinnaroo and the Northern Mallee) and The Mid North Broadcaster.

Originally a monthly publication, the first issue of "The Bunyip", subtitled "Gawler Humbug Society's Chronicle" was issued on 5 September 1863, consisted of 8 pages and was priced at 6d. It was warmly greeted by the South Australian Register, observing that it was "full of racy articles and local hits ... a very humorous article on the Gawler Agricultural Society's last dinner, which (was) not only very amusing but strictly correct ... (and should) undoubtedly prove a great success."

With the paper's success, publication increased to bi-monthly in February 1865 (there was none printed in January), appearing on the first and third Saturday of each month. With new printing machinery, the paper upsized to broadsheet format. And its title had become The Bunyip or Gawler Chronicle and Northern Advertiser. The following year it became a weekly. By this time however, the paper's original offbeat stance had quite vanished and it had become a regular newspaper.

In February 1885 the Bunyip's building was destroyed by fire. William Barnet, the proprietor, wasted no time in having its competitor of seven years, the Gawler Standard take over printing duties, then arranged with Richards, its proprietor, for an immediate merger.

The Bunyip's first issue elicited a libel case against the publisher, William Barnet, by one Dr. Home Popham who had set up a hospital in the town and who had advertised boastfully in the Northern Star. The court proceedings were a merry affair with Mr. Stow appearing for the defence and the jury found for the plaintiff, awarding damages of one shilling.

Four years later, Barnet was sued in the SA. Supreme Court by Henry Edward Bright MP, for libel and found not guilty. This was greeted by both the Register and the Advertiser as a landmark decision.

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