Local Media Pty Ltd publishes a local Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express edition of The Local Paper.

The Lilydale Express was first published in July 1886 by William Axford, originally as a bi-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays, then changing to Fridays). It had the sub-title of the Healesville, Wandin, Yallock, Yarra Flats, Warrandyte, Ringwood and Eltham Chronicle. It stated its circulation area as throughout the Shires of Lilydale, Bulleen and Eltham.

Since then the Express  had 15 owners and it was sold to the Leader group in 1971. Thomas Oliver owned the Express with Henry S. Webb from May 13, 1887, to June 3, 1887, and then with Thomas Bronwell until May 1, 1889. He was sole owner for two years before handing over to Edward Lincoln. By December 31, 1891, he was back as oner. In all, he edited the paper for 25 years.

A 44-page souvenir edition, largely compiled by journalist Robin Northover, was published on February 16, 1972, to celebrate the centenary of the Shire of Lilydale. At that stage, 5000 copies were sold weekly, before the newspaper became a free distribution weekly. It carried a cover price of 5 cents. A ‘gold’ souvenir of the Express was produced by Leader in 1986 for the newspaper’s centenary. They currently sell for $25 per copy.

The Croydon Mail newspaper (incorporating the Mt Dandenong Advertiser) was launched in 1922. The neighbouring Ringwood Mail newspaper was founded by Albert Charles Ostrom, through Ostrom and Sampson, on January 9, 1924.

After Mr Ostrom’s death in 1936, the newspaper was bought by Norman Welham Gill of Lilydale, the proprietor of the Lilydale Express, who ran it until it was takrn overe by Clarence Sleeman after World War II. It was later absorbed into the Elliott Group, and then the Leader group.

One of the prominent identities in both the Express and the Mail was Harald Cameron Nicolson, known under the byline of ‘Lerwick’, after his birthplace in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

For some years, the Yarra Valley News appeared as an Express wrap-around. It was formed in 1966 by a merger of the Healesville Review and Warburton Mail. The Warburton Mail had commenced publication on October 19, 1927.

The Express was renamed in May 2001 to Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader.

The progenitor of Local Media Pty Ltd published the Croydon City News, Ringwood City News and Valley Voice in 1984-85.