Our History

Gordon Barton. Proprietor. 1969-1971

Sunday, September 14, 1969

IPEC transport magnate Gordon Barton published the first issue of the Melbourne Sunday Observer on September 14, 1969. It was Melbourne’s first regular Sunday newspaper. (Michael Michaeledes, who ran the Greek newspaper Torch , officially took the honours by publishing the Sunday Post, which lasted for seven editions. Dern Langlands started his weekly Postscript Weekender newspaper in August 1969….

Our History

‘Features, sport, but no scoops’

The first issue of the Sunday Observer (Sep. 14, 1969) was critiqued by The Canberra Times. Newspaperman Rohan Rivett (picturede) assembled the report. He was the elder son of Sir David Rivett, and his wife Stella (née Deakin). He was a grandson of the former Prime Minister of Australia, Alfred Deakin, and of the Rev. Albert Rivett (1855-1934), a…

Our History

Origins of the Waverley Gazette

Wednesday, February 8, 1961

Local Media Pty Ltd publishes a local Waverley Gazette/Monash Gazette edition of The Local Paper. The newspaper commenced publication as the Glen Gazette on Februray 8, 1961, under the auspicies of the Coleman-Kingsway Traders’ Association. The new paper filled the gap of the Mulgrave Mercury, established on November 4, 1949, and absorbed in the South Eastern Standard News-Pictorial from February 25, 1960….

Our History

Origins of the Free Press, Knox News

Saturday, May 26, 1923

When Leader Newspapers ceased print production of The Free Press in the Dandenongs in 2016, Local Media Pty Ltd quickly commenced publication of The New Free Press in the following week (July 7, 2016). The commencement of The New Free Press was done with the blessing of News Corp., owners of the Leader group, which continued an online presence under…

Our History

Origins of the Diamond Valley News, Heidelberger

Friday, January 1, 1897

Local Media Pty Ltd publishes a local Diamond Valley News edition of The Local Paper. The name Diamond Valley News was first used in 1959, after the Heidelberg Publishing Co. Pty Ltd was formed as a partnership between Leader Publishing Co., and the publishers of the Heidelberg City News. Development of The Mall retail centre at West Heidelberg following the…

Our History

Origins of the Mornington Peninsula Post

Saturday, October 5, 1889

Local Media Pty Ltd publishes Frankston and Mornington Peninsula editions of The Local Paper. It incorporates the traditions of the Mornington Peninsula Post, Southern Peninsula Gazette and the Hastings Sun. The Peninsula Post  began in 1913 as a re-plated edition of the Frankston Post The Mornington Standard was born on October 5, 1889, at a time when the town’s population was 794. William Crawford Jnr…

Our History

Origins of the Northcote Budget, Preston Post, Whittlesea Post

Saturday, January 21, 1888

Local Media Pty Ltd publishes local Northcote, Budget, Preston Post, Reservoir Times and Whittlesea Post editions of The Local Paper. The Northcote Budget heritage name is linked to the Leader-Budget newspaper that was produced in the City of Northcote from 1936-1966. The Northcote Leader had its beginnings on January 21, 1888, produced by R. Lemon and brothers (The Rev.) A.H. ‘Henry’ and…

Our History

Origins of the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Express, Ringwood-Croydon Mail

Wednesday, June 30, 1886

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…

Our History

Origins of our Murrindindi regional edition

Thursday, October 22, 1885

Local Media Pty Ltd publishes a regional edition of The Local Paper across the Murrindindi Shire, also circulating in the rural areas of the Mansfield, Nillumbik and Whittlesea municipalities. The first edition of The Local Paper appeared in some sections of the Murrindindi Shire (Flowerdale, Glenburn, Strath Creek, Yarck, Yea) and Whittlesea on February 17, 2016. It expanded rapidly…

Our History

Origins of Dandenong Advertiser, Casey-Cardinia Edition

Thursday, January 1, 1874

Local Media Pty Ltd publishes the Casey-Cardinia edition of The Local Paper. It incorporates the traditions of the Cranbourne Sun and the Dandenong Advertiser.The Mornington County Herald was established on March 22, 1889. The Koo-Wee-Rup Sun and Cranbourne Sun commnced in 1893. The Lang Lang Guardian, from February 22, 1902, was owned variously by J.C. Ryan, H. Furze, T. Henderson, G.F. Hopkins, the last named…