The Southern Argus

South Australian newspaper

Front cover of the Southern Argus, 29 September 1866

The Southern Argus is a newspaper first published from March 1866 in Port Elliot, South Australia, and then in Strathalbyn from 1868 to the present.[1][2] It is published on Thursdays.

## History

[edit]

The Southern Argus (as distinct from the Northern Argus published in Clare) is one of the state's oldest country newspapers, privately owned by the Elliott and Jones families for 140 years. It was founded by Ebenezer Ward (1837–1917) in Port Elliot as a weekly newspaper, the first issue appearing on Saturday 17 March 1866. While primarily called the Southern Argus, for the first decade it was also subtitled;[3] "And Strathalbyn, Wellington, Milang, Langhorne's Creek, Woodchester, Mount Barker, Echunga, Macclesfield, Bull's Creek, Clarendon, Noarlunga, Willunga, Aldinga, Sellick's Hill, Myponga, Normanville, Yankalilla, Rapid Bay, Cape Jervis, Inman Valley, Bald Hills, Hindmarsh Valley, Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Middleton, Currency Creek and Goolwa,.and River Murray Advertiser."

Ward expected that the new southern port of Port Elliot was to become an enterprising outlet for the River Murray trade. Using the original Observer printing press, Ward set up the newspaper in the small coastal town; its first office was previously J. Barton's shop. In mid-April 1868, following financial difficulties and ownership changes, the production of the newspaper moved to William Colman's shop in Strathalbyn,[4] then on 5 December 1868, to their new building adjacent to the Strathalbyn Post Office. It was purchased in 1871 by William Fisher and Joseph Elliott (c. 1833 – 21 May 1883), the latter whose brother James Elliott (c. 1836 – 22 April 1883) was the first owner of The Kapunda Herald.[5] Elliott bought his partner out shortly after.[6]

Joseph W. Elliott (1853–1939), only son of Joseph Elliott,[7] was educated by W. S. Moore, later at Adelaide Educational Institution. When his father died, he quit university to take over the newspaper. He was elected mayor of Strathalbyn in 1898.[8] In 1912 he founded the Victor Harbor Times, whose first editor was his son Cecil Cave Elliott (1889– ).[9]

The long title of the newspaper persisted until 5 July 1877 when it was shortened to the Southern Argus and River Murray Advertiser. On 4 January 1893, it lengthened again to The Southern Argus Strathalbyn, Goolwa, and River Murray Advertiser, later variously re-adding Victor Harbor, Milang, Meningie. On 14 August 1940, the subtitle was finally removed.

## Literature

[edit]

The Southern Argus published serials and poems by South Australian writers. The first serial was Middle Life: a tale by James Dunlop, in 1870.[10][11]

## Distribution

[edit]

The publication's early coverage included the towns of: Strathalbyn, Wellington, Milang, Langhorne's Creek, Woodchester, Mount Barker, Echunga, Macclesfield, Bull's Creek, Clarendon, Noarlunga, Willunga, Aldinga, Sellick's Hill, Myponga, Normanville, Yankalilla, Rapid Bay, Cape Jervis, Inman Valley, Bald Hills, Hindmarsh Valley, Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Middleton, Currency Creek, and Goolwa.

## Preservation and digitisation

[edit]

This newspaper title has been preserved on microfilm by the State Library of South Australia.[12] It has been digitised from the microfilm for the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Project of the National Library of Australia.[13]

## See also

[edit]

* List of newspapers in Australia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Trove". Retrieved 29 November 2013 - via National Library of Australia.
2. ^ Catalogue. State Library of South Australia. 1866. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
3. ^ "Advertising". Southern Argus. Port Elliot, SA. 17 March 1866. p. 1. Retrieved 25 May 2014 - via National Library of Australia.
4. ^ "An Editorial Migration". Southern Argus. Port Elliot, SA. 4 April 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 25 May 2014 - via National Library of Australia.
5. ^ "Jottings". Southern Argus. Port Elliot, SA. 5 November 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 25 May 2014 - via National Library of Australia. The author of this history (Joseph W. Elliott) apparently did not have access to back issues, as the dates and some of the facts do not accord with the contemporary records.
6. ^ "The Late Mr Joseph Elliott, J.P." Southern Argus. Port Elliot, SA. 24 May 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 25 May 2014 - via National Library of Australia.
7. ^ "Death of Joseph Elliott". South Australian Register. Vol. XLVIII, no. 11, 394. South Australia. 22 May 1883. p. 4. Retrieved 4 July 2024 - via National Library of Australia.
8. ^ "Mayor of Strathalbyn". Adelaide Observer. Vol. LVI, no. 3, 004. South Australia. 29 April 1899. p. 16. Retrieved 4 July 2024 - via National Library of Australia.
9. ^ "Times turns 80 on Sunday". Victor Harbor Times. Vol. 87, no. 4, 053. South Australia. 21 August 1992. p. 2. Retrieved 4 July 2024 - via National Library of Australia.
10. ^ "MIDDLE LIFE". Southern Argus. Vol. V, no. 231\. South Australia. 13 August 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 12 August 2017 - via National Library of Australia.
11. ^ "SA Memory". Retrieved 11 August 2017.
12. ^ Catalogue. State Library of South Australia. 1866. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
13. ^ "Trove". Retrieved 29 November 2013 - via National Library of Australia.

## External links

[edit]

* Southern Argus website
* Southern Argus, SA Memory, State Library of South Australia
* Catalogue record, State Library of South Australia
* Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 - 1954) at Trove

* v
* t
* e

South Australia newspapers (chronological)

1851–1900

* Port Lincoln Herald (1839-1840)
* Deutsche Zeitung für Süd-Australien (1851)
* Northern Star (1860–1863)
* Süd Australische Zeitung (1860–1874)
* Australisches Unterhaltungsblatt (1862-1916)
* Tanunda Deutsche Zeitung (1863-1869),
* Kapunda Herald and Northern Intelligencer (1864–1878)
* Wallaroo Times and Mining Journal (1865–1881)
* Mount Gambier Standard (1866–1874)
* Moonta Herald and Northern Territory Gazette (1869)*
* Gawler Times (1869–1873)
* Australische Deutsche Zeitung (1870-1874)
* Gumeracha Guardian and North-eastern Advertiser (1870)
* Guardian and Northern and North-eastern Advertiser (1871–1874)
* Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser and Miner's News (1872–1874)
* Northern Territory Times and Gazette (1873-1910)*
* Farmers' Weekly Messenger (1874–1878)
* Northern Guardian (1874)
* Gawler Mercury (1875–1876)
* Narracoorte Herald (1875–1948)
* South-Eastern Ensign (1875-1876)
* Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser and Miners' and Farmers' Journal (1875–1878)
* Northern Mail (1876–1877)
* Port Pirie Gazette and Areas News (1876–1884)
* Port Wakefield Times and Balaklava, Hoyleton, Blyth and Lochiel Advertiser (1876)
* Areas' Express (1877–1948)
* Burra News and Northern Mail (1877–1878)
* Port Augusta Dispatch (1877–1880; 1884-1885)
* South Eastern Star (1877–1930)
* Record (1878)
* Burra Record (1878–1977)
* Gawler Standard (1878–1885)
* Jamestown Review (1878–1881)
* Kapunda Herald (1878–1951)
* Yorke's Peninsula Advertiser (1878–1922)
* Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (1880–1960)
* Port Augusta Dispatch and Flinders' Advertiser (1880–1884)
* Tatiara Mail and West Wimmera Advertiser (1880–1888)
* Agriculturist and Review (1881–1948)
* North Eastern Times and Terowie News (1881-1882)
* Wallaroo Times (1882–1888)
* North Australian (1883-1889)*
* British Australian Federal Standard and the North-Eastern Times (1884)
* Terowie Enterprise (1884–1891)
* Port Augusta Dispatch, Newcastle and Flinders Chronicle (1885–1916)
* Port Pirie Advocate and Areas News (1885-1895)
* Broughton Echo (1887-1888)
* Port Broughton Echo (1887)
* Petersburg Times (1887–1919)
* Teetulpa News and Golden Age (1887)
* Kadina and Wallaroo Times (1888–1966)
* Nhill and Tatiara Mail and West Wimmera Advertiser (1888–1895)
* Laura Standard (1889–1917)
* North Australian and Northern Territory Government Gazette (1889–1890)*
* Port Pirie Standard and Barrier Advertiser (1889–1898)
* People's Weekly (1890–1961)
* Millicent Times (1891–1905)
* Orroroo Enterprise (1892–1970)
* Renmark Pioneer (1892–1913)
* Yorke's Peninsula Plain Dealer (1894-1897)
* Nhill Mail (1895–1900)
* Port Pirie Advocate (1895–1898)
* Quorn Mercury (1895–1956)
* Plain Dealer (1897–1926)
* Pioneer (1898–1960)
* Port Pirie Advertiser (1898–1924)
* Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail (1898–1918)
* Southern Yorke's Peninsula Pioneer (1898)

1901–1950

* Port Augusta and Stirling Illustrated News (1901)
* Warrigal Review (1901)
* Southern Yorke's Peninsula Clarion (1902)
* Clarion (1902–1931)
* Exchange (1902–1942)
* Western Weekly News (1902–1904)
* Central Advocate (1903–1909)
* Jamestown Star and Farmer's Journal (1903–1946)
* Port Lincoln, Tumby and West Coast Recorder (1904–1909)
* Copper Age (1906–1908)
* Kangaroo Island Courier (1907–1951)
* Willunga Bulletin (1907)
* Barossa News (1908–1951)
* Byth Agriculturist (1908–1969)
* Denial Bay Starter (1908-1910)
* Hamley Bridge Express (1908)
* Owen's Weekly and Dalkey District Courier (1908)
* Pinnaroo Country News (1908–1922)
* Tatiara and Lawloit News (1908–1912)
* Broughton Star (1909–1912)
* Stanley Herald (1909–1941; 1947-1948)
* West Coast Recorder (1909-1942)
* Wooroora Producer (1909–1940)
* Crystal Brook Times (1910–1917)
* Eyre's Peninsula Tribune (1910–1950)
* Wakefield Sun (1910–1912)
* Ardrossan News (1911)
* Maitland Watch (1911–1969)
* Pinnaroo and Border Times (1911–1941)
* Wallaroo Wheatsheaf (1911–1918)
* Booleroo Times (1912-1913)
* Mannum Mercury and Farmer's Journal (1912-1917)
* North Western Star and Frome Journal (1912–1917)
* Petersburg Enterprise and Northern Advocate (1912)
* Streaky Bay Standard and West Coast Advertiser (1912)
* Victor Harbor Times and Encounter Bay and Lower Murray Pilot (1912–1930)
* Western People and Tumby Bay Times (1912)
* Frith's Bulletin (1913)
* Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (1913–1942)
* Saturday Times (1913-1914)
* Sporting Telegraph (1913)
* Booleroo Magnet (1914-1915)
* Port Wakefield Monitor (1915–1941)
* South Australian Truth (1916-1964)
* Laura Standard and Crystal Brook Courier (1917–1948)
* Murrayville Pioneer and North Western Settler (1918–1927)
* Port Pirie Recorder (1918-1919)
* Wheatsheaf (1918–1921)
* Times and Northern Advertiser (1919–1970)
* Eudunda Courier (1922–1981)
* Lameroo Weekly News (1922)
* Yorke Peninsula Farmer (1923–1933)
* Northern Sportsman (1924–1931)
* Loxton Clarion and Murray Lands Guardian (1925–1928)
* Australische Zeitung (1927-1929)
* Lameroo Mail (1927)
* Kimba Dispatch (1927–1941)
* Mid–North Courier (1928–1942)
* Western Mail (1928-1930)
* Times Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay and Lower Murray Pilot (1930–1932)
* Challenger (1932–1934)
* Victor Harbor Times (1932–1986)
* Farmer (1933–1947)
* Junction News (1940-1946)
* Producer (1940–1941; 1946–1983)
* Pinnaroo Border Times (1941–1987)
* Coromandel (1945–1970)
* Junction News and Owen Post (1946–1967)
* Kingston Weekly (1946–1951)
* South Australian Farmer (1948–1968)
* County Light Times (1949-1951)
* Northern Review (1949–1970)
* Eyre Peninsula Tribune (1950–2020)

1951–present

* Barossa and Light Herald (1951–2005)
* Berri Community News (1951–1962)
* Border Guardian (1952-1953)
* Mannum and District Recorder (1955–1960)
* Nuriootpa and District Community Diary (1955-1956)
* Loxton Community Newsletter (1956–1960)
* River News (1956–2020)
* Seasider (1956–1963)
* Chronicle: South East edition (1957–1969)
* K.I. Courier (1957–1968)
* Areas Express (1959-1960)
* Mount Barker Courier (1960–1983)
* Loxton News (1960–2020)
* Whyalla Times (1960)
* Moonta People's Weekly (1961–1966)
* Murray Plains Recorder (1961–1964)
* S.Y.P. Pioneer (1961–1969)
* Berri News (1962–1963)
* South–East Kingston Leader (1962–2001)
* South Coast News (1965)
* Gilbert Valley News (1965-1967)
* Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta Times (1966–1968)
* Islander (1967–1982)
* Junction and Gilbert Valley News (1967-1969)
* South Coast Sports News (1969)
* Yorke Peninsula News–Pictorial (1969–1970)
* Coromandel Times (1970-1976)
* Review Times (1970–1977)
* Spencer Gulf Pictorial (1970-1992)
* Bridge Observer (1971-1976; 1983-1984)
* Northern Observer (1971)
* Port Pirie Star (1971-1972)
* Review-Times: City edition (1972-1973)
* Southern Review (1972-1973)
* Desert Sun (1973-1974)
* Scope (1973–1982)
* Review–Times–Record (1977–1989)
* Coober Pedy Times (1982–2001)
* Islander News Pictorial (1982–1987)
* Mannum Mercury (1983-1984)
* Bridge Mercury (1984)
* Eyre Peninsula Rural Chronicle (1987–1990)
* Northern Sun (1988–2002)
* South-West Post (1988-1989)
* Adelaide Hills and South-west Post (1989)
* Burra Broadcaster (1991-2006)
* SA's Country Trader (1992-1993)
* Local Trading Post [Clare] (1993-1994)
* Local Trading Post [Mt Gambier] (1994)
* Green Triangle Trading Post (1994-1995)
* Country Trading Post (1994–1995)
* Great Southern Star (1995–1999)
* Rural Trading Post (1995–2002)
* Peterborough Times (2003–2006)
* Roxby Downs Sun (2003–2015)
* Mid North Broadcaster (2006–2013)

Current

* Border Watch (1861–)
* Bunyip (1863–)
* Southern Argus (1866–)
* Northern Argus (1869–)
* South Eastern Times (1906–2020; 2022–)
* Border Chronicle (1908–)
* West Coast Sentinel (1912–)
* Transcontinental (1914–)
* Leader (1918–)
* Recorder (1919–)
* Port Lincoln Times (1927–)
* Murray Valley Standard (1934–)
* Whyalla News (1940–)
* Murray Pioneer (1942–)
* Pennant (1946–2020; 2022–)
* Naracoorte Herald (1948–)
* Gibber Gabber (1950–)
* Yorke Peninsula Country Times (1968–)
* Lakelander (1976–)
* Two Wells and Districts Echo (1978–)
* Courier (1983–)
* Plains Producer (1983–)
* Border Times (1987–)
* Islander (1987–)
* Victor Harbor Times (1987–)
* Flinders News (1989–)
* On the Coast (1989–)
* Paroikiako Vema (1994-)
* Coastal Leader (2001–)
* Coober Pedy Regional Times (2001–)
* Herald (2005–)
* Burra Broadcaster (2013–)
* Naracoorte Community News (2020–)
* SE Voice (2020–)
* Eyre Peninsula Advocate (2021–)

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