The Bunyip Newspaper
| Type of organisation: | Business |
| Also known as: | Bunyip Office |
| Street number: | 118 and 120 |
| Street name: | Murray |
| Street suffix: | Street |
| Town or locality: | Gawler |
| Date established: | 1863 |
| Established by: | William Barnet and the Humbug Society |
| Business or purpose: | Printer and publisher |
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The Bunyip was first published in 1863. E H Coombe in his History of Gawler 1837-1908 claimed that it was the first provincial newspaper in South Australia. It was a collaboration between William Barnet, manager and printer, and the Humbug Society with George Nott as the first editor. The first issue was full of biting satire and tongue-in-cheek commentary and it sold out as soon as it was published. Originally appearing as a monthly pamphlet, it became so popular that is was not long before it was published as a bi-monthly broadsheet and then a year or so later as a weekly publication.
Why was it called The Bunyip? In the first edition which was published on 5 September 1863, the following explanation was given: “Because the Bunyip is the true type of Australian Humbug! Go where you will in Australia, the poor benighted blackfellow, if he wished to astonish you with unheard marvels or strike you with supreme terror raises before you the shadow of the mysterious Bunyip – ever near – ever promising to appear – but ever eluding sight and grasp – true type of Humbug!"
With the passage of time, The Bunyip became less satirical and more of an orthodox newspaper which reported on events and opinions but initially it was solely a vehicle of the satire and wit which were the trademark of the Humbug Society. As a result of the publication of material which Dr William Popham claimed made him the subject of contempt and ridicule, the owner was threatened with an action for libel. A full account of the Popham V. Barnet” court hearing, which was described as “vastly entertaining”, can be read in The Bunyip of Saturday, April 2, 1864.
The Bunyip has been published from various locations, the first being a shop near the Baptist Church in Murray Street. A short stint in Walker Place ( property owned by James Martin ), Then for nearly twenty years, it operated from a shop near the Prince Albert Hotel. After a fire destroyed these premises, the business moved to 118 Murray st and then later to where it operated from 120 Murray Street, Gawler (next door) until 2025.
For 140 years it remained in the Barnet family until it was sold in 2003, The Bunyip was sometimes edited, by successive members of the Barnet family. The current owner is the Star Group. The paper is no longer based in Murray Street
Some of the editors of note at the newspaper have been George Nott, Edward Grundy, George Loyau, E.H. Coombe, Robert Barnet, L S Duncan, Ken Barnet, Paul Vincent and John Barnet.
History
Originally a monthly publication, the first issue of The Bunyip, subtitled "Gawler Humbug Society's Chronicle" was issued on 5 September 1863, consisted of eight pages and was priced at 6d. The name was chosen because "the Bunyip is the true type of Australian Humbug!" 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.
With three newspapers published in Gawler at the time, conditions allowed William Barnet, the proprietor, to purchase rival the Gawler Times (5 March 1869 to 27 June 1873). Another rival, the weekly (later biweekly) Gawler Mercury (27 November 1875 – 8 July 1876) also folded after a brief run of less than nine months. In February 1885 The Bunyip's building was destroyed by fire. William Barnet again wasted no time in purchasing its competitor of seven years, the Gawler Standard (11 January 1878 – 27 February 1885), take over printing duties, then arranged with J. N. Richards (died 23 August 1886), its proprietor, for an immediate merger using their print equipment already set up at 118 Murray street and not missing an issue.
In January 1969, the newspaper absorbed the Junction and Gilbert Valley News, which had been published in Hamley Bridge since February 1940.
Controversies
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.
List of editors
- Dr. George Nott 1863 to 1866
- T. Godfrey 1867 to 1868 (went on to Wallaroo Times then New Zealand)
- J. B. Austin 1868 (then founded Gawler Times)
- Benjamin Hoare 1869 to 1871 (later to have an illustrious career with the Melbourne Age)
- Edward Grundy 1871 to 1875 (ex-parliamentarian and political aspirant 1875)
- George E. Loyau 1878 to 1879 (an important historian of the district)
- Louis Joseph Wilson 1880 (arrested for embezzling £107 10s. 6d. from Mudla Wirra council, of which he was clerk. Was also secretary of the Jockey Club)
- Alfred Drakard 1881 to 1882
- Henry John "Harry" Congreve 1885 to 1890 (also prominent writer to Adelaide papers as "H. J. C.")
- E. H. Coombe 1890 to 1914
- Robert Barnet 1914 to 1917
- Leslie S. Duncan 1917 to c. 1945 Duncan was M.P. for Gawler, and with the Bunyip for 30 years.
- Ken Barnet c. 1945 to c. 1965
- Paul Vincent c. 1965
- Ken Barnet 196? to 1975
- John Barnet 1975 to 2003
- Terry Williams 2003 to 2004
- Heidi Helbig 2004 to 2011
- Rob McLean 2011 to 2016
- Grady Hudd 2016 to 2021
- Nick Hopton 2021 to 2022
- Vanessa Rose 2022
- Brendan Simpkins 2022 to 2023
- Ben Lennon, November 2023 - current
For more photos relating to The Bunyip, please click here.
Thank you to Paul Barnet for supplying the following digitized "Modern Athens Cook Book 1927" - Take a look at the last page. https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4EjkA7CXbhAR1RMWWhNdllhMGM - Compressed
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4EjkA7CXbhATUlYOEswcTRJM0U - High Quality.
Please click the links below to read The Bunyip from: <1864> <1936> <1952>
'How Gawler and The Bunyip won two hearts' by Pat and Paul Vincent Read PDF here.
Please <click here> to read "The Bunyip Celebrates 157 Years" published 14 October 2020.
Please <click here> to read about The Bunyip Pie recipe - published 14 October 2020.
Please <click here> to read "The Women Behind The Bunyip" published 14 October 2020.
Please <click here> to read "The Bunyip Celebrates 157 Years (Part 2)" published 14 October 2020.
Please <click here> to read comments by Mayor Karen Redman, and Member for Light, Tony Piccolo on The Bunyip's 157th birthday. Published 14 October 2020.
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External Links
References
Memories of The Bunyip Newspaper
Please email information@gawlerhistory.com with any information you have about The Bunyip Newspaper, and we'll add your comments and information to this website.
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