Barnet Ken Lindley
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1919-11-13 |
| Place of birth | High street Gawler |
| Principal occupation | Printer Publisher , Newspaper owner |
| Date of death | 2000-05-16 |
| Significant places | Calton Road 6 |
The Savior of the Press: The Life of Kenneth Lindley Barnet (1919–2000)
The story of Gawler’s "Modern Athens" would likely have fallen silent if not for the grit and vision of Kenneth Lindley Barnet. A third-generation newspaperman and grandson of The Bunyip founder William Barnet, Ken was born on November 13, 1919, at Sister Sutton’s Private Hospital on High Street. His life’s journey would see him travel from the trenches of the Great Depression to the battlefields of the Pacific, eventually returning to pull a Gawler icon back from the brink of bankruptcy.
A Foundation in Ink and Iron
Educated at Gawler Primary, Scotch College in Melbourne, and Gawler High, Ken entered the family business at the tender age of 14 in 1935. This was an era of profound hardship; the Great Depression had drained the town’s resources. Ken "cut his teeth" at The Bunyip office, mastering hand type-setting and treadle printing machines. After earning his stripes at the printers’ trade school in Adelaide, he became a qualified operator of the formidable Linotype machine.
Service and Sacrifice
When World War II broke out, Ken joined the 18th Light Horse, training at the Gawler Racecourse alongside familiar local names like Jack Ifould and Frank Allwood. After a training injury and subsequent recuperation, he joined the RAAF 34th Squadron as a fitter. His service took him to Darwin shortly after the Japanese bombings, and later to Morotai and New Guinea.
During this time, tragedy struck twice. His father, Frank, passed away during Ken’s overseas posting. Later, while serving in New Guinea, Ken received word that his mother, Clarice, was gravely ill. Despite a grueling multi-day flight back to Gawler, he arrived home one day too late to say goodbye.
Rebuilding a Legend
Returning from the war, Ken found The Bunyip in a state of crisis—heavily in debt and facing closure. With the financial support of his wife, Daphne, whom he married during the war, Ken embarked on a 25-year mission to save the publication. He was a "hands-on" proprietor in the truest sense: he was the administrator, editor, writer, proofreader, and the man who scrubbed the ink off the heavy rollers at the end of every press run.
Pioneer of the Suburban Press
Ken Barnet was not just a protector of tradition; he was a pioneer. In 1948, he acquired the Salisbury News, transforming it into the Salisbury-Elizabeth Times. This was the first suburban newspaper in South Australia, a visionary move that captured the rapid growth of the Elizabeth satellite city in the 1950s.
In 1959, he installed his "pride and joy"—the Cossar Press. This 16-ton flatbed semi-rotary machine was a marvel of the industry, capable of churning out 4,000 sixteen-page papers per hour.
A Meeting of Media Giants
In the early 1960s, as competition from The Messenger intensified, Ken made a historic business decision. He sold the Salisbury-Elizabeth Times to a rising young media mogul named Rupert Murdoch. It was one of Murdoch’s earliest acquisitions before he built his global empire. Crucially, Ken refused to part with his beloved Bunyip, ensuring it remained a fiercely independent local voice.
Legacy and Retirement
Ken stepped aside in 1977, handing the reins to his sons with the business in excellent financial health. He spent his retirement at West Beach and West Lakes Shore, finally unwinding from the high-pressure world of deadlines.
When he passed away on May 16, 2000, Gawler lost more than a businessman; it lost the man who ensured that the town's history would continue to be printed, page by page, for generations to come.
Fast Facts: Ken Lindley Barnet
- Born: November 13, 1919 (High Street, Gawler)
- Died: May 16, 2000 (Aged 80)
- Key Residence: 6 Calton Road, Gawler
- Military Service: 18th Light Horse; RAAF 34th Squadron (Darwin, Morotai, New Guinea)
- Major Achievement: Founded the first suburban newspaper in SA and saved The Bunyip from bankruptcy.
Remembered as a loyal and devoted husband for 56 years , he had a wonderful and sometimes wicked sense of humour.
Mr. Barnet is survived by wife Daphne , four sons (John, Anthony, Craig, and Paul) and eight grandchildren( Belinda, Jodie, Megan, Ben, Nicki, James, Liam and Callum Barnet).
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