The Bunyip Newspaper

**Fast Facts**
Type of organisation:	Business
Street number:	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

“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. Then for nearly twenty years if operated from a shop near the Prince Albert Hotel. After fire destroyed these premises, the business moved to its current location at 120 Murray Street, Gawler.

For 140 years until it was sold in 2003, “The Bunyip” was owned and sometimes edited, by successive members of the Barnet family. The current owner is the Taylor Group.

Some of the more notable editors of 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.