Editing The Bunyip

{{Short description|Weekly newspaper published in Gawler, South Australia}}
{{For|the mythical creature|Bunyip}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Italic title}}
[[File:The Bunyip.jpg|alt=The Bunyip Newspaper building|thumb|The Bunyip newspaper building, Gawler South, South Australia established 1863]]

'''''The Bunyip''''' is a weekly newspaper, first printed on 5 September 1863, and originally published and printed in [[Gawler, South Australia]]. Its distribution area includes the [[Town of Gawler|Gawler]], [[Barossa Council|Barossa]], [[Light Regional Council|Light]], [[City of Playford|Playford]], and [[Adelaide Plains Council|Adelaide Plains]] areas. Along with [[Murray Pioneer|''The Murray Pioneer'']], ''[[The River News]]'', and ''[[The Loxton News]],'' ''The Bunyip'' was now owned (since 2003) by the Taylor Group of Newspapers and printed in [[Renmark, South Australia|Renmark]].<ref name=LoxtonNews2018>{{Cite web|url=http://www.loxton-news.com.au/|title=The Loxton News - The Taylor Group of Newspapers|website=www.loxton-news.com.au|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref>

On 1 April 2020, ''The Bunyip'' announced that it would cease publication "indefinitely" as a result of losses due to the coronavirus crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-01|title=SA country newspaper closes "indefinitely" and Messenger stops printing|url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2020/04/01/sa-country-newspaper-closes-indefinitely-and-messenger-stops-printing/|access-date=2020-09-15|website=InDaily|language=en}}</ref> However, due to public support, the newspaper was able to return shortly afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dickson|first=Gary|title=Local news sources are closing across Australia. We are tracking the devastation (and some reasons for hope)|url=http://theconversation.com/local-news-sources-are-closing-across-australia-we-are-tracking-the-devastation-and-some-reasons-for-hope-139756|access-date=2020-09-15|website=The Conversation|date=8 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In August–October 2020, with the temporary closure of ''[[The Border Watch]]'', ''The Bunyip'' briefly became South Australia's oldest rural newspaper still in print.

==History==
Originally a monthly publication, the first issue of ''The Bunyip'', subtitled "''Gawler Humbug Society's Chronicle''"{{efn|Members of the Humbug Society included [[E. L. Grundy]], [[L. S. Burton]], [[George Isaacs (author)|George Isaacs]], [[J. P. Stow]], and Dr. George Nott (c. 1822–1872)}} was issued on 5 September 1863, consisted of eight pages and was priced at 6d.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article0 |title=[No heading]. |newspaper=Bunyip |location=Gawler, SA |date=5 September 1863 |accessdate=22 July 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The name was chosen because "the [[Bunyip]] is the true type of Australian Humbug!"<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bunyippress.com.au/fixed/history.html |title = The Bunyip |year = 2000 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060721004112/http://www.bunyippress.com.au/fixed/history.html |archivedate = 21 July 2006 |work = Home Page |publisher = The Bunyip, (Gawler's Weekly Newspaper) |quote = Beneath the nineteenth-century dignity of colonial Gawler ran an undercurrent of excitement. Somewhere in the mildness of the spring afternoon an antiquated press clacked out a monotonous rhythm with a purpose never before known in the town. Then the undercurrent burst in a wave of jubilation—Gawler's first newspaper, ''The Bunyip'', was on the streets.}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50169648 |title=Gawler |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=7 September 1863 |accessdate=22 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} High praise indeed!</ref>

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 up-sized to [[broadsheet]] format, and its title had become ''The Bunyip or Gawler Chronicle and Northern Advertiser''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39127645 |title=Advertising. |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=7 January 1865 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The following year it became a weekly.<!--Alas years 1866 to 1868 are missing from Trove's database--> By this time however, the paper's original offbeat stance had quite vanished and it had become a regular newspaper.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

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).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sacountrypress.com.au/index.php/gawler|title=Gawler|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en-gb}}</ref> Another rival, the weekly (later biweekly) '''''Gawler Mercury''''' (27 November 1875 – 8 July 1876)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/9731117|title=Gawler mercury|date=1875|publisher=Gawler, S. Aust. : Robert Henry Ball|language=English}}</ref> also folded after a brief run of less than nine months. In February 1885 ''The Bunyip'''s building was destroyed by fire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35977258 |title=Fire at Gawler |newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=27 February 1885 |accessdate=16 January 2015 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Barnet again wasted no time in having 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),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44573843 |title=Obituary |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |volume=LI |issue=12,422 |location=South Australia |date=6 September 1886 |access-date=27 January 2022 |page=2 (Supplement to the South Australian Register.) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> its proprietor, for an immediate merger.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160735853 |title=Newspaper Changes at Gawler |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |date=7 March 1885 |accessdate=16 January 2015 |page=36 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In January 1969, the newspaper absorbed the ''[[Junction and Gilbert Valley News]]'', which had been published in [[Hamley Bridge, South Australia|Hamley Bridge]] since February 1940.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Laube|first=Anthony|title=LibGuides: SA Newspapers: F-L|url=http://guides.slsa.sa.gov.au/c.php?g=410317&p=2796342|access-date=2018-08-17|website=guides.slsa.sa.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>

==Controversies==
''The Bunyip''<nowiki/>'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 Kapunda Herald|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39125176 |title=Law and Criminal Courts |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=18 March 1864 |accessdate=22 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Four years later, Barnet was sued in the SA. Supreme Court by [[Henry Edward Bright|Henry Edward Bright MP]], for libel and found not guilty. This was greeted by both ''[[South Australian Register|The Register]]'' and the ''[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|Advertiser]]'' as a landmark decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39179686 |title=Law of Libel |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=29 February 1868 |accessdate=22 July 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==List of owners==
*William Barnet (1834–1895) married Hannah Burfield. His daughter Edith Violet Barnet married Frederic C. Custance, son of Professor [[John D. Custance]] in 1916.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59634198 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)]] |volume=LXXXI |issue=21,630 |location=South Australia |date=7 March 1916 |accessdate=14 September 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Robert Henry Barnet (c. 1869–1917) was third son of William and Hannah<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164135920 |title=Mr. Robert Henry Barnet. |newspaper=[[The Observer (Adelaide)]] |volume=LXXIV |issue=5,662 |location=South Australia |date=8 September 1917 |accessdate=14 September 2020 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Frank L(indley) Barnet (1876–1941), a graduate of [[Roseworthy College]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63780557 |title=Roseworthy Old Boys |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)]] |volume=12 |issue=605 |location=South Australia |date=22 December 1923 |accessdate=2 May 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> was owner from 1917. He was fifth son of William and Hannah, married Clarice Isobel Carne in 1919.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96697244 |title=The Late Mr. F. L. Barnet |newspaper=The Bunyip |issue=4,753 |location=South Australia |date=28 March 1941 |accessdate=14 September 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Kenneth Lindley "Ken" Barnet (1919–2000) was son of Frank and Clarice.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
*John Barnet ran the paper from 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=2596|title=SA Newspapers: ''The Bunyip''|publisher=State Library of South Australia|accessdate=2 May 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604081826/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=2596|archivedate=4 June 2016}}</ref>
*It remained in the Barnet family until 2003. It is now owned by the Taylor Group, also a family concern,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bunyippress.com.au/the-bunyip-farewells-a-legend/|title=The Bunyip farewells a legend|publisher=The Bunyip|author=Rob McLean|date=16 July 2014|accessdate=2 May 2016}}</ref> who are also owners of the ''Murray Pioneer'', based in [[Renmark, South Australia|Renmark]].<ref name=LoxtonNews2018/>

==List of editors==
{{more citations needed|date=February 2019}}

*Dr. George Nott 1863 to 1866<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59129354 |title=Concerning People |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=28 September 1910 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*T. Godfrey 1867 to 1868 (went on to ''[[Wallaroo Times]]'' then [[New Zealand]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97205966 |title=Barossa Mining News. |newspaper=Bunyip |location=Gawler, SA |date=9 January 1874 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> 
*J. B. Austin 1868 (then founded ''[[Gawler Times]]'')<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31987313 |title=Topics of the Day |newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=8 March 1869 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Benjamin Hoare 1869 to 1871 (later to have an illustrious career with the [[Melbourne Age]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41139664 |title=Obituary |newspaper=[[The Cairns Post]] |location=Qld. |date=10 February 1932 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*[[Edward Grundy]] 1871 to 1875 ([[Members of the South Australian House of Assembly, 1860–1862|ex-parliamentarian]] and political aspirant 1875)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77178089 |title=Our Adelaide Letter |newspaper=[[The Border Watch]]|location=Mount Gambier, SA |date=23 January 1875 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*[[George E. Loyau]] 1878 to 1879 (an important historian of the district)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106564926 |title=Our City Letter |newspaper=[[Kapunda Herald]] |location=SA |date=17 August 1880 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*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)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106565422 |title=Gawler |newspaper=[[Kapunda Herald]] |location=SA |date=2 November 1880 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Alfred Drakard 1881 to 1882
*Henry John "Harry" Congreve 1885 to 1890 (also prominent writer to [[Adelaide]] papers as "H. J. C.")<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91074258 |title=Mrs. J. M. Congreve. |newspaper=[[The Chronicle (Adelaide)|The Chronicle]] |location=Adelaide |date=27 December 1934 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=14 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57522727 |title=A Versatile Octogenarian |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=31 March 1909 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*[[E. H. Coombe]] 1890 to 1914
*Robert Barnet 1914 to 1917
*[[Leslie Duncan|Leslie S. Duncan]] 1917 to c. 1945 Duncan was [[Members of the South Australian House of Assembly, 1944–1947|M.P.]] for [[Electoral district of Gawler|Gawler]], and with the Bunyip for 30 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97266974 |title=About 30 Years as Editor and Manager. |newspaper=[[The Northern Argus]] |location=Clare, SA |date=9 May 1946 |accessdate=23 July 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*Ken Barnet c. 1945 to c. 1965
*Paul Vincent c. 1965 to ??
*Ken Barnet
*John Barnet 1975 to 2003
*Terry Williams 2003 to 2004
*Heidi Helbig 2004 
*Rob McLean 2011
*Grady Hudd 2016
*Nick Hopton 2021 to 2022
*Vanessa Rose 2022
*Brendan Simpkins 2022 to 2023
Ben Lennon, November 2023 - current

==Distribution==
Like other Taylor Group publications, the newspaper is also available online.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bunyip.realviewdigital.com/#folio=1|title=The Bunyip : April 18th 2018, Page 1|website=bunyip.realviewdigital.com|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bunyip]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://bunyippress.com.au/ Company website]
* [http://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/The_Bunyip.pdf "The Bunyip": Gawler Public Library Historical Pamphlet No. 5]

{{South Australia newspapers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunyip}}
[[Category:Newspapers published in South Australia]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1863]]
[[Category:Gawler, South Australia]]
[[Category:Newspapers on Trove]]
[[Category:Weekly newspapers published in Australia]]