TheSouthern Argus is a newspaper first published from March 1866 inPort Elliot, South Australia, and then inStrathalbyn from 1868 to the present.[1][2] It is published on Thursdays.
TheSouthern Argus (as distinct from theNorthern Argus published inClare) is one of the state's oldest country newspapers, privately owned by the Elliott and Jones families for 140 years. It was founded byEbenezer Ward (1837–1917) in Port Elliot as a weekly newspaper, the first issue appearing on Saturday 17 March 1866. While primarily called theSouthern 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 theRiver Murray trade. Using the originalObserver 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 ofThe Kapunda Herald.[5] Elliott bought his partner out shortly after.[6]
Joseph W. Elliott (1853–1939), only son of Joseph Elliott,[7] was educated byW. S. Moore, later atAdelaide 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 theSouthern Argus and River Murray Advertiser. On 4 January 1893, it lengthened again toTheSouthern Argus Strathalbyn, Goolwa, and River Murray Advertiser, later variously re-addingVictor Harbor, Milang, Meningie. On 14 August 1940, the subtitle was finally removed.
TheSouthern Argus published serials and poems by South Australian writers. The first serial wasMiddle Life: a tale by James Dunlop, in 1870.[10][11]
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, andGoolwa.
This newspaper title has been preserved onmicrofilm by theState Library of South Australia.[12] It has been digitised from the microfilm for theAustralian Newspapers Digitisation Project of theNational Library of Australia.[13]