The Goulburn Chronicle and Southern Advertiser (1855-1864)
The first number of a weekly newspaper, long promised to the southern district, made its appearance on Saturday morning, and from the opinion generally expressed here of its first issue, we augur for the Goulburn Chronicle and Southern Advertiser great success.History
The Goulburn Chronicle and Southern Advertiser, was an English-language newspaper, published in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, which made its debut appearance on Saturday 7 July 1855. At this time, it joined the Southern District’s only other newspaper, The Goulburn Herald and County of Argyle Advertiser. The Chronicle was a weekly, 8-page paper, angled toward political liberalism and with a particular interest in land issues.
Contents
Founders of The Chronicle were William Edward Vernon and Ludolf Theodore Mellin. They began their working relationship as printers of the Illustrated Sydney News, before announcing the cessation of their 'part-proprietorship' with that journal in March 1854. Goulburn solicitor and political activist Daniel Deniehy was offered an editorial share in their new paper, however Deniehy declined, being unable to afford two hundred pounds for the third share which Vernon and Mellin had offered him.
Apprentice workers were taken on to produce The Chronicle, and in 1857 one of these was 14-year-old Patrick Meehan. His apprenticeship continued until Mellin was charged with Meehan's assault. The case was dismissed, with Meehan's indentures cancelled by a court order. He had completed two years out of a five-year apprenticeship.
In 1860, Alfred Ellis, former sub-editor of the Empire (newspaper), joined The Chronicle, building its circulation almost equal to that of The Herald. Ellis left The Chronicle in 1863 due to ill health, retiring to his property at nearby Jerrara Creek.
On 2 January 1862 at age 35, Chronicle founder William Edward Vernon died after a lengthy period of suffering from facial cancer in the lower lip. Surviving him were his pregnant wife Margaret, and five children. The sale of Vernon’s interests and property from The Chronicle partnership were announced in June 1863. Mellin continued in proprietorship of The Chronicle for a short period following Vernon's death.
The Chronicle ceased independent publication altogether when it was bought out by rival publishers, William Russell Riley and John W Chisholm of The Goulburn Herald. The first issue of the newly incorporated Goulburn Herald and Chronicle appeared on 1 April 1864.
Digitisation
Surviving issues of The Goulburn Chronicle newspaper are from 1860 and 1861, digitised as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program project hosted by the National Library of Australia. Microfilm of The Goulburn Chronicle is held in the State Library of New South Wales.