Victoria’s First Newspaper

John Pascoe Fawkner was one of the first Europeans to settle in Victoria when, in 1835, he founded a small settlement which would later become Melbourne. Soon afterwards, he opened the first hotel, The Fawkner Hotel, on the corner of Market Street and Flinders Lane.

On New Year's Day, 1838, he published the district’s first newspaper, The Melbourne Advertiser. The first ten editions were handwritten, and thirty copies were available for sale at a price of 1 shilling per copy.

The newspapers can be read on Trove. The contents included details of life in the colony, the cost of goods and services, and shipping information. One article that caught my eye advertised a crossing between ‘Williams Town and the opposite Beach’. Parties were requested to ‘raise a smoke’ to summon the service.

From the Melbourne Advertiser 12th February 1838.

The undersigned begs to inform the Public that he keeps a Boat and two men in readiness for the Purpose of Crossing and recrossing Passengers between Williams Town and the opposite Beach.

Parties from Melbourne are requested to raise a smoke and the Boat will be at their service as soon a practicable.

The least Charge is 5 shillings and 2/ each when the number exceeds two.

H McLean

Williams Town, February 9th, 1838

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article292259121