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The Port Phillip Herald founded in Melbourne

When
1840–1841
Where
Collins Street; Melbourne
Episodes
2

The Port Phillip Herald was founded in Melbourne on 3 January 1840 by George Cavenagh. It began as a semi-weekly publication from a weatherboard shack in Collins Street. The newspaper grew rapidly, achieving the largest circulation among Melbourne papers within eighteen months of its inauguration.

Episodes

  1. 3 January 1840 · Collins StreetFounding of the Port Phillip Herald

    George Cavenagh established the Port Phillip Herald in Melbourne on 3 January 1840, producing initial free editions from a weatherboard shack in Collins Street.

  2. within eighteen months of 3 January 1840 (approx. 1840 to mid-1841) · MelbourneRapid Circulation Growth

    Within eighteen months of its launch, the Port Phillip Herald achieved the largest circulation among all Melbourne newspapers.

Background and detail

Background. Prior to the Port Phillip Herald, Melbourne had several short-lived publications, including the hand-written Melbourne Advertiser produced by John Pascoe Fawkner starting in 1838, as well as the Port Phillip Gazette and The Port Phillip Patriot. These earlier efforts preceded the establishment of the Port Phillip Herald, which began publishing in early 1840.

Founding. George Cavenagh brought his family, staff, and machinery to Melbourne to establish the Port Phillip Herald. The first editions were produced as free copies from a weatherboard shack in Collins Street. The newspaper was initially a semi-weekly publication, marking a significant development in Melbourne's press history.

Growth. Within eighteen months of its inauguration, the Port Phillip Herald achieved the largest circulation of all Melbourne papers. This rapid growth established its prominence in the local media landscape.

People involved

Sources

  1. The Herald (Melbourne) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-16
  2. Herald Sun Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-05

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.