Provincial Newspapers (QLD) Ltd

The Dunns owned or part-owned newspapers in the Queensland country towns of Maryborough, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Nambour, and Bundaberg. It was the most influential family in the PNQ conglomerate.

Andrew Dunn (Senior) (1854-1934 ) was born on 24 May 1854 at Greenock, Scotland.[3] In 1879, Dunn married Kate McIntyre and the couple arrived in Queensland in 1880. They had five sons, one of whom died in infancy. The remaining four later played integral roles in the family's newspaper business. Kate Dunn died in 1889, at the age of 34.[3]

On 18 November 1891, Dunn married his second wife, Jane Cran. Together the couple had four children, two sons and two daughters. The sons of this marriage were also involved in the family newspaper trade. Dunn and his wife worked amicably as a ‘power couple’ and Jane was noted as an '... astute adviser in business affairs.'[4] Encouraged by the already well-established newspaper dynasties of the time, Dunn had his family trained in newspaper industry practices. Dunn's participation in the community extended beyond his involvement in the newspaper business, and in 1903 and 1914 Dunn served as the mayor of Maryborough.[3]

In 1911, using the profits generated by The Chronicle, the Dunn family expanded their enterprise by acquiring the controlling interest in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin. Dunn employed his children, Andrew Dunn Jr. and Herbert Dunn, in managerial positions within his provincial publications.

The Dunn family soon realised that their provincial newspapers could not survive in a region so close to a metropolitan area, where the newspaper industry was more technologically advanced. This realisation led to their merger of The Warwick Argus with the Irwin family's Examiner & 'Times.[4] This resulted, on 1 February 1919, in Andrew Dunn becoming the '...man who initiated the first chain of major provincial newspapers in Queensland.’[4] These families also merged the Widebay and Burnett News and the Maryborough Chronicle.

Andrew Dunn's second wife, Jane Dunn, died on 14 August 1930 and he later married the head of the Queensland Country Press Association (QCPA), Ms. Marcella Heller Foote. The couple had no children. Andrew Dunn senior died on 29 April 1934.

William Herbert Dunn (1883–1961) was born on 11 September 1883 in Toowoomba. Herbert Dunn was known for ‘install[ing] dictaphones to take copy by telephone from the Country Press Association’s news service in Brisbane.'[3] He was managing director of the Toowoomba enterprises from 1922 to 1951 and died on 4 April 1961.

The Irwin family had a long standing involvement in the Warwick press. Three generations of the family were active over 101 years.[1]

Samuel John Irwin (1838-1909) was born in Newtown, Limavady, Ireland. In 1841, the Irwin family emigrated to the United States of America where Samuel Irwin lived for approximately 28 years before arriving by boat in Brisbane on 26 June 1866.[4] Irwin worked for The Queensland Times, Ipswich, before moving to Warwick to assist in launching a rival paper called the Examiner & Times on 15 February 1867.[4] Irwin was a compositor during the early years of the newspaper and later formed a partnership with Richard Appleby Cowton. This partnership lasted until Cowton’s death in 1891 with Cowton taking major responsibility for the paper. Irwin was a competent printer and businessman. However, he spent the majority of his time developing his vineyards, rather than improving his journalistic skills.[4] After Cowton’s death, Irwin appointed Harry Sterne as the editor of the Examiner & Times. In 1899, Irwin bought out the Cowton family’s remaining interest in the publication.

On 23 December 1878, Samuel Irwin married Matilda Jane Boyd at the Presbyterian Church in Toowoomba. They had four sons and two daughters. Three of Irwin’s sons continued in the family business, Samuel Boyd ("S.B. Irwin") (1879–1933), William John Boyd ("W.J.B.") (1885–1958), and James (1887–1966).

On 28 July 1909, Samuel Irwin died, leaving the business to his wife and family. Matilda Irwin became the proprietor, with her eldest son, Samuel, becoming manager and Sterne remaining as the editor.[1] In 1919, the Irwins’ merged the Examiner with the Argus, which had been purchased in 1914 by the Dunns, to form the Warwick Daily News. S.B. Irwin became associate editor, brother William took charge of the printing side and James ran the commercial printing section’.[4] S.B. Irwin later became editor of the Warwick Daily News but resigned in 1926 after he was unable to get his brother's support for paying award wages as the editor. W.J.B. Irwin became the next editor of Warwick Daily News, a position he held until 1945. ‘The Irwins worked with the Dunns till 1936 when they bought back the Dunns’ controlling interest for 7500 pounds.’[1] W.J.B. Irwin then became the chairman of directors, and held the position until his death on 3 November 1958. James Irwin was then appointed chairman and held this position until his death on 20 October 1966.[4] James’ son, Lyle, then became chairman until his death on 14 February 1972.[4] This was not the last family connection with the company, however, Edwin Hollingworth, husband of Mary Irwin, daughter of W.J.B. Irwin, became the company's business manager on 1 January 1946 and the managing director in 1962. Hollingworth was appointed to the PNQ board in 1962 acting on behalf of the Irwins. His son, Robert Paul, assumed managerial control in 1979.[4] Robert Paul was the third and final chief executive of PNQ and was the fourth generation of Irwins to be involved.[1]

The Manning family was active in Gympie, Gladstone, and Mackay.

William Joseph "W.J." Manning (1864–1943) was born in Eden, Twofold Bay, New South Wales. His parents relocated to Brisbane when he was three but soon moved to Gympie following the gold rush. Manning left school two months before his 14th birthday. At the behest of his parents, he reluctantly started a printing apprenticeship at the Gympie Times on 1 April 1878.[4] By the age of 21, Manning had completed his apprenticeship and moved to Brisbane to start work on Figaro, a ‘bright glossy weekly.’[4] Manning married Charlotte Emma Black in 1888 and in 1889, they were expecting their first child. In the same year, Manning successfully applied for the role of manager for The Observer (Gladstone). After only one year as manager, William Manning purchased the remaining interests from William Peel Mellefont's widow and brother to become proprietor and editor of The Observer (Gladstone). He held this role for over 20 years. W.J.'s son, Henry John ("Jack") Manning, was born in Gladstone on 6 August 1889. Jack's eventual involvement in the newspaper trade was to span 70 years.

W.J. Manning was an influential member of the Gladstone community. He was Mayor in 1897, 1898 and 1901.[1] In 1910, Manning visited Mackay to purchase equipment for the Port Curtis Dairy Factory, just one of the many organisations in which he held the chairman's position. During his time in Mackay, he noticed the office of the Daily Mercury and enquired whether the newspaper was for sale. Manning purchased 2200 shares from A.F. Williams, with Williams resigning on 24 April 1910. Manning took over as managing editor[4] selling the profitable The Observer (Gladstone) to John Henry Kessell. He moved his family to Mackay to run the struggling Daily Mercury. Less than one year after his appointment as managing editor of the Daily Mercury, at a salary of 400 pounds a year, Manning became managing director.[4] In 1917, Manning became the chairman of directors and, by 1924, the Manning family had become proprietors of the publication.[4]

Manning was devoted to the Daily Mercury and the Mackay district, investing all his savings to that end. The news columns in the Daily Mercury were known to be ‘balanced and straightforward’ as Manning would never permit news to be ‘coloured with animosities.’[3] ‘Despite the editorial, managerial, and proprietorial demands at the Daily Mercury, W.J. Manning maintained a close and active interest in numerous organisations’[5] alongside local and state politics. In 1918, Manning unsuccessfully stood against the State Member for Mackay, William Forgan Smith.

The Daily Mercury was successful under Manning's control. On 27 July 1932, shareholders agreed to privately register the company and changed its name to Mackay Printing and Publishing Company (Pty.) Ltd. It also bought 50 per cent of Radio 4MK, Mackay's first radio broadcasting service. In 1937, Manning became the director and licensee of the radio station.

Manning's wife, Charlotte, died on 10 October 1938 and Manning relinquished editorial control of the Daily Mercury, appointing H.A. Moore as editor. Manning remained the chairman of directors and managers, and secretariat until his death on 24 April 1943.

Henry John "Jack" Manning (1889–1978), son of William Joseph Manning, was born on 6 August 1889. He was educated at Gladstone State School and the Normal School, Brisbane. He undertook a printer's apprenticeship before training as a cadet journalist for The Observer (Gladstone).[6] After his father became principal shareholder of the Daily Mercury in 1910 he had the opportunity to work in the composing room, and as a reporter, sub-editor, gradually preparing for a managerial role.[6]

He married Alison Morcom on 21 March 1916. They had two children, one of whom, Clarence Morcom "Clarrie" Manning (1917 – n.d.), played an integral role in the development of PNQ. Clarrie believed the success of the Daily Mercury was due to W.J. Manning's three-pronged plan to modernised the plant, invest money into the newspaper, and employ the right people.[5] Clarence Manning married and had two sons and three daughters. In 1918, Jack became the business manager for the Daily Mercury. He also held other notable positions. He was a board member of the QCPA, becoming chairman in 1934 and holding that position for 43 years. He became the President of the QCPA (Queensland Country Press Association) in 1928 and held this position for two years. In 1936, he became involved with the Australian Provincial Daily Press, serving over 40 years on the body's central board. Manning served on several other community organisations and, in 1953, was appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 1956, Manning's wife died, and two years later he remarried the widow Edith Agnes Lynch née Clarkson . In 1958, he retired to Buderim, Queensland and died 10 October 1978.

Manning supported the proposed merger of the Manning, Dunn and Irwin family interests in regional papers as he saw that this merger would ‘prevent predatory metropolitan companies from buying up country newspapers one by one.’[6] In 1968, Provincial Newspapers (QLD) Ltd was formed.

Three other families had notable connections to PNQ: the Stephensons, Parkinsons, and Kippens. These families controlled the Ipswich-based The Queensland Times at the time of the merger which created PNQ. These families had ties to the newspaper industry lasting more than a century.

In 1861, Hugh Parkinson (1828-1909 ) and two fellow workers employed at the North Australian, Ipswich, had the opportunity to purchase a rival paper, The Ipswich Herald. On 8 October 1861, they took control of the newly named The Queensland Times.[1] Parkinson had previously been foreman printer on the North Australian but became the senior partner at The Queensland Times. 'The Parkinsons maintained direct representation in the partnership from 1861 till the PNQ merger and direct employment links till 1976.'[1]

Alfred John Stephenson (1846–1914) had experience as a composing room employee. However at The Queensland Times he became its managing director, a position he held for more than 45 years. Alfred Stephenson was an influential member of the Ipswich community. He was the mayor of Ipswich in 1907. Following in his father's footsteps, Alfred Tully Stephenson (1872–1938) ) worked in the newspaper industry and was mayor of Ipswich in: 1912, 1914, 1921–1929, and 1933–1938.[1] A further two generations of Stephensons worked at The Queensland Times. Their representation, which began in 1861, ended in 1975 when Gregory Stephenson resigned as editor.[1]

The Kippen family had commercial ties to The Queensland Times from 1862–1980. Their family representation ended when Norol Devon Kippen (1915–n.d.) retired as deputy editor.

In 1860–61, the Wide Bay and Burnett area quickly developed and prospered leading to the demand for provincial newspapers in the region.

The Maryborough Chronicle was first published in 1860, running triweekly until 1890 and then distributed on a daily basis. Within a year of its commencement, The Chronicle met competition in the form of the Maryborough Mail which commenced weekly publication in 1861. Subsequently, The Tribune commenced weekly publication in 1869. Then, in 1870, Wide Bay and Burnett News commenced triweekly publication, with The Colonist starting weekly publication in 1884.

In July 1861, in opposition to Toowoomba's original newspaper, the Darling Downs Gazette, a second journal, The Chronicle, was published providing an opposing political voice on local affairs.

In July 1861, The Bulletin was published for the Rockhampton area and its success led to Rockhampton overtaking Maryborough as the key provincial newspaper centre. 'The Bulletin promised to present full and late details of all events of local interest, with digests of foreign news to be given on the arrival of the mails.’[5] There was no telegraph to Rockhampton. Correspondents had been appointed in neighboring districts and from throughout the colonies. However, by January 1863, Rockhampton had its second newspaper, the Daily Northern Argus which succeeded a short-lived comic paper, Punch, which originated in July 1862.

In 1865, Rockhampton's third journal, The News was established. However, the Queensland economic depression of 1866-67 resulted in the closure of this newspaper together with other newspapers in neighbouring towns.

The establishment of Warwick’s first newspaper, The Mail, was delayed until September 1862 due to the lack of 'cohesion in the business community.'[5] There was strong rivalry between competing provincial newspapers owned by the Morgan and the Irwin families who '…were on opposite sides of the fence in the Warwick newspaper world and on many political issues for nearly half a century. In the manner of the times, the Argus and the Examiner sniped at one another constantly in their editorial columns.'[5] This battle continued until James Morgan bought The Argus from the Irwin family.

As overlanders began to bypass Rockhampton, Bowen became a main trading centre with newspaper demand ultimately resulting in the creation of The Port Denison Times in March 1864.

In February 1868, The Nashville Times was first published as a ‘biweekly to serve the fortune-hunting thousands who had swarmed to the Gympie Creek gold diggings.’[5] As the neighbouring towns of Clermont and Nashville were developed with a mining focus, these two towns were the ‘exception … to the rule of development inspired by pastoral expansion.’[5]

The continued expansion of Queensland frontiers led to the establishment of Townsville's first newspaper, The Cleveland Bay Express, in 1866. Later in 1876, The Townsville Herald was introduced and The Northern Standard soon followed.

In April 1866, Mackay's first journal, The Mackay Mercury, was established and published on a bi-weekly basis. The Mackay Standard commenced publication in 1877 on a weekly basis.

In 1855, The North Australian was first published in Ipswich and appeared weekly for four years before facing competition in the area. The Ipswich Herald was introduced to Ipswich in 1859 and also ran weekly. In 1861, both newspapers merged into one, being renamed The Queensland Times, which was first published on 8 October 1861.

In January 1868, Gladstone produced its first newspaper, The Observer (Gladstone). It was not until 18 years later that The Observer (Gladstone) faced competition from the Gladstone Advocate in 1886. Both newspapers were published biweekly.