Abstract

The anatomy of a conservative newspaper born in a cradle of radicalism

A case study of the Western Champion, Queensland, as an independent voice in the midst of hostile opposition. The newspaper was established at Blackall in 1879 but shifted to Barcaldine in 1887 and was published there for 50 years. The newspaper was established with a conservative policy and maintained this stance strongly during the shearers' strike of 1891. This strike is seen as providing the beginnings of the Australian Labor Party, with much discussion and debate occurring under Barcaldine's "Tree of Knowledge". Much discussion and debate occurred also in the columns of the Western Champion. Two families ran the paper for its 57 years.

Rod Kirkpatrick
University of Queensland