The Australiana Research Collection holds many treasures including examples of newspapers and magazine from Ballarat's past that are no longer being published. This display will highlight some of these treasures.
Newspapers have long been an important form of communication through the ages. They have kept their communities informed of the latest newsworthy happenings both within the local community and further afield. This was true for Ballarat, where its residents, like many other towns across Australia, had immigrated largely from the United Kingdom or other parts of Europe. News from overseas was eagerly awaited and newspapers provided immigrants with a valued link to their homelands.
Ballarat has a long history of newspaper publishing. Titles like 'The Ballarat Times', 'Ballarat Punch', 'The Chinese Advertiser', 'The Miner', 'The Evening Echo' and 'The Ballarat Star', offer a tangible connection to Ballarat's history.
Two original editions of 'The Corn Stalk', civic leader James Oddies' newspaper, which ran for only a few issues, are amongst the rarest items presented in the display. Another important featured publication is 'Ballarat Punch', which is notable for its satirical illustrations.
'The Chinese Advertiser' and 'The English Chinese Advertiser' provide an important link to the Chinese community that flourished in Ballarat during the goldrush. This newspaper was founded by Robert Bell to inform the local Chinese community of events and information happening on the Ballarat goldfields. Again, there are very few copies of these newspapers in existence.
Image: 'Design for a Transparency, respectfully dedicated to the two Boroughs of Ballarat, by Mr. Punch' in Ballarat Punch, p. 505, September 21, 1867, Ballarat, Victoria, Australiana Research Collection.
