The Bathurst Advocate

Not to be confused with The National Advocate.

The Bathurst Advocate was a weekly English language broadsheet newspaper published in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.^[1]

Cover page of Bathurst Advocate, 5 February 1848

History

This newspaper was first published on 5 February 1848 by Benjamin Isaacs, possibly with financial support from Geoffrey Amos Eagar, an accountant.^[2] Isaacs had previously set up two newspapers in Parramatta, New South Wales, as well as one in New Zealand.^[2] After 10 issues of the paper had been published, its subscribers numbered 70.^[2] Only 87 issues of the paper were published, the last being number 39 of Volume 2, which was published on 29 September 1849.^[1] The short life span of the newspaper has been attributed to two libel actions which were brought against the editor in 1849.^[2]

During that year the paper regularly published criticisms of the local police, and in particular the Chief Constable, John Davies. A poem published by the paper resulted in a libel action by Davies. In reporting the libel action in the newspaper, Isaacs re-published the verses which had sparked the court action, thus leading to a second action.^[2]

Before the libel suits came to court, Isaacs sold the Advocate's press, types and building to William Farrand for £450. Farrand then started up the Bathurst Free Press newspaper, publishing the first issue on 6 October 1849. Isaacs was imprisoned for two months and was fined £40 1s.^[2]

Digitisation

The paper has been digitised as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program of the National Library of Australia.^[3][4]

See also

• List of newspapers in New South Wales
• List of Newspapers in Australia
• List of Defunct Newspapers of Australia