(Pop
Municip Dec1927 = 3754. Dec1936 = 4545
Pop Excluding Municip 1927 = 4115. 1936 = 4700
Total Occ Dwell 1927 = 1536. 1936 = 1676)
9Jan40: The New Continental Café, Cudgen Headland
20Mar40: Roxy Café, 3 course meals 1/6d
25Apr40 : Austral, Belle Vue and Comino’s all fined for under-award wages
9Aug40: Raftopoulos v. Lakis
24Sep40: Australian Fish Shop, Sth Murbah. W.F. Anderson proprietor. Ray
Williams manager
19Oct40: Official opening of Civic Café.
29Oct40: Greek Celebrations Sydney.
8Nov40: Editorial Praise for Greeks.
19Nov40:
Lismore Fund to Aid Greeks. + Lismore Café for sale
18Dec40:
Article on The Civic Café
20Feb41: Miss Kardamis of Tweed Heads and Greek War Relief Fund
2Apr41: Lismore. Sidney & Hacking site sold for
£4750 = £197/foot = 24ft x 130ft to
Carrington Lane record
for Keen St.
12/14May41: State Election. Budd leads Stuart, but Stuart wins Murbah
28Jul41: Obit R.T. Gillies, former Labor MLA for Byron. Tweed
Heads/Coolangatta representative for the Tweed Daily prior to becoming
Tweed Shire President in 1925.
1/10Jan42: Murbah building stats last 3yrs.
30Jan42: Police census figures. +stock and people evacuation scheme.
4Mar42: Message to Greeks in
Australia. A request that Greeks in Australia should gather round the Australian
flag and give their adopted country all she asks of them is contained in a
message from the Greek Government in London to the Greek consulate,
Melbourne
The message states
that the announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr Curtain) concerning a
general mobilization of manpower and wealth had been received with great
satisfaction in all Allied countries….
3Jul42: Phil
Tarlington dies. Big Obit. Founder of Tweed Daily.
21/22Jan43: Victor
Angelo dies Vlismas plantation Main Arm. Wife Katie Kiprios.
25Jan43: Eric Diamond of Hollywood Café + Denis Kardamis.
25Mar43: Murbah court. Caponas threatened with guns.
26Mar43: Elias Cox of Paris Café in appeal for money for RSL club
5Apr43: USA and Greek nationals living Aust now exempt from restrictions
placed on aliens
20Apr43: Vlismas Bros of Belle Vue Café
subscribe £500 to the
Third Liberty Loan. Largest contributors
27Apr43: Joe and John Vlismas fined for not keeping plantation free of
weeds. Had large plantation including 7 acres of old plantation gradually
being destroyed. About 2 acres of the balance of the undestroyed
plantation was handed over to a man named Flood, who was responsible, but
Vlismas had to wear it
29Apr43: Archie Caponas v. Jarman. Known each other 10-12yrs and had been
friendly until conviction of Jarman’s son-in-law 12mths ago for stealing
bananas. Alfred Albert Baker’s plantation surrounded Jarman
4May43: Civil Alien Corps formed
7Jan44: Curtailment of Café Hours. Owing to shortage of
labor and materials…. Austral, Belle Vue and Civic now open
12 to 8pm.
21Jan44:
Sands Café now closed every Wed due ‘war exigencies’
21Feb44: Butter ration to cafes cut 50% to increase supplies to Britain.
25Jun44: This year 1 house was built Murbah. Two in previous
18mths.
11Jul44:
Christos Dimitrios Loisidis suicide Moree. Manager Capitol Theatre.
11Oct44: Anonymous Greek-Australian of Murbah subscribed
£400 to 2nd Victory loan. His parents, brothers and sisters
were residents of the district just invaded by British, and three long
years have gone by without any word. Possibly Kytherian or Ithacan.
23Nov44: H.T. Cox opens The New Paris Cafe
3Feb45: 10% cut in meat rations
3Mar45: Child
endowment now 7/6d per week and old age pension 32/6d.
13/21Apr45: Shops closed 12.30-1.30pm causing riots at cafes. + Murbah
Council gives shop owners 3yrs to remove verandah posts. (Byron Bay
similar café angst 11Oct)
21/22Jun45:
Stavritis car crash Dunbible
23Jun45: Funeral of Angelo Stavritis. Cof E Murbah. Pallbearers: Messrs S.
Comino, M. Velevich, N. Velevich, G. Duros, J. Tanas, W. Geles.
J. Vane wreathlayer.
5Jul45: Car Crash inquest
6Jul45:
Series ‘Tweedside in the Eighties’ by Mackinnon. In Aug1888 W.R. Baker
turned up on horseback and started the first paper with a 16yr old
apprentice named Norman J. MacKinnon…. (Baker dubbed the unofficial
mayor…couldn’t meet costs of a libel action and landed in Casino jail… In
1888 there was only one building in Coolangatta – Queensland Hotel.)
(F. Mc Kinnon,
editor of the Lismore Chronicle for 12mths to late 1906, maybe connected?
– ‘his writings rang with a true moral and patriotic ring’)
29Jun45: Nikolas Dimitrakakis of Alophori, Tripolis, resident 7yrs Aust.
Naturalized.
Lance Corporal Reg Gardiner assaulted by John Vlismas in Belle Vue Café.
He and 8 mates put sauce in sugar bowls. Magistrate rules Vlismas was
provoked.
30Jun45: Con Karajeris café Mullum broken into by 3 men and 2 x 16yr old
boys. Cash and goods stolen. Arrested banana plantation 10 miles from
Mullum
Digger Nelson’s California Café, Commercial Rd
4Jul45: Westies’ Hamburger Joint on South Side in premises of Australian
Fruit Supply.
1Aug45: Anderson loots café of Cockinos
10Oct45/22Oct46: Coolangatta and bikinis
8Jan46: Theo Condoleon sells Popular Fruit Mart to Larkin
11Jan46: Larkin sells Populat to Higginbottom.
21Feb46: Tweed Shire building stats.
19Feb46: Mr Chifley gets cable from Greeks thanking Aust for aid for
2,000,000 destitute.
28Oct46: Marina Diamond’s 4th birthday Coolangatta
celebrated in typical Greek fashion.
2Jan47: Christy Freeleagus wins Tweed Heads bowls
22Feb47: Milkbars becoming big business
3Mar47: Coast road Pottsville to Cudgen Headland proposed
13Jun47: Tweed population stats. Big increase
14Jun47:
Footballers riot over closed cafes Murbah + ‘reclamation’ of 144 acres
Tweed where town fronts
Greenbank
Island. (and 24Aug51)
14Feb48: Tweed Heads Chamber of Commerce wants town merger with
Coolangatta.
21Mar48: Restaurant employees award. 2 full days/wk off
13May48: Tweed
building stats
23May48: Overwhelming no vote in referendum to allow Feds to continue
price controls.
11Jun48: Clothes
and meat
rationing lifted
5Aug48: Waitresses at a premium Murbah
11Aug48: Murbah sewerage scheme to start
27Oct48: 100 apply for 10 housing commission houses Murbah
2Dec48: Increase in Café Meal Prices. Huge jumps by 40 and 50%.
Three course meal 2/6d to 3/6d.
7Jan49:
Tweed building stats. 300 houses 1948 and 477 in 1947.
19Jan49: Building Stats Mullum. 60 new houses Dec1945-Dec48 + 47 under
construction.
2Aug49: Coolangatta is the ‘Building Cinderella’ of the South Coast.
Overshadowed by Southport and Surfers
6Aug49: Reviewer of new book on the
Tweed
mentioned that on visit to Murwillumbah 1940 he saw Chinese, a Jap,
countless aborigines, Greeks, and Indians in white turbans….
17Aug49: Victorian visitor to Brisbane in milk/ice cream business
rates Murbah first among NSW cafes…
26Oct49: Full
employment Murbah. Cafes have greatest turnover in staff.
9Jan53:
Building stats Tweed
21Jul53: Greek cane cutters
15Oct53: Tweed Shire goes completely mechanical and gets rid of draught
horses
31Oct53: Eric Diamond pres Twin Towns Rotary
26Jun54: Angus Bros and macadamias
1Jul54: 70 Greek cane cutters Richmond
24Sep54: Tweed/Murbah building stats
8Oct54: ABC new regional station 2ML opens Murbah
25Jan56: Two thirds Murbah sewerage complete
1May56: Sugar cane stats over 20yrs
7Oct57: Thea Andronico of Southport. Miss Australia Contest.
25Oct57: Tweed Ag Show opened by Frank Nicklin, Premier of QLD. Son of ex
proprietor Chronicle.
20Nov57: New Austral Café
£50,000 + Varella Fruit
Exchange £7000
17Jan58: Original Aroney building developed by Varella Bros (and 8Aug)
12Feb58: John
Vlandis dies Upper Burringbar.
12Jul58: New
Austral Café and New Fruit Exchange.
12Aug58: Mick Theodore pres Southport Rotary welcomes first migrants Bring
out a Brit scheme
21Aug58: Chrisanthy Comino with record bunch bananas
15Sep58: Jubilee
celebrations. Les Black
12Nov58: Publicity for mass Greek baptisms Murbah. Photo Fr Sakelariou
with baby Leigha Boutsis
1Jan59: Past
year of spectacular progress Murbah
21Jan59: 34 business houses have to 14Jul to remove awning posts.
30Jan59: Big increases school enrollments.
19Jun59: Tweed Shire rejects pensioner concession
15Aug59: Tweed primary industry stats.
19/27/28Aug59: Archbishop Iezekiel
17Sep59: Milkbars picking-up places for hoodlums
Top of Page
Selected
Economic/Population References
Murbah
Com Elec roll
1903:1025 people
4Nov16: Tweed
Shire valuations. Total unimproved = £1,035,721. Improved = £2,944,503.
Unimproved values up £159,116 due mainly to banana industry – mainly A
riding (£114,237). C = £47,919. B = £16,860. Banana land valued at average
£11/acre (A), Dairying £11 (Mainly B) and Cane land £10/10/- (mainly C)
6Jun34: Murbah boom in home building. 18 new cottages in 5 months, valued
at £15,861 Testimony of towns progress. 19 new cottages erected 1933
(£15896). 1932 = £13,163
17Dec36/7Jul37: New buildings Murbah.
1931= £12,088
1932= £13,162/10/-
1933= £16,166/10/-
1934= £32,258
1935 =£62,524 (includes school)
1936= £70,500 [£56,500 +£14,000 for 2 Govt buildings (includes 45 cottages
at £26,500)].
1937 (to 30Jun) = £16,199 (includes 15 new structures at £10,672)
13Jul38: Houses still scarce Murbah. Since 1923, 380 residences built and
several blocks of flats. Value since 31Jan23= £221,534. Average cottage
value = £600.
1923 = £27,422
1924 = £27,628
1926 = £5,350
1927 = £6,922
1928 = £6,710
1929 = £10,106
1930 = £2,465
1931 = £5,415
1932 = £2,807
1933 = £7,753
1934 = £17,174
1935 = £34,265
1936 = £26,762
1937 = £17,079
1938 (to 30Jun) = £8,196
23Aug37. 510 dairies in Murbah police district. 2500 in Tweed-Byron
District.
25Aug37: 154 premises Murbah, including professional occupations, but
excluding butter factories, public services, building employees and all
rural businesses. Employ 600 seniors and 338 juniors. Weekly wages =
£3,520 shared by 1,230 dependents. Three main primary industries receive
on an average a total income of upwards of three quarters of a million
pounds per annum.
26Aug37: Murbah icv in 1931=£877,263. 1934=£740,061. 1936=£855,791
30Jan42: Despite enlistees only a loss of 120 in Tweed district 1941
(accounted for by increase of 236 births over deaths)
Total of 12,780 in Murbah Police District. 1941 = 12900. 2352 occupied
dwellings and 11 unoccupied. 1941 = 2326/5
Municipal area = 5196 in 943 occupied dwellings. 8 unoccupied. 1941 =
5286/926/5.
29Jan41: 345 students enrol Murbah Primary school. 174 in infants. 397
start High school.
5Mar42: 386 start High School. Earlier 16 of 750 parents attend P and C
meeting
16Dec42: Enrollment Upper School same as 1941. 53 sit Intermediate and 17
Leaving.
28Jan45: Enrollment Murbah Primary School = 550. Increase on last year.
3Dec48: 178 High school students to start Murbah next year.
14Nov49: Sharp decline Leaving candidates Murbah High.
14Dec49: 29 staff Murbah High. 1949 enrollment = 485, an increase of 22 on
1948 – being more than record year of 1946. 12 sitting Leaving. 29 last
year. 76 sitting Intermediate. (26Jan50 – 71 pass)
30Jan59: Murbah High enrolment = 700 students. 34 in 5th class,
46 in 4th class, 165 in 3rd class, 197 in 2nd
class and 300 new enrolments 1st class. More than 1000 children
in 3 Murbah Primary schools (1958: 2131 children all Murbah schools)
Tweed Heads: 130 1st year students, 10 in 5th year,
12 in 4th, 42 in 3rd, 70 in 2nd. Primary
School = 211, same as last yr. Convent School = 195 in Primary and
secondary. South Tweed Heads public school = 125, with 24 to go to the
High school. 340 at
Coolangatta
State
school. Slight increase on 1958. 34 new pupils. Coolangatta Convent = 160,
increase of 40.
At Southport, pupils of many nationalities highlighted. 1200 at
Southport
State primary, 200 more than 1958.
2Feb60: Teachers expect 2500 children in Murbah Schools – 500 more than
last year. 800 Murbah High, 620 Murbah Primary, 1000 East Murbah including
Mt St Pats
1Apr60: £210,000 High School for Tweed Heads.
1Jan42: Murbah building which slumped in 1940 to about 2/3 of the value
of 1939 made a substantial recovery in 1941. 55 building applications =
£14,437. Includes 20 cottages + 1 factory. Majority fall between £600 and
£700. 1939 = £17,886. 1940 = £11,855.
21Jan41: 56,329 on
Richmond Elec Roll.
May39= 55,308
19Mar43: Murbah RSL up to 99 members.
7Jun43: 5532 ration books issued Murbah 1943, compared to 5593 in 1942.
9Dec46: 6798 ration books issued Murbah, 827 more than last year. 6100
adults and 698 children.
1Dec47: 7161 ration books issued Murbah (6300 adults and 861 children.
Increase of 200 and 163.
3Feb44: Outbreak of scarlet fever and health inspector does census of
municipality: 1067 premises. Total population 3996 (1697males and 2299
females)
30Mar44: Move to increase size of Municipality to cope with demand from
returned soldiers. 520 vacant building blocks but half unsuitable due
flood prone. 120 new houses required to house present population and 200
more required at end of war. Present area 786acres. 4600people in 925
dwellings (maybe includes CBD?). 52 brick and 873 timber. 10 should be
demolished. 200 sub-standard. 102 families sharing. Nil unoccupied houses.
17May44: Murbah RSL moves to have the £400 value limit on new houses
raised to at least £750….
16Jun44: Murbah RSL = 278 membership. Largest on
North
Coast.
26Sep45: Murbah RSL = 594
24Feb47: Murbah RSL almost 1000.
21Jun44: Cost of a 7 room wooden house Murbah =£1100 in 1940. Now £1500.
Pop of Murbah now less than before war but still need 120 houses. New
buildings + repairs = £40,617 in 1937. £1402 in 1943. 1 new dwelling in
1943 and 2 in 1942. 31 in 1937.
1Mar46: Many so-called flats that had come into existence in Murbah as
a result of housing shortage provided crude facilities… Many boarding
houses and accommodation houses, also private homes, were overcrowded…
Most of the boarders were returned men and their dependents…
11Feb47: Great apathy Murbah Chamber of Commerce. Chamber reformed 1936.
13Mar48:
Municipality of Murbah = 706 acres at time of merger?
24Jul48: Housing commission to build another 11 houses Murbah. Total of 21
alloted to Murbah.
27Oct48: 100 apply for 10 housing commission house Murbah. Ballot.
28Feb49: £25,000 loan approved for sewerage Murbah.
14May49: Young people leaving Murbah – no opportunities or social life.
1Feb50: New ALP branch formed Murbah. Old one declared defunct and decided
to form new branch. Attendance at meetings very poor. Only minute books
attest to its existence. No auditors. No funds to meet bills owing.
12Apr50: new 2 storey PO for Murbah. Frontage to Brisbane St.
4Jul50: Murbah Chamber of Commerce reformed with 60 members. Went defunct
1948.
7Jul50: Kunghur = Australia’s largest flying fox. 1 mile for hauling logs.
1Feb51: Valuations: Overall increase of 43% but Uki and Tyalgum drop.
Largest increase Kingscliff (up 276%) Rates increase of 1d in
£.
5Feb51: Murbah Main Street values rise 100%, to £300 per foot. Wharf St up
167% since 1947. Kingscliff up 267% (to ~£7 per foot. Tweed Heads 62% (Wharf Street now £38 per foot.) Rural areas not so great - ~ 10%
rise. Tyalgum and Uki fell.
6Mar51: £90,000
paid out to 950 ex servicemen Murbah. £50,000
Southport.
10Mar51:
Construction of Murbah sewerage underway.
6Dec51: Sewerage quarter complete. 2yrs to go.
11Jun52: £55,000 Tweed Arcade on corner of Wharf, Main and Queen St
completed. Building operations worth £654,000 approved on
Tweed in last 17mths. 501 buildings from beginning of 1951. (295
dwellings at £425,000)
10Oct52: Murbah
Infants School = enrolment of 340.
16Jan54: 1400 people signed on as unionists Murbah. Compulsory unionism
introduced 17Dec53.
24Sep54: 440 new houses Murbah since 1947. Total 1700 dwellings
12Dec58: House
in town, 3bed and on 2 allotments = £1650. Beach resort house = £2500.
Top of Page
Tweed Shire
22Feb1923:
Valuations: A Riding ucv =
£954,484.
icv = £1,675,231. rates 2d in £. B Riding = £777,998/£1,462,856. C Riding
= £752,713/£1,357,167. Total = £2,485,195/£4,475,254. Rates to bring in
£20,712/19/6. Tweed Heads Town Improvement local rate = £148,244/£279,004.
rate 1d in £.
1Dec27: General rate reduced by ½ d in £ to return to 1926 level of 5d in
£. During 1928 rate payers will pay additional 1d compared to this year.
With electricity rate = total of 7 and 3/4d in £ = sewerage charge of
£1/19/- and garbage 13/-
25Jun30 Northern Star:
The banana industry on the Lower Tweed is forging ahead and each month
sees a marked increase....
11Mar31: Complete stoppage of work Tweed Shire. 40 staff laid off. Only
work still going on is meeting Main Roads Board contracts, which had been
reduced anyway. Also big reduction in Local Govt Dept endowment
20Mar31: Budd MLA makes appeal in parliament for help for Tweed Shire.
Local Govt subsidy reduced to
£2000
and Main Roads Board contributions reduced.
3Apr31:
In March Murbah police
issued 527 people ration vouchers at a cost of
£400,
a jump of 101 and
£100
on February, but
Police District of
Murwillumbah estimated to have 1000 people, locals and transients, in
receipt of sustenance. Vouchers also issued at Tweed Heads, Tumbulgum,
Cudgen and Burringbar.
10Apr31: Work gradually resumes Tweed Shire.
13Apr31: Tweed Daily branded the
Tweed Shire 'apathetic' in rejecting Lismore petition to call for
dissolution of State and Federal Parliaments. Tweed Shire has 250-300
unemployed, and council staff reduced to 25 (originally 40-50) and asks
for
£5000
grant from Dept of Labour and Industry to relieve local unemployment.
23Dec32:
Tweed Shire
valuations for 1933: A riding ucv = £529,770, icv = £1,197,903, aau=£65,209.
Tweed Heads Urban area = £87,478/£260116/£16,050. B riding =
554,739/1,325,929/74,717. C riding = 551,778/1,283,245/71,341. Slightly
less than last year.
27Oct33:
Building figures show substantial recovery . figures given
14Jan38: Tweed Heads Urban Committee likely to raise rates from 5.75d in
£ to
12.025d in £ due to various schemes including water.18Jan41:
16 buildings erected Tweed Shire 1940, valued at £5044
20Dec41: Tweed
Valuations: £1,615,386 – above last valuations.
10Jan42: Tweed Shire building activity 1941 more than double 1940. 1941 =
39 buildings at £12,595. (includes 11 dwellings at £8139 and 9 weekend
cottages at £1347 and 19 other buildings at £3109. 1940 = 16 building
apps at £5044
Tweed Shire raise rates to 10 and 3/4d in £ at Tweed Heads and 2 and ½
elsewhere in shire.
Big decline holiday makers Tweed Heads and Bruns.11May44: Building
applications now were being prepared to an extent he had not known for
several years………
22Jan48: Tweed Shire rates general increase 3 to 3½
d in £. New
valuations to apply 1948. UCV increased from £1,956,326 to £2,234,275. ICV
£5,045,509 to £6,696,634. Assessed Annual Value from £320,575 to £438,588.
Murbah town UCV from £398,236 to £454,768. Tweed Heads Urban area from
£71,390 to £89,571. = 14% increase overall with Murbah on 37%, Tweed Heads
on 26% and rural 9%
23Jan48: Building boom Tweed Shire. 475 building applications 1947 =
£252,671. + 10 cottages by housing commission = £16,180. Grand total =
£268,851. excluding commission total cottages = 248 = £208,289. 64 of
these were small cottages with a value of £500 or less. Other stats given.
13Feb48: Banana growers appeal valuation increases. T. Cranney of
Tumbulgum increase of £8/14/8 per acre to £14/14/8. Dairying land valued
at £12/12/- per acre and banana land at £25/6/- per acre.
19Mar48: Tweed Shire in financial trouble. £21000 overdrawn. Expenditure =
£600 a week.
13May48: 142 homes built Tweed Shire in last 2yrs (?). 429 building
apps 1946 and 47, with 142 of them for ‘cottages’. 103 separate buildings
known to have been completed.
16Jul48: £250,000 worth of building approvals Tweed Shire during past
year. Coolangatta only £83,708/8/6 (decrease of £28,000) due removal of
councils power to grant permits. Buildings approved included 87 dwellings
(£75,001). Move to increase camping fee from 10/- to 12/6 per week.
16Dec48: Tweed Shire general rates ~30% increase from 3.5d to 4.5d in £
6Jan49: 300 houses started Tweed Shire in 1948. 477 approvals in 1947.
Record crowd Kingscliff for hols – 160 tents.
11May49: Between 1937 – 47 land values increased on Tweed by 20%. 1937-43
= 5 –10%. 1943-47 = 10-15%.
5Aug49: Tweed Shire council issued 100 fewer building permits for first
half of 1949 than for first half of 1948. Value 1949 = £125,531 (92
dwellings = £100,392. + 2 combined shops and dwellings = £2800. + 5 flats
and cottage to flat conversions = £21,652 + other stuff = £20,854) 1948
equivalent period = £273,530.
26Jan50: Tweed Shire adopts max rate allowed by law - 4½d
in £ - same as last year.
4Feb50: 30 case
mills scattered around Tweed district – greatest number ever operating.
6Feb50: Rural production Tweed = £3million for 1949. Wages paid in
district = £1.3mil. Dairying Tweed-Bruns = £1,223,241 (reverse of war
years). Pigs = £316,920. Tweed Banana industry = £787,564. Cane =
£240,000. Cattle for slaughter = £150,000. Timber milled locally =
£100,000 (2.8million super feet produced of which 0.75 left district).
Small crops = £92,000 (includes beans and peas worth £33,000. Fishing =
£45,000. Spring potatoes = £30,000 (20,000 bags) (double previous year).
Half million cases of bananas transported to southern markets by BGF.
1949-50 cane crop = £250,000. 100 employed in Tweed Heads fishing
industry. 876,649lb of fish sold to Coolangatta Fish Depot.
14Feb5O: Spirit of Despair in Dairying.
17Feb50: £217,994 worth of new cottages and flats approved
Tweed shire
1949. 1948= £273,430 = 204 permits to build.
21Feb50: Drift of young to cities.
25Feb50: £290,000 from beach mining Tweed Heads to
Byron
Bay.
5 mining companies, 4 of which are around Cudgen. £160,000 = 8816tons of
rutile. £100,000 = 14,788 tons of zircon. £9225 = 615 tons of monazite.
£16,526 from 1652 tons of Ilmenite. £1192 from 391 tons of silicon. £40
from 4 tons of manganese. 163 men employed.
26Feb50: Drift from dairying QLD. Decline of 3000 from level of 25,000
1945/46.
4Mar50: Proposal to shut Tweed Heads NORCO factory.
29Nov50: Map of Tweed ridings. Crabbes Creek, Burringbar and Condong in D.
18Mar50: Record payout Norco. £1.5 mil
19May50: Tweed Shire council approved 1002 cottages since beginning of
1946.
9Aug50: History of Education on Tweed
13Sep50: Free transport scheme for school children implemented.
10Oct50: Tweed Presbyterian History
1Feb51: Tweed Shire value up £3,227,923 from £2,248,000 in 1947. Stats for
all towns. Revenue from rates 1950 = £58,510. Rates increase to 5½d. in
the £. Will give ~ £85,000.
9Mar51: Tweed Shire – biggest building boom since war. Approval for erection of
26 houses last month valued at £44,225.
3Aug51: World’s largest flying fox, Blue Knob, saved from fire.
16Nov51: Worst drought for 20yrs Tweed. 100 men fight bushfire Uki.
(Drought also hit
Norco:
15Mar52: loss of £1mil.)
6Dec51: Tweed Shire finances desperate. Bills total £17,000. Wages bill =
£3000 per fortnight.
2Dec52: Tweed Shire rates go to 6½d.
9Jan53: Drop
in building permits Tweed. 1952 = 295 permits at £306,290. 1951 = 381
permits at £467,234
13May53: Clouds
on Dairy Industry Horizon
30Nov53: Tweed Shire valuations. Up on 1950. ‘A’ riding biggest gain at
100%
17Dec53: Tweed building =
£306,000 so
far this year. 2888 building apps (154 new buildings)
17Feb54 : Police District of Murbah = 17,800. Total
Tweed
Shire = 28,000. Other stats.
12Oct54: Tweed Shire population = 21,129 (Murbah 5,127.
Tweed Heads 2452. Rest 13,550) Boundary disputes
21Apr55: Population of the north coast of
NSW, the 40 mile strip between Port Mac and the border,
increased by 11,000 1947-54.
May55: Murbah pop amended to 6748 in Jun 54. – shire = 21,142. Tweed Heads
= 2459. Shire Dwellings = 5422 (Murbah = 1688, TH = 693)
10Dec54: Town building may revive. But figures probably for shire:
1947 = 477 building applications
1948
= 538
1949 = 380
1950
= 388
1951 = 382
1952
= 395
1953 = 293
1954
= 295 so far
1May56: Sugar cane stats over 20yrs
Top
of Page
Kingscliff
23Jan24:
Gaggin and 49 lot Kingscliff Estate at Cudgen Headland.
27Apr25: Cudgen Beach Estate. 450 acres. Lots £5 deposit and £1/mth for
6yrs.
17Dec36: Cudgen Headland. 18 elevated blocks Hungerford subdivision.
Auction Boxing day. Terms 2/6 in £ and balance in 7 half yearly payments
at 5%.
24Dec37: Hungerford Sub division. 16 elevated blocks. Dress circle of
Cudgen Headland.
21Mar45: Continental Café Kingscliff.
16Dec53:
Kingscliff history
11Jan50: Kingscliff being considered for designation as an Urban Area.
17Feb54 :
Kingscliff pop = 1200.
15Aug59: 1200 acre farm of seaside and lake frontage land Bogangar, south
of Kingscliff, sold for development. To be called Paradise Beach Estate.
£12500 hotel planned. ‘Choice seaside and lake frontage.’
4Sep59: Kingscliff Heights Estate first release. Blocks from £450.
Elanora Estate Pottsville opened with blocks at £300 each or £275 for
cash.
16Oct59: Kingscliff Heights blocks now from £385
14Jan60: Kingscliff Heights Estate, on The Diamond Coast, blocks from
£350.
23Jan60: Kingscliff Heights Estate, blocks from £400 on £40 deposit. 5yr
terms on 4% interest.
29Jan60: Currumbin Hgts and Kingscliff Hgts from £350 deposit for house
and land package. £4/9/6 weekly for 20-25yrs.
25Feb60:
Kingscliff valued at £21,798 in 1950 and £263,047 for Urban area in 1959.
Kingscliff Heights valued at £2226 in 1950 and £29000 in 1959. Blocks on
Marine Parade going for £800.
19Mar60: New
release of Kingscliff Heights Estate with blocks from
£850.
1Apr60: Kingscliff Hgts new release now £800 with 10% off for cash.
Further 10% off if buyer builds within 6mths.
Gold Coast:
13Nov34: Southport
leads the way in topless bathing for men, at least for lifesavers.
5Nov36: Tender by K. D. Morris of Brisbane for £2314/10/- accepted for
erection of bathing pavilion Greenmount.
14Mar49: Surfers Paradise Land Boom. Blocks for £10 in 1939 now £120.
25Mar49:Permanent population of Surfers + Broadbeach = 1500. over 200
school children.
18Apr49: 71 blocks sold Burleigh by Nerang Shire Council. £38 average.
£2700 total. 100 bidders. Highest was £150 for 2 allotments on
Pacific Hwy.
22Apr49: South
Coast Municipality: Div1 = Southport. 2= Surfers Paradise. 3 = Broadbeach
to Tallebugera. 4 = Palm Beach to Currumbin. 5 = Coolangatta.
3May49: Coastal
Hwy extended from Southport to Burleigh 1930s. In last 17yrs Burleigh
grown from a camping township to town of over 1700 permanent pop.
Tallebudgera became Booningbar, then Burleigh then West Burleigh. First
store 1912 = The Golden Bell.
14May49: Total valuation of new Town of the
South Coast =
£1,347,500. Southport = £710,000. Coolangatta = £275,000. Former 4th
div of Nerang Shire (includes Burleigh) = £162,500
25May49: 3yrs prior to 1939 Southport building approvals = £300,000 =
£100,000/yr. Total val of new area = £1,147,500?. Albert Shire = all rural
arrears of Nerang Shire + whole of Coomera and Benleigh + portion of
Waterford and Tingalpa. Div 3 = Nerang less Burleigh.
Article on history of Coolangatta.
22Jun49: Within 18mths 300 people will be able to build on land which less
than a year ago was swamp at Southport. River side of Main Beach 600,000
cubic yards of sand being pumped. Being developed by ‘Lucky’ Bill Rankin,
aka the Casket King. £70,000 being spent to create 320 lots.
9Aug49: Land worth £64,000 and producing £800 a year in rates will be
created Southport…when area between
Nerang River and Main
Beach is reclaimed.
12Aug49: £6000 paid for Tongy House Labradore on Marine Parade. Another
Southport record.
5Sep49: Albert
Shire strikes general rate at 1/3
¼ d. in £
9Nov49: Albert
shire rates goes from 1/11 to 3/4d in £ ?
21Nov49: £12000 worth of buildings approved in a fortnight by South Coast
Town Council. Includes 3 dwellings at £2750 for Coolangatta and Burleigh.
17Dec49: Southport’s biggest auction for 10yrs was a flop.
6Apr50: Easter rush. 8 trains carrying 4000 will arrive
Southport tonight. Other trains expected to bring 5000.
10Apr50: Biggest
day in history Coolangatta. Australian Surf Championships. 50,000 people.
5000 cars. Twin Towns record Easter.
15Jul50: Budget of £584,025 for 1950-51 makes South Coast Council 3rd
largest of Queensland’s governing bodies outside Greater Brisbane.
29Sep51: Life or death for South Coast – building restrictions.
15May53: South Coast population now 18,000. [15,250 in 1949] Burleigh =
27.53% growth. Southport = 13.11% &. Coolangatta = 10.67%. £1.5mil spent on buildings
last 10mths.
29Aug60: Albert
Shire valuation = £2,895,998. 1955 (?) = £1,172,843. 60.7% increase (?).
rates reduced to 8 and a half d. in £ to compensate. Biggest % increase in
Merrimac sub divisional area adjacent to Surfers and Broadbeach. 1950(?)
to 1956 jump was £645,774 to £1,172,845.
18Oct63: Site of old garage near intersection of Cavil Ave and Pacific Hwy
sold for £60,000 – Gold Coast record = £1500/perch. Valuer General’s
assessment =£35,000. 92ft frontage and 159ft deep.
Top
of Page
Diamond
Coast/Gold Coast:
6Apr34: Building renewal Coolangatta – Confidence in future. Old Diggers
Theatre purchased by R.T.B. Peak, proprietor of Beach House. Plans to
build modern set of flats and renovate residential section of theatre to
flats.
(Prices: 13Apr40: Four cottages permanently let and showing 21% interest -
£1100. Tweed Heads. Brand new residence in dress circle position, small
deposit and balance in rent - £750. Cottage on 2acres Chindera - £300.)
15Oct34: History of Coolangatta and bit on Tweed Heads. Fifty yrs ago 284
blocks from 32 perches to 48 perches offered for £14 each. Today
Colangatta has unimproved rateable value of £215,000 and capital value of
improved properties of £900,000. In 1915 urv was £53,000.
11Jun41: 9acre Tweed Heads banana farm
£185.
(~ mid 1945 there was a boom in land sales at Coolangatta and Palm Beach
while Tweed Heads remained as ‘Sleepy Hollow’.)
4Sep46: Proposal for giant reclamation works – particularly 100 acres on
southern side of Crane Wharf Road, separated from main town area by the
Back Channel.
10Oct45: The new French bathing costume for women consisted of two
ladies hankerchiefs and one mans hankerchief and is just plain vulgar said
the Mayor of
Coolangatta
Town Council…… He said council had a duty to protect people against
themselves ….beach inspectors be instructed to enforce the by-laws.
14Dec46: Tweed Heads residents vote 276 to 153 to keep shops open on
Saturday arvo to stop trade going to Coolangatta.
21Jan47:
Tweed Shire Council owned camping grounds: Total 467 tents (408 last
year). Tweed Heads 202(175), Fingal 37(25), Kingscliff 166(162), Barneys
Point 5(7), Cudgera Headland 40(27), Pottsville 17(12). Far more at
privately owned caravan parks and camping grounds.
30Jan47: 6mths to
30Dec46 Coolangatta approves 59 new dwellings, 46 other
buildings, 21 septics and additions to 47 existing buildings = £54,000.
Four times greater than Mullum.
30Jan47: Burleigh Heads had 1000 camps, 749 on Nerang Shire Council
Reserves and 250 on private land.
3Mar47: Coast road linking Pottsville and Cudgen proposed.
14Jun47: Reclamation work approved TH by Dept of Lands to create 144acre
Greenbank Island fronting the town.
18Aug47: 846 electors on roll at Tweed Heads eligible to vote for Urban
Committee.
18Aug47: Tweed
Heads Urban Committee shows 846 electors on roll. 229 persons had left the
district or changed names by marriage; 91 electors could not be located;
14 names duplicated; 11 deceased.
26Aug47: Coolangatta smallest municipality in QLD at
6½ sq miles. 346 building applications (including 143
dwellings) valued at £118,658 for year ending
30Jun47. [16Jul48: Coolangatta building apps only £83,708/8/6 (decrease
of £28,000) due removal of councils power to grant permits. Buildings
approved included 87 dwellings (£75,001).]
10Dec47: Booming sales QLD South Coast. 5 acre lagoon at Palm Beach
donated to Coolangatta Council by Palm Beach Mining Co on-sold by council
for £480. Buyers plan to fill it in and subdivide for allotments and
roads.
22Jan48:
Tweed Heads unimproved valuation increase from £71,390 to £89,571 = 26%. (Murbah
37%)
16Mar48: 28 allotments created from subdivision of Ursuline Convent
property Tweed Heads - having mains water connected.
8May48: Coolangatta and South QLD Coast 5th ranked tourist
resort in QLD
27Apr48: Nerang Shire 41% increase in valuations. £240,294 to £339,118.
The coastal strip showing biggest increase of 73% (£94,085 to £162,853)
11Aug48:
Coolangatta general rates increase 1/1 to 1/4d in £. General rates income
= £36,720. Sanitation = £5945.
12Aug48: Big Coolangatta merger article.
1Sep48: Nerang shire rates breakdown. 4 divisons. Div 4 gets 6d in £,
reduction of 3d, but Burleigh sanctuary gets special rate of 7d in £,
reduction of 3d. Div 3, Currumbin 8d in £, unchanged
3Sep48: Stats on amalgamation of Gold Coast + Nerang etc.
15Oct48: Coolangatta council elections of 1946 = 1347 electors on roll.
22Sep48 = 2109 on roll. Of these 1232 reside Pt Danger to Coolangatta and
remaining 871 between that point and boundary with Tallebugera Creek.
Burleigh Heads 1946 = 505 and 1948 = 1948. Southport 1946 over 4000.
16Oct48: £800 grant for reclamation of crown land at Tweed heads
23Dec48: New South Coast Municipality:
Southport
has 64% of electors, 65% of rateable land and 49% of ratepayers.
Coolangatta 25/27/27. Burleigh
10/10/24.
28Jan49: New
Albert Shire to be re-valued. Includes rural areas of old Nerang Shire.
28Jan49: Southport valuations increase 51.5%, from
£469,735 to £710,000.
2Feb49: 5200 electors on roll at Southport = 64.5% of total of new
municipality. Burleigh Heads = 797/9.4. Coolangatta 2109/26.1
18Apr49: Co-op formed to acquire and develop
Greenbank
Island, 144 acres of ‘waste land’ fronting Tweed Heads.
14May49: Total valuation of new Town of the
South
Coast = £1,347,500. Southport = £710,000. Coolangatta = £275,000. Former 4th
div of Nerang Shire (includes Burleigh) = £162,500.
2Aug49: Coolangatta is ‘Building’ Cinderella of the
South Coast.
No new structures of any importance erected in last 10yrs….in striking
contrast to the area around Surfers
Paradise
and Main Beach (Southport)
9Aug49: Reclamation Tweed Heads. 4acres of sand waste on
northern side of river entrance between rocket shed and Duranbah beach.
20Aug49: Disappointing attendance Coolangatta Chamber of Commerce.
12Nov49: Block of 4 cottages sold
Tweed St
for £3625.
14Nov49: Govt and Tweed Shire now to share cost of reclamation of
Greenbank Island.
22Dec49: 1000
tents Coolangatta and Tweed Heads. 18000 at Bruns for Boxing day.
2Jan50: 10000 to 12000 at Twin Towns yesterday.
3Jan50: Most successful season ever.
18Jan50: Pacific Café Burleigh Heads. Michael Magerof proprietor.
23May50: Raid on Windjammer Restaurant Surfers
Paradise.
Proprietress Sophie Graves and waiter Anthony Buhaglar charged with
serving booze.
30Jun50: Surfers Paradise Estates. River frontage =
£500. Ferney Ave =
£350. Others £225. £100 deposit. Reclamation on the South Coast goes on.
40acres of swamp on Nerang River at Surfers. Rankin Estate South Beach.
12Jul50: Several
important property sales Coolangatta. 2 blocks of flats Kirra.
28Sep50:
Coolangatta may lose Jazzland Dance hall – and transfer social activities
of 1000s of young people to Tweed Heads.
9Nov50: All time property boom South Coast.
18Apr51: Surfers Paradise Progress Association writes to Governor General
to have the Town of the South Coast incorporated into NSW. Due QLD
building controls mainly.
15May51: South Coast United Council of Progress Associations prepares to
secede from QLD.
1Mar52: Tweed Heads
and Coolangatta history.
8Oct52 and 29Dec52: Boom on South Coast. £65,000 spent since building
restrictions lifted. In same 4mth period last year £13,000 spent
30Dec52: New Chinese Café Surfers Paradise.
9Jan52: 25 Currumbin and Bilinga crown land blocks offered.
29May53: Development at Tweed Heads. At present rate TH will be bigger
than Murbah by 1955.
2Sep53: Bikini clad lady arrested Surfers Paradise.
12Sep53: Tweed Heads to secede to QLD. TH and Coolangatta not expected to
get sewerage for 10 to 15yrs?
17Sep53: Australia’s first ‘American style’ motel to be built at
TweedHeads by Dick Yates.
17Nov53: £40,000 movie theatre for Coolangatta. By C.E.Cox, Pres of Tweed
Shire and licensee of Hotel Wells. On mini golf site Griffith St
16Dec53: Lift out souvenir edition.
7Jul55: Gold Coast Valuations up average 250%. Some 1500%.
In mid 1957 the
Border Snack Bar at Coolangatta, proprietor Robert Brodie, was given
notice that he was to be shut down in 6mths and that his application for
an extension of the license to conduct a bar was rejected.
10Jun58: Stein Lundbery and Maria Patricia Hare proprietors of the
Honolulu Café at Surfers.
11Dec58 Flamingo Restaurant Surfers Paradise run by Marny de Vries.
21Jan59: Can
Can Café
Mermaid Beach.
12Jun59: Headlines on first ‘skyscrapers’ on Gold Coast. Chevron Hotel.
10Jul59: 25 perch property ‘Yoomart’ on corner of Marine Parade and Clark
St Coolangatta overlooking Greenmount Beach passed in at £20,500.
Greenmount beach described as ‘highest value halfmile surf beach
frontage in
Queensland.’
25Jul59:
Building boom Gold Coast into 6th successive year.
£150,898 worth of building approvals in last 3 weeks.
30Jul59: James Patrick Bibo and Cyril James Hawthorne, proprietors
Ferns Restaurant Burleigh Heads. Theo Theelan, 38yr old Dutchman, head
chef at Lennons Broadbeach Hotel.
1Aug59: £2mil worth of buildings will be underway at Surfers Paradise
before end of year. Includes 14 storey Chevron Hotel worth £1mil.
5Aug59: 3rd stage release of Terranora Lakes Country Club
Estate opens Tweed Heads. Lots from £395 on £45 deposit
21 blocks of freehold Crown Land released Broadbeach. Govt valuation =
£27,100. Achieved £45,175.
6Aug59: Successful TV test pattern Coolangatta. Boom in TV set sales.
8Aug59: Terranora blocks back to £325.
15Aug59: Biggest property deal in current season Surfers. £55,000 paid for
‘Tahiti’, serviced apartments.
19Aug59: Broadbeach valuations skyrocket. Residents who took out
leaseholds 15yrs ago paid £400 up front and £1/11/- yearly rental. Now
valued at £2500 and rental at £75/year.
29Aug59: £92,000 refused for 4 properties Coolangatta.
4Sep59: Approval for £40,000 guesthouse Coolangatta.
14 more blocks of Crown Land to be released between airport and
Coolangatta Rd. Adjoins 37 blocks recently released which went for average
of £850 per allotment.
Canal subdivisions exciting interest around Surfers.
11Aug59: Empire Theatre and Dance Palais in Tweed St, Tweed Heads to be
sold. ‘If successful it will be the largest single real estate
transaction at
Tweed Heads in recent
years’.
Service station approved for site by Council.
Rush of sale for sites for Motels. Mainly southern investors. ‘Coolangatta
and TH were coming into their own as areas of investment’.
17Oct59: Maranga House, housing the Red Rose Café (previously
Sands & Gill?) and 4 other shops in Bay St Tweed Heads opposite PO
sold for £25000. 110ft frontage Bay St. Top floor = Private Hotel.
31Oct59: £20,000 addition to ‘Danceland’ Griffith St Coolangatta approved.
66ft frontage. Owned by Conaghan Investments who also own the Capitol
Theatre
70 lot Koala Park Estate Tallebudgera released. The Koala Beach
development at Tallebudgera involved the pumping of 500,000 cubic yards of
sand.
12Nov59: £200,000 hotel planned for Terranora, TH. Claimed to be ’more
attractive than anything on Gold Coast and better than anything in NSW
from a tourist point of view’. 34 beds. License transferred from Court
House Hotel, Corowa.
8Jan60: Tallebudgera Gardens Estate on market at £75 deposit with 4yrs to
pay at 6% quarterly rate.
9Jan60: Currumbin Heights Estate on market at £350 deposit for house and
land package. Balance over 20-25yrs at £4/9/6 per week.
21Jan60: Bruce Small's canal developments Surfers Paradise. Three million
cubic yards of sand were dredged to create the Isle of Capri, et al.
13Feb60: 3rd release of Currumbin Hgts. 80-100 blocks available
‘off the plan’. £25 deposit. Flogged as The Dress Circle of the Gold
Coast and the Most rapidly developing area of the Gold Coast.
20Aug60: Border Heights Estate at Kirra. 21 already sold from £600 to
£1200. 25% deposit.
7Oct1957: 20yr
old Thea Andronico, teacher at Southport State High School,
contestant in Miss Aust Quest.
21Apr59: Mr T. Magnus was President of the Gold Coast Café proprietors
Association. L. Jacobson was Coolangatta representative.
10Mar60: The Gold Coast Café and Restaurant Owners’ Association
amalgamates with the Queensland Café and Caterers’ Association, president
of which is Mr G. Glytsos. Gold Coast organization figured it would
place them in a stronger position in their campaign for the right to serve
liquor with meals.
17Jan61: Crowded Hotels. AHA calls for Govt investment tourism
Top of Page
Cafes Tweed Heads:
Mrs Straughair
Railway Refresh Rms Tweed Heads from ~1905.
The Tweed Heads
Oyster Saloon was in the hands of F. Boston in 1912.
Mr T. Brewer
disposed of refreshment room business Coolangatta 9May1916.
31Mar1915: Café Majestic up for sale. …best of its kind on the
North
Coast. …Splendidly fitted out, beautifully furnished…marble topped tables,
marble counter, soda arm, 70 chairs….Two shops adjoining. 4.5yr lease and
rent
£2/week. Price £450.
30Mar16: Hotel Pacifique + T. Ninnis Saloon one side and M.S. Stanley’s
residence other, totally destroyed in fire. One Wall Wells Hotel partially
damaged. A.H.A. Frazer rebuilds – 1Jul16.
W.H. Turner had
Café Majestic Tweed Heads 1916.
1923: E. Bramble had The Sunshine Café next door to the Post
Office. Ev. Smith in 1924.
1924: Snowden’s café was in Stuart Street. Kemp’s Café was
in Bay Street and also providing board and residence. ‘Central to
everything and under British Australian Management’.
9Mar26: Fire destroys the Sunshine Cafe of Mr E.V. Smith -
along with Morleys.
12Dec31: Kia-Ora Guest House opposite Tweed Heads Railway Station.
Fine accommodation and cuisine 24/- a week and 8/- a day. A. Cusack and S.
O’Sullivan Ph 259.
23Dec32: Bamberry’s Kiosk, Fingal.
11Oct33: Kirra Kiosk Lease. Mrs A.M. Wilson, wife of the Coolangatta
mayor, Ald Wilson, applies to lease part of Kirra beach to build new kiosk
on site of old kiosk.
31Jan35: Terranora Kiosk opens each afternoon except Tue and Thur by Mrs
Hungerford.
£1200
fire damage to
Snowdens
Café
Stuart St TH. James Clare Snowden. Had an attached house.
23Dec40: Cox’s Café
Tweed heads. E. Cox proprietor. Plus A.H. Lattimore. And Sands and Gill.
26Mar43: Elias Cox of
Paris cafe
4May44:
Café Imperial in McLeod St
Coolangatta burnt out. Owned by Mr B.E. Salter of Brisbane and run by Mr
R. Ivey.
1Mar46:
Imperial Café and Guest
House up and running again.
23Nov44:
Mrs E. Richardson of Imperial Café
Coolangatta.
24Mar45:
Albert Moore’s fruit and refreshment rooms Griffith St Coolangatta. Sprung
for charging for fruit above fixed price. Supplied black market stuff by
Feros & Feros and
Angouras Bros.
13Sep46:
Miss H.P. Belsen applies to Coolangatta Town Council to open a café on
Kirra side of skating ring, behind monument. Consists of a caravan with
tables and chairs in front. Refused on grounds that it was setting up
in opposition to businesses which had been operating in the area for
years.
17Oct45:
Movie Café at Kirra.
3Jun46:
Charles Holt, café proprietor of Tweed Heads, Fruit and confectionery
business. Income nil 1936 to 41 and not in business on his own account pre
1944.
10Aug46:
Miss Rosa Whalan purchases Movie Café, Griffith St Coolangatta,
from L.A. Brody.
25Feb47:
Coolangatta Milk Bar for sale. Rent £2/5/- per week. + dwelling £3500.
[Milk Bars becoming very popular. One in Sydney changed hands for £19,000
and one at £1950, taking £140/week giving a nett profit of £40]
12Apr47:
Imperial café, McLean St Coolangatta opposite the Kirrabelle Hotel.
22Apr47:
Markwells
Café
McLean St Coolangatta. ‘Famous for Fish Meals and tasty Grills.’
1May47:
Kirra Store Milk Bar opposite beach operated by A.P.W. Oehlman
3Jun47:
Ross’s Fruit Mart & Milk Bar, Bay St, Tweed Heads
29Oct47:
Oehlman’s
Kirra
Beach Store and Milk Bar
opposite beach. A.P.W. Oehlman. (Gustav Theo Arnold Oehlmann naturalized
1921)
21Jan48:
Café Imperial at Coolangatta being run by Mrs E. Williams.
27May48:
M.S. Williams takes over Classic Café next to Morleys. Open
Sundays.
1Mar49:
Sands & Gill changes hands after 27yrs. Tim J. Donnelly of Woolongong new
owner. Leased business but family retained freehold.
In 1953 Timothy James
Donnelly had the Sands café in
Tweed Street (?)
Back in
family hands as ‘Cakeland’ in the 50s.
6Jun49:
Sommerville Café
McLeod St Coolangatta. Proprietor Jean Sommerville, aka Mrs J. Campbell.
12Aug49:
Timothy James Donnelly of Sands café granted liquour licence.
24Aug49
and 10Nov49: Ethel Louisa Wells fails to sell Milkbar to George Prestwick
for £2000. Real Estate agent says demand for that type of business was
slipping. Peak for this type business was 1946/47. The shop was next door
to the theatre. This is Empire but Preswicks had the Classic? Maybe
later?
23Jun56:
Fred John Peter Poland, café proprietor, Wharf St.
4Dec58: Poinciana
Coffee Lounge opens Kirra in ‘New Coral Corner’ block of shops.
Plus LAZY J BARBECUE
opposite border gates Coolangatta.
6Aug59: J. Eaton of
BBQue Café Coolangatta installs TV in café.
Northern Star
31Jan/1Feb34: Kalgoorlie riots
over foreigners.
£32,000
damage. 2 dead. Foreigner's houses and businesses destroyed. Damage now
£70,000.
All Greek's leave for Perth.
27Jan34: Almost £100,000 being spent Tweed-Brunswick on bridges and roads.
Boyd's Bay (£13,807), Barney's Point and Bruns bridges, all replacing
punts.
10Nov34: Four
bridges to replace punts on Pacific Hwy between Kempsey and Tweed Heads
almost complete. Boyd's Bay (£14,000)
most advanced. Chinderah (£42,000)
still ongoing. + Raleigh (£19,000)
and Mororo (£25,000)
17Nov34: J. Price, editor Tweed Daily, at Mullum show with other heavies.
Newspapers:
Northern Star
Started
life in May1876 under ownership and editorship of William Kelleway.
Advert Oct/Nov1886: To Capitalists & Others... W. Kelleway & Sons
wish to sell share in Northern Star to expand paper. Sold
to Presbyterian Lawyer Thomas G. Hewitt in Jul1889. Hewitt was ex-editor of the
Clarence and Richmond Examiner
(~1874-1889), as was Kelleway.
(C&RE estb Jun1859 by Englishman Clark Irving MLA as major
stakeholder. William Edward Vincent first
editor and apparently shareholder. Sold to Richard Stevenson Mar1861.)
(Saw off all its competitors:
The Lismore Chronicle started life
in ~1875 under ownership of Presbyterian R.G. Balmer of Casino and ceased publication
~1908.
17Jul07:
In his
Lismore address Mr Hindmarsh (Lib MLA Rous) made a bitter attack on the
Chronicle which he described as a pie bald production between ‘The
Worker’ and ‘The Truth.’ - but Chronicle further to the right than
Star? Chronicle carried most sectarian articles, which Bishop Doyle
chose to counter through the Northern Star. Northern Star even handed
until Editor Browne 1911.
The North Coast
Daily News, claiming to be Lismore's first daily newspaper, appeared on 1May1907,
founded by Joseph Bede Kelly and a group of fellow Catholic businessmen.
Catholic Kelly
had been a surveyor around the Richmond, Tweed and Brunswick since 1879.
In 1884 he selected 640 acres at Tyagarah, became a cane and dairy
farmer, and founder and first director Byron Bay Creamery. MLA for Tweed
1894-98. Moved to Lismore and commercial ventures 1899. The News was Bishop Doyle's
favoured organ for letters-to-the-editor. Publisher of
the Bishop's biography 1909.
The Northern Star didn't give its advent a
mention other than to state that The Lismore Evening Post started
by Mr Ivess was Lismore's first Daily (started Nov05), but the Northern Star itself must
have felt the competition as it became a Daily on 2Jul07. The Lismore Chronicle was more
apprehensive and ran an editorial urging people to stick with it because
it was a fearless, independent organ bowing to no sect, nor
subservient to any organisation... and able to preserve its
independence from anything having a semblance of 'compulsory bias'....
Printed and
published by Norbert Stephens ('the manager') for the North Coast Daily Newspaper Co,
in a purpose-built shop in Magellan Street. Anglican Edward Dunn was first
editor, but handed over shortly afterwards to Robert Browne (who had
converted to Catholicism ~1901 Brisbane upon his third marriage).
The Daily News
ceased in 1914.
The Northern People was owned, edited and printed by Catholic Irishman
Michael Conlan O’Halloran 1914-18 from an office in Keen Street. Possibly took over The North Coast
Daily News and relocated and rebranded it?)
20 May09: 33rd anniversary of Northern Star. 2 dailies and 1
bi weekly Lismore plus 13 other regional newspapers.
2Jul10: 35th anniversary of Northern Star. 20,000 copies
daily – double 3yrs ago when went to daily. Pop of
Richmond –Tweed = 57,180, = increase of 4982 for year.
In Dec1910 Hewitt
withdrew from active duty and anointed Gratten Grey, of the 'Tasmanian Hansard staff',
as editor. He wielded the quill for 9mths before resigning to take up a
position with 'the opposition' (possibly the North Coast Daily News), after which editorial control was exercised
by Robert Browne, ex-editor of the Daily News (and a man of
'conservative and Imperialistic sentiment'), for the next 10yrs.
(Browne died 1926 Mullum. Landed from India 1886, aged 32. Represented
Associated Press of China in Calcutta for some years. Editor and manager
for the "Cumberland Mercury" as well as editor of the "North Coast Daily
News" and "Brisbane Splashes." At various times held positions on the
"Sydney Morning Herald", "Sydney Daily Telegraph, " "Melbourne Age",
"Brisbane Telegraph", "Brisbane Courier" and several other newspapers in
NSW and Qld.)
3Apr11: Northern Star Stats. ‘8 page daily’. Most widely circulated
paper on the north coast.
1Jul11: Northern Star anniversary. 23rd year of control by
present proprietor – Thomas Hewitt & Son. …It has been
conducted free from the behests of any particular party or sect, and by
a policy of the ‘fair go to all’ pattern…. 12pages. Largest daily
outside Sydney and Newcastle in NSW.
T.G. Hewitt died 1915 and ownership (or majority ownership) passed to
his eldest son, Presbyterian Thomas Mackenzie Hewitt, although Thomas’s brother,
Anglican Norman, seems
to have had a big interest. Norman was a Tweed Heads resident from 1921
and regular correspondent to all papers.
In
1920 Northern Star Ltd was formed with provisional directors: J.C.
McIntosh Snr, Robert Noble, Charles McKenzie, T.M. Hewitt, Dr A.E. Brand, Dr
R. Graham, E.W. Mackay. (Directors probably shareholders.) The deal was
allegedly put together by N.C. Hewitt and H.E. Maguire.
(Presbyterians McIntosh and McKenzie were both lawyers and big property
owners around Lismore. Noble probably R.E. Noble, president of Lismore
branch of Nationalist Party 1925 - took over from McIntosh. Presbyterian
Walter Frank Oakes President of Nationalist Party from late 1920s.
The Star was 'run in the interests of the Orangemen' said the
Catholics in 1920.)
Upon formal takeover of the newspaper in Apr1921 the Board of Directors
were T.M. Hewitt, W.C. Davies, Watkin W. Morris, A.D. McLean, J.C. McIntosh
Snr. (Morris was a dentist in storekeeper Robertson's building and Davies
and McLean were store owners.)
They injected cash and Northern Star moved into new Molesworth buildings 1922.
1925: H.C. Thomas, W.C. Davies, W.W. Morris, A.D. McLean, J.C. McIntosh
Snr. (Thomas Hewitt Jnr resigned in ill health 1926 and apparently sold
up, although his brother Norman seems to have retained an interest. Thomas
died 1931.)
1926: Dr R.V. Graham, C.M. Robertson, W.C. Davies, W.W. Morris, A.D.
McLean.
(19May26: 50th anniversary of Northern Star.)
1927: A.E. Brand, Dr R.V. Graham, C.M. Robertson, W.W. Morris, A.D.
McLean. (Davies died 1927)
1928: J.C. McIntosh Snr, A.E. Brand, C.M. Robertson, W.W. Morris, A.D.
McLean.
1933: J.C. McIntosh Jnr, A.E. Brand, C.M. Robertson, W.W. Morris, A.D.
McLean.
1934: H.E. Noble, J.C. McIntosh Jnr, A.E. Brand, C.M. Robertson, A.D.
McLean. (Morris died 1934)
1935: Dr A.J. Opie, J.C. McIntosh Jnr, A.E. Brand, C.M. Robertson, J.M.
McLean. (Presbyterian A.D. McLean died 1935. Was
Chairman and on committee of Lismore Electorate Council of Country Party)
1936: C.M. Robertson (Chairman), A.J. Opie, J.C. McIntosh Jnr, A.E. Brand,
J.M. McLean.
Anglican Norman Cowan Hewitt, a journalist with the Brisbane Courier
1899-1903,
remained a big shareholder but never got elected to the board. (Died Tweed
Heads 1956 aged 77.)
(Note: Various editions of NS imply George Nesbitt, Jim Eggins and Colonel
Hindmarsh were directors at some stage? Hindmarsh and C.M. Robertson were
first cousins - their mothers were daughters of James Barrie, Mayor of
Lismore 1884-85, 1892-93, and 1901.)
Editors:
In 1922 the
new owners of Northern Star Ltd appointed a new editor, Mr A.G. Davies of
the ‘Brisbane Courier Parliamentary reporting staff’. The previous editor,
Robert Browne,
retired to Mullumbimby.
In May 1923 Mr Davies resigned from the Star and the editorial pen passed
to Mr J.A. Irvine of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, who wielded the quill
until March 1925 when he resigned in favour of Mr C.H. Peek, an earlier
reporter and sub editor,
described as a man of retiring nature but kindly disposed towards all.
He governed editorial direction until
May
1933 when ill health forced retirement,
stating in his farewell speech that In following his calling he had
never allowed personal views to obtrude.
The
director’s chair passed to his associate editor and member of the
‘literary staff’,
Englishman
Mr W.T.
Care, who had an
obsession with Royalty.
Editor Care died
1942 Lismore. Lyne Young then became editor, and possibly others until
long reign of Cliff Murray from 1950s to 70s.
Les Warrick, ex Murbah Daily News, was General Manager/Managing Director late 50s to the late 60s.
In
1935 Radio 2LM launched, directly under ownership of Northern
Star Ltd - or maybe as its wholly owned subsidiary Richmond River
Broadcasters Pty. Ltd.
The Northern Star moved to a new complex at Goonellabah in Jul1957. In
1962 it was the first complex in the world to house a newspaper, radio and
TV station.
In May 1962 RTN Channel 8 Lismore launched (RTN = Richmond-Tweed
TV Ltd ), with major shareholders Northern Star Ltd and
Richmond River
Broadcasters Pty Ltd.
In 1975 RTN & NRN Coffs Harbour (launched Jan1965) merged to form
Northern Rivers Television Ltd (NRTV)
1980: Australian Broadcasting Tribunal inquiry into merger of Northern
Star Holdings Ltd and NRTV - is being wholly owned in
'public interest'. NSH Ltd is principal shareholder of NRTV, the licensee
of NRN11 Grafton-Kempsey.
20Nov1964:
Northern Star Ltd
and Richmond River Broadcasters Pty Ltd became wholly owned
subsidiaries of Northern Star Holdings, along with
Northern Star Ltd’s partially owned subsidiaries The Tweed Newspaper Co
Pty Ltd (Murbah - 12.5%), Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd
(Southport - 12.5%) and Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd (Casino - 25%).
Mar1965 Northern Star Holdings Ltd was listed on the stock exchange as a
public company.
Major shareholders, ('The Barons of Molesworth Street'), at
time of going public: Messrs McIntosh, McLean, Robertson, Brand,
Opie (and Glynn?) and their families.
1987: Northern Star Holdings delisted and deregistered, leaving a
lot of angry
shareholders.]
8Oct1965:
Northern Star Holdings
Limited
Annual Report. First AGM covering trading period 1Jan65-30Jun65:
Board: C.M. Robertson (Chairman), L.T. Warrick (Managing Director), Hon
J.C. McIntosh, MLC, and J.M. McLean.
(A.E. Brand retired as Director of both Northern Star Ltd and
Richmond River Broadcasters Pty Ltd after 38yrs. Place on Boards taken
by J.I. Glynn.)
(Les Warrick was ex-Murbah
Daily News.)
Solicitors: J.C. McIntosh, Balzer & Gordon
Secretary: G.M. Doust AASA
Structure: Northern Star Limited and Richmond River Broadcasters
Pty. Ltd were wholly owned companies of Northern Star Holdings Ltd.
In turn Northern Star Ltd has substantial shareholdings in
The Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd, Murbah
Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd, Southport
Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd, Casino
Shareholding such that they are declared subsidiaries of Northern Star
Holdings Ltd
In addition, both Northern Star Ltd and Richmond River
Broadcasters Pty Ltd have useful shareholdings in Richmond-Tweed
TV Ltd. (Who owned the rest?)
14Sep66 AGM and Annual Report:
Directors: C.M. Robertson (Chairman), L.T. Warrick (Managing Director),
Hon J.C. McIntosh MLC, and J.M. McLean
Dr Archilaus Jim Opie retires after 32yrs as a Director of both Northern Star
Ltd and Richmond River Broadcasters Pty Ltd . Replaced on both
boards by son-in-law Dr Nugent Elliot (Bill) Brand, son of Albert Elliot.
The Group owns 5 newspapers.
Net profit = $177,958. Company also holds $261,293 worth of shares in
other stock exchange listed companies.
29Sep67 Annual Report:
Directors:
C.M. Robertson
(Chairman), L.T. Warrick (Managing Director), Hon J.C. McIntosh MLC, and
J.M. McLean
Solicitors now J.C. McIntosh, Barr & Gordon
By this time substantial shareholding in Grafton's Daily Examiner.
Gold
Coast Publications Pty Ltd own 25% (largest shareholding) in Gold
Coast Radio Broadcasting Co Pty Ltd; and own freehold Burleigh Heads
(in addition to land and buildings at Southport and Surfers Paradise). The
Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd owns Twin Towns Printery at Tweed Heads.
Northern Star has expanded into Ballina.
Net Profit = $191,707 before deduction of interests of minority
shareholders of $45,701. Dividend of 7%. (Minority Shareholders =
shareholders in Casino Newspaper P/L, Tweed Newspaper Co P/L, Gold Coast
Pubs P/L, other than Northern Star Ltd.)
27Sep68 Annual Report:
Directors:
C.M. Robertson
(Chairman), L.T. Warrick (Managing Director), Hon J.C. McIntosh MLC, and
J.M. McLean
Net Profit = $174,080 before deduction of interests of minority
shareholders of $36,368. Dividend of 12%.
Now wholly responsible for 'The Primary Producer'. For many years
had been simply the printer of the weekly paper on behalf of the
publisher, the Primary Producers Union.
Gold Coast Pubs now 28% shareholding in Radio 4GG on the Gold Coast. And
increased shareholding in the 'Big B' Shopping Mall at Burleigh
12Sep69 Annual Report:
Directors:
Hon J.C. McIntosh MLC
(Chairman), L.T. Warrick (Managing Director), J.M. McLean, and J.I. Glynn
(Campbell Maclean Robertson died 3Apr69 and James Ignatius Glynn appointed
as Director. First and only Catholic to join board. Robertson had been chairman of NS Ltd and 2LM since 1936)
John Morven McLean retires by rotation but available for re-election.)
Net Profit = $166,212 before deduction of interests of minority
shareholders of $37,332. Dividend of 12%.
28Sep70 Annual Report:
Directors:
Hon J.C. McIntosh MLC
(Chairman), L.T. Warrick (Managing Director), J.M. McLean, J.I. Glynn, J.H.
Rootes (ex Gold Coast Bulletin), D.R. Stainlay (ex Tweed Daily), and A.A.
Budd (ex Tweed Daily.)
(Warrick retires by rotation but available for re-election. But in ill
health. Secretary Graham McLeod Doust appointed new General Manager.)
Company now wholly owns The Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd, Gold
Coast Publications Pty Ltd, and Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd - as
well as Northern Star Ltd, Richmond River Broadcasters Pty Ltd.
Issued 357,144 shares in Parent to Minority Interests. But sold 3,200 of
the 6,578 shares held in The Daily Examiner Pty Ltd.
Net Profit = $151,732. Dividend of 12%.
18Oct71 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
J.M. McLean, Dr N.E. Brand, R.B. Gordon, J.H. Rootes, D.R. Stainlay, and
A.A. Budd
Hon J.C. McIntosh MLC and L.T. Warrick died during the year and Brand and
Gordon appointed. Bruce Gordon is company's solicitor. A.E. Brand died
1970.
Net Profit = $231,358. Dividend of 12%.
Northern Star now delivered daily to Tenterfield.
16Oct72 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
Dr N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd, R.B. Gordon, J.M. McLean, J.H. Rootes, and D.R.
Stainlay.
In accordance with 'age requirements', Arthur Aubrey Budd, age 74, to
retire; Herbert Cecil Hack, Director of Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd,
age 76, to retire; Garnet Percy Raphael, Director of Casino Newspaper
Pty Ltd, age 74, to retire. But special provisions made for them to
continue.
Net Profit = $264,923. Dividend of $54,443.
Company lost printing contract of 'The Primary Producer' after the
PPU amalgamated with other dairy organisations. But now responsible for
setting and composing The Kyogle Examiner. Kyogle and Casino
offices combined. Also purchased the free newspapers, 'The Star' at
Strathpine and 'The Albert News' at Beenleigh, by issue of 35,000
shares at 50c in Northern Star Holdings.
Wholly owned subsidiaries: Owns directly 45% of Tweed Newspaper P/L; owns
48% of Gold Coast Pub P/L; owns 49% of Casino Newspaper P/L. Remainder of
Tweed, 55%, owned by Northern Star Ltd. Gold Coast remainder owned by
Tweed P/L (26%) and NS Ltd (26%). Remainder of Casino (51%) owned by NS
Ltd.
22Oct73 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes, and D.R.
Stainlay.
J.M. McLean retired due ill health. Director of NS Ltd for 38yrs. Grover,
local Building Society manager,
appointed as replacement.
In accordance with 'age requirements', Arthur Aubrey Budd to retire; G.A.
Jackman, Director of Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd, age 72, to
retire; Garnet Percy Raphael, Director of Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd,
to retire. But special provisions made for them to continue.
Mrs E.M. Watts previously owner of Strathpine 'The Star' and Messrs
D.T.M. Madell and R.J. Paschke of 'The Albert News' apparently big
shareholders.
Net Profit = $308,928 = 15.18% return on shareholders funds. Dividend of
$138,732 = 15%.
Non Executive directors to get retirement allowance = 15% of directors
fees x by years of service. Estimated at $3600 annually
Northern Star has all time record circulation of 16,178 copies per edition
(increase of 452)
21Oct74 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd BEM, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes, and D.R.
Stainlay.
Nett Profit = $329,220. Dividend of 15% ($138,732).
Bonus Issue of $231,222 worth of shares on basis of 1 for 4.
Richmond River Express Casino in trouble. Changed from afternoon to
morning paper. Northern Star circulation 16,778.
21Oct75 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd BEM, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes, and D.R.
Stainlay.
Budd (age 77), Jackman (age 74), Raphael (77) reappointed as respective
directors.
Twenty largest shareholders own 48.46% of the company. Total of 418
shareholders. 154 shareholders own less than 1000 shares. 48 own more than
10,000. Largest shareholder is Northern Investments Ltd with 303,090
shares = 7.5% [Northern Investments Ltd possibly same Northern Investments
Trust Fund established by Mayne Investments Ltd 1968. Mayne Investments
established Lismore 1968 by Catholics Thomas Edward Rummery (foundation
chairman), son lawyer Patrick Joseph (manager), accountant Barry Joseph
Wappett (general manager and secretary) ....]
Net Profit = $321,465. Dividend of 15% ($173,412).
Production at Casino closed and now done from Lismore. Now 2 days a week
newspaper (from 3). Northern Star circulation 16,468.
25Oct76 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd BEM, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, and
D.R. Stainlay.
Budd, Jackman, and W.E.L. Hamilton, age 72, director of Casino Newspaper
P/L, reappointed as respective directors. S.C. Mitchell and G.P. Raphael
resigned as Directors of Casino and G.M. Radburn and Peter Croke appointed
as replacements.
Twenty largest shareholders own 48.5% of the company. Total of 418
shareholders. 173 shareholders own between 1 and 1000 shares. 47 own more
than 10000. Largest shareholder still Northern Investments Ltd with 303,090
shares = 7.5%
Directors share holding held beneficially: Nugent Elliot Brand (800),
Arthur Aubrey Budd (5597), James Ignatius Glynn (6625), Robert Bruce
Gordon (1937), John Rowland Grover (2250), John Herbert Rootes (3750),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (13,125)
Net Profit = $677,314. (18.1% return.) Dividend of 15.5% ($179,194).
Gold Coast Publications took over from NS Ltd as biggest contributor to
net profit in 1972.
Norco Printing Plant acquired. 5 radio stations from Taree to the border
now part of Regional Radio. Northern Star circulation 16,684.
31Oct77 Annual Report:
Directors:
J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd BEM, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, and
D.R. Stainlay.
Budd (age 79), Jackman (age 76), Hamilton (73) reappointed as respective
directors.
Net Profit = $824,651. (17% return.) Dividend of 16.5% ($190,755).
Twenty largest shareholders own 45% of the company. 561 shareholders
total. 268 shareholders own between 1 and 1000 shares. 49 own more than
10000. Largest shareholder remains Northern Investments Ltd with 303,340
shares.
The Daily Examiner Pty Ltd (Grafton) now wholly owned subsidiary.
(valued at $144,788 and acquired by issue of 208,140 NSH shares to soak up
remaining shareholding). Examiner also owns 23% of The Central North
Coast Newspaper Company Pty Ltd (Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo Advocate?).
Bert Eggins, Chairman of Daily Examiner died Apr77 after 37yrs as a
director. John Moorhead resigned as Managing Director. Grafton businessmen
D.G. Abrahams and A.J. Schafer appointed as directors.
Gold Coast Publications took over The Gold Coast Sun (free
newspaper). New Complex being built Southport.
Northern Star Ltd took over Mullumbimby Advocate and will develop
it as a free newspaper covering Ballina to Brunswick.
D.C. (Cliff) Murray retires as editor of Northern Star after 47yrs with
paper.
Radio 2LM Lismore, 2GF Grafton, 2MW Murbah, 4WK Warwick form network.
Richmond River Express Casino now free on Wednesday but Friday
issue retained as a subscription issue. Northern Star circulation 17,271.
[Northern Star Holdings Ltd acquired The Brunswick-Byron
Advocate in 1976, but kept former owner, Jim Brokenshire, on as
managing editor. NS then became the monopoly media outlet on the North
Coast apart from the Byron News started by Reg Wright in 1971,
acquired by APN in 1993. Brokenshire retired 1980 and Advocate moved to
Ballina.]
29Oct79 Annual Report:
Directors: J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd BEM, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, and
D.R. Stainlay. +
Associate Director B.L. Miller.
Group General Manager = R. Tomlinson. (Gordon is partner and principal in
the lawyer firm of J.C. McIntosh, Barr & Gordon, the company's solicitors.)
Glynn, Grover, Budd (age81), re-elected. G.A. Jackman (age 78)
re-appointed as director Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd. W.E.L.
Hamilton (age 75) re-appointed as director Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd.
Authorized Capital of Company doubled to $4,000,000.
Profit after tax rose 44% to $1,452,000. Earnings per share rose from
38cents to 55cents. Gold Coast generated almost half the profits.
Rapid expansion of Gold Coast Publications. Northern Star circulation
increased by 1000/day. Tweed Newspaper Co's Daily News and Gold
Coaster also greatly increased profits. Turnaround of Casino's
Express Examiner.
Management of The Central North Coast Newspaper Co Pty Ltd (77%
owned by NS Holdings and 23% by Daily Examiner) and Daily Examiner Pty
Ltd (100%) now merged.
Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd owned 45% by NS Holdings and 55% by NS
Ltd. Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd 48% owned by NS Holdings, 26% by NS
Ltd and 26% by Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd. Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd 49%
owned by NS Holdings and 51% by NS Ltd.
542 Shareholders. Top 20 hold 44.5% of shares. Largest shareholder still
Northern Investments Ltd with 300,000 shares, but now in Voluntary
Liquidation.
Directors share holding: Nugent Elliot Brand (18,062),
Arthur Aubrey Budd (5597), James Ignatius Glynn (6625), Robert Bruce
Gordon (1937), John Rowland Grover (2250), John Herbert Rootes (3750),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (13,125)
28Oct1980 AGM:
Directors: J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
Dr. N.E. Brand, A.A. Budd BEM, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, and
D.R. Stainlay. + Associate Director B.L. Miller (real estate agent Coffs
Harbour and director of Coffs Harbour Newspapers since 1960).
Group General Manager =
W.T.K Baird. (Wal Baird also director of Tweed Newspaper P/L. (Roger
Tomlinson died 19Apr80. Joined group 1962. P.Zulpo replaced him
at NS Ltd.)
Brand, Gordon and Miller re-elected, Miller as full director replacing
Budd, who remains a director of two subsidiaries. Jackman, aged 79,
re-appointed director Gold Coast Publications. Hamilton (aged 76)
re-appointed Casino Newspaper, R.W. Manyweathers, aged 73, re-appointed
director of Northern Rivers Television Ltd and Richmond-Tweed Ltd. V.E.
Reddacliff, aged 73, re-appointed director Central North Coast and Daily
Examiner.
Northern Star Holdings Ltd and Northern Rivers Television Ltd now merged.
NS Holdings approved by Aust Broadcasting Tribunal 9Apr80 to purchase all
remaining shares in Northern Rivers TV Ltd and Richmond-Tweed TV Ltd.
Various group subsidiaries already held 480,580 shares in Northern Rivers
Television Ltd. Now entire holding of 1,519,248 directly owned by NS
Holdings. By default also acquired Richmond-Tweed TV Ltd and Rascol Pty
Ltd which were wholly owned by NRTV. Rascol is land development company at
Coffs.
Rights issue last year raised $539,100.
Casino Express Examiner again in trouble and now only issued once
per week.
Grafton Daily Examiner purchased Express newspaper from Ken
Buckle who became manager of Daily Examiner. Express still being published
along with the Eastland Opinion at Coffs Harbour. Plans to
introduce New Look Advocate to Coffs.
Phil Wilson appointed manager Central North Coast Co.
J.W. McKenzie appointed General Manager over Central North Coast Co and
Daily Examiner P/L as well as Northern Rivers TV Ltd.
Now 2154 shareholders. Top 20 shareholders own 33.9% of company.
Directors share holding: Nugent Elliot Brand (67,659),
Arthur Aubrey Budd (16,791), James Ignatius Glynn (29,964), Robert Bruce
Gordon (800), John Rowland Grover (9828), John Herbert Rootes (11,250),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (40,374)
Profit after tax = $2,025,000.
27Oct1981 AGM:
Directors: J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
Dr. N.E. Brand, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, D.R. Stainlay,
B.L. Miller.
(Rootes still Managing Director of Gold Coast Pubs. Ian Jeffers General
Manager.)
(Budd, aged 83, re-appointed director Gold Cost Pubs Pty Ltd and Tweed
Newspaper Co Pty Ltd. Jackman, aged 80, re-appointed director Gold Coast
Pubs, Manyweathers, age 74, re-appointed director NRTV and Rich-Tweed TV.
Reddacliff, aged 74, reappointed Coffs and Grafton companies. D.J. O'Dell,
aged 72, re-appointed NRTV and Rich-Tweed TV
Another record profit after tax of $2,912,000. Earnings per share up from
23.9 cents to 30.7 cents. Dividend up from 9.17 cents to 14 cents per
share. Company still takes pride in being 'local' and not being dominated by one of the
major media conglomerates
Newspapers: The Albert and Logan News, Gold Coast Bulletin and
Gold Coast Sun at Southport; The Daily News and Gold Coaster
from Murbah; The Northern Star Lismore, The Richmond River
Express Examiner at Casino, The North Coast Advocate at
Ballina; The Daily Examiner and The Express at Grafton; and
The Eastland Opinion and Advocate at Coffs Harbour. + 11/8
TV and radio 2LM. + 31.3% ownership of 4GG and 30.3% ownership of 2MW.
Northern Star now 20,600 papers per day. Coffs Advocate increased
circulation by 31%. The Opinion, free weekly, now 64 pages.
Hec Green retired as manager of 2LM after 40yrs service. Steve Robinson
now manager.
2151 shareholders. Top 20 control 35.6% of shares
Directors share holding: Nugent Elliot Brand (1000),
James Ignatius Glynn (30,000), Robert Bruce
Gordon (800), John Rowland Grover (800), Brian Lee Miller (10,300), John Herbert Rootes (11,300),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (42,000)
26Oct1982 AGM:
Directors: J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
Dr. N.E. Brand, R.B. Gordon, J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, D.R. Stainlay
MC, B.L. Miller.
Glynn, Grover, Manyweathers, Reddacliff and O'Dell re-appointed to
respective boards.
Another record profit of $3,796,000 after tax. Earnings per share 28.2
cents. One for two bonus issue Feb82. Now 4,746.637 shares on issue.
Company still proud that it's locally owned.
Gold Coast City now 2nd largest Qld after Brisbane, and GC Bulletin first
regional newspaper in Aust to be issued 7 days per week. John Burton is
Editor in Chief. Whole region growing rapidly.
Northern Star now 21,783 papers per day. Jim Brigginshaw editor.
The Central North
Coast Newspaper Co Pty Ltd now known as North Coast News Pty Ltd.
Geoff Orchison now editor of Grafton Daily Express. Trevor Lee
new manager.
Eastland Waters Pty Ltd now wholly owned subsidiary and 3rd largest asset
in group. Probably the renamed
Rascol Pty Ltd.
2283 shareholders. Top 20 control 36.4% of shares.
Directors share holding: Nugent Elliot Brand (1500),
James Ignatius Glynn (45,000), Robert Bruce
Gordon (20,000), John Rowland Grover (2721), Brian Lee Miller (15,450), John Herbert Rootes (16,950),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (53,750)
31Oct1983 AGM:
Directors: J.I. Glynn (Chairman),
R.B. Gordon (Deputy Chairman,
Dr. N.E. Brand,
J.R. Grover, J.H. Rootes MBE, D.R. Stainlay
MC, B.L. Miller.
Glynn, Grover, Manyweathers, Reddacliff and O'Dell re-appointed.
Newspapers now The Albert and Logan News, Gold Coast Bulletin and
Gold Coast Sun at Southport; The Daily News and Gold Coaster
from Murbah; The Northern Star Lismore, The Richmond River
Express Examiner at Casino, The North Coast Advocate at
Ballina; The Daily Examiner and Lower Clarence Express at
Grafton; and The Advocate and Advocate Opinion at Coffs
Harbour. + 11/8 TV and radio 2LM, 4GG and 2MW.
Chairman of Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd, Horrie Kwann Fatt, died
23Jul83.
Big setback in profits. $1,089,000 after tax. Earnings per share 6.3
cents. Gold Coast Pubs huge loss of $1,261,000. Had disaster with 7 issues per week
GG Bulletin. Gold Coast Bulletin now back to 5 issues per week. + big
building programme. Eastland Waters, whatever it is, contributed 3rd
largest profit to group.
2,489 shareholders. Top 20 = 33.1%.
Directors share holding: Nugent Elliot Brand (2520),
James Ignatius Glynn (64,680), Robert Bruce
Gordon (29,300), John Rowland Grover (3809), Brian Lee Miller (23,030), John Herbert Rootes (25,130),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (77,350)
29Oct1984 AGM:
Directors:
R.B. Gordon (Chairman),
J.I. Glynn (Deputy Chairman),
J.W. McKenzie (Managing
Director),
W.T.K. Baird (Executive
Director Operations), G.M. Doust (Executive Director Finance),
N.E. Brand,
J.R. Grover, B.L.
Miller, J.H. Rootes MBE, D.R. Stainlay MC.
Big changes and diversification into finance/development. Bruce Gordon youngest
member of board. John McKenzie, age 41, promoted to new position from GM of TV
and Coffs/Grafton newspapers. Been with company 20yrs.
Directors Gold Coast Pubs: J.H. Rootes (Chairman), A.D. Hollindale, D.R.
Stainley, C.E. Cox, N.C. Rix. (I.L. Jeffers General Manager)
Directors Daily News: D.R. Stainlay (Chairman), H.G. Winders, W.G.
Stainlay, P.M. Mason. (R.M. Stainlay, Asst Manager Finance)
Northern Star: N.E. Brand (Chairman), R.B. Gordon, J.I. Glynn, J.R.
Grover, R.M. Campbell. (P.E. Zulpo GM)
Daily Examiner/North Coast News: B.L. Miller (Chairman), J.I. Moorhead, D.G.
Abrahams, G.A. Jeffery, G.F. Murray, R.R. Macdonald, A.C. Hogbin, H.T.
Stanford. (T.G. Lee manager Examiner, P.B. Wilson manager North Coast News)
NRTV: J.I. Glynn (Chairman), B.L. Miller, R.B. Gordon, D.R. Stainlay, J.B.
Chataway, J.I. Moorhead. (B.J. Beasley replaces McKenzie as GM)
2LM: R.B. Gordon (Chairman), J.I. Glynn, J.R. Grover, N.E. Brand, R.M.
Campbell. (P.E. Zulpo GM, S.H. Robinson station manager)
Fitzroy Finance: G.F. Murray (Chairman), B.L. Miller, R.B. Gordon, G.A.
Jeffery, R.R. Macdonald, M.R. Archibald. (E.R. Browning GM)
Now 11 newspapers in group.
Company now capitalised at $80,000,000 = 800% growth over past 5yrs. Gold
Coast Pubs back as leading profit maker in group.
Fitzroy Finance Group
Ltd, a 40yr old company of Coffs Harbour, acquired for ~$7m on 31May84,
inclusive of Fitzroy Finance Co Pty Ltd, Coffs Harbour Automobile Finance
& Loan Co Pty Ltd, Coffs H.P. Services Pty Ltd, Fitzroy Property Services
Pty Ltd, Fitzroy Leasing Pty Ltd, John A. McIntyre Pty Ltd, Fitzroy House
Pty Ltd, M.N.F. Health Stores Pty Ltd.
Another record profit of $4,722,000 after tax. Earnings per share of 25.1
cents.
2,576 shareholders. Top
20 control 33.5% of shares.
Directors share holding: Wallace Thomas Kennedy Baird (7,840), Nugent Elliot Brand (2520),
Graham McLeod Doust (nil), James Ignatius Glynn (64,680), Robert Bruce
Gordon (30,000), John Rowland Grover (3809), John William McKenzie (9220),
Brian Lee Miller (23,030), John Herbert Rootes (25,130),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (25,000)
28Oct1985 AGM
Directors:
R.B. Gordon (Chairman),
J.I. Glynn (Deputy Chairman),
J.W. McKenzie (Managing
Director),
W.T.K. Baird (Executive
Director Operations), G.M. Doust (Executive Director Finance),
N.E. Brand,
J.R. Grover, B.L.
Miller, J.H. Rootes MBE, D.R. Stainlay MC.
150,000 convertible notes issued to Sedum Pty Ltd,
family trust of Baird, Doust, McKenzie.
Number of shares on issue jump from 19,936,000 in 1984 to 35,885,000.
Market capitalisation now $100,477,000. Profit after tax of $4,979,000.
Earnings per share = 14.8 cents. Company still proud of local connections.
Joint venture with Queensland Press Ltd called 'Quest Media Holdings Pty
Ltd' to investigate acquisition of newspapers Brisbane and Cairns. [Board:
Keith McDonald (chairman), CEO Qld Press, Ian Kerr of Qld Press, Brian
Stead of Qld Press, Bruce Gordon of NS, John McKenzie of NS, John Rootes.]
TV 'Equalization' and 'Aggregation' debate.
Gold Coast Pubs still biggest income generator, but NRTV getting close.
2945 shareholders. Top 20 control 32.7% of shares
Directors share holding:
Wallace Thomas Kennedy Baird (14,112 + 2080 non-beneficially), Nugent Elliot Brand (4536
+ 1,0008,000 non beneficially),
Graham McLeod Doust (2394 non benefit), James Ignatius Glynn (116,424), Robert Bruce
Gordon (14,000 + 1,431,054 non benefit), John Rowland Grover (6856 + 293
non benefit), John William McKenzie (16,596), Brian Lee Miller (41,454 +
83,538 non benefit), John Herbert Rootes (45,234 + 79,758 non ben),
Darcy Raymond Stainlay (100,000)
27Oct1986 AGM:
Directors:
R.B. Gordon (Chairman),
B.L. Miller
(Deputy Chairman),
J.W. McKenzie (Managing
Director),
B.J. Beasley (Executive
Director Technology), G.M. Doust (Executive Director Finance), N.E. Brand,
J.R. Grover, A.D.
Hollingdale.
Hollingdale, MD of a dairy co-operative, has been director of Gold Coast
Pubs for last 15yrs.
Group capitalisation now $130m but profit after tax reduced to $4.26m. But
MD argues that if all dividends and proceeds of rights issues had been
reinvested then $1000 invested in NSH 30Jun81 now worth $6201 = annual
return of 44%. 'Quest' so far not successful. So far only acquired some
Brisbane suburban newspapers, but big building programme Cairns and
'Cairns Post' converted from broadsheet to tabloid. Gold Coast Pubs
absorbed into Quest Group and portion of profits went there. Biggest
contributor by far to group profits is now NRTV.
Number of shares on issue had jumped to 45,632,000.
Restructure of company into 4 divisions and massive
expansion of print, radio and TV interests around Australia proposed - as well as
new 'Finance
Division'.
Radio Division: 4GG and 2MW now wholly owned along with 2LM. 2MW sold its
3.4% cross shareholding in NS Holdings to Associated Newspapers of
Britain.
Chris O'Connell in charge TV and managing 'equalisation' and move away
from 'localism'
3275 shareholders and top 20 own 32% of shares
Directors share holding:
Bertie James Beasley (7552), Nugent Elliot Brand (5805 + 1,290,240 non
beneficially),
Graham McLeod Doust (2649 non benefit), Robert Bruce
Gordon (17,919 + 1,397,337 non benefit), John Rowland Grover (8755 + 374
non benefit), John William McKenzie (21,242), Brian Lee Miller (49,744 +
100,497 non benefit), Allan Douglas Hollindale (nil)
On 9Sep86 Westfield Capital Corporation Ltd invested $37.5m in NS Holdings
by subscribing for 10 million voting redeemable convertible preference
shares. Allegedly unanimous recommendation by board of NSH, but Glynn, Rootes, Stainlay and Baird had retired from group and subsidiary boards -
former three due reaching age of 72. Gordon/McKenzie running the show. Peter
Joseph, of BT Aust Ltd, to be appointed as new director, along with
David Gonski, MD of
Westfield, and Frank Lowy, Chairman of Westfield.
19Nov1987 AGM in Sydney:
Directors: F.P. Lowy (Chairman), R.B. Gordon (Deputy Chairman), D.M.
Gonski, Lord Rothermere, S.P. Johns, P.C. Joseph, D.H. Lowy, P.S. Lowy.
J.W. McKenzie, P.J. Redlich
Gonski and Johns are directors of Westfield. Joseph is a merchant banker.
Lord Rothermere is chairman of Associated Newspaper Holdings PLC (UK) and
has an interest in 23,550,127 shares in NS Holdings. John McKenzie holds
158,886 shares but no longer MD. Bruce Gordon owns 1,414,437. Both
sidelined.
J.C. McIntosh, Barr & Gordon now one of three of the company's solicitors.
(Holding, Redlich & Co of Melbourne and Freehill Hollindale & Page of Sydney)
In Feb87 NSH acquired swag of News Ltd media assets for $802m (TEN-10 Sydney
and ATV-10 Melbourne, along with the Daily Sun and Sunday Sun (Brisbane),
The News (Adelaide), radio 4BK Brisbane, 4AK Toowoomba, 4AM Mareeba.)
Funded by issue of 198.2m shares, resulting in Westfield Capital
Corporation Ltd increasing shareholding from 20% to 45% = 115,125,205
shares. (News Corporation owns 35,987,198 shares.)
In Aug87 other radio and TV stations acquired and NS Holdings now largest TV
broadcaster in Aust. Now controls Network Ten.
Due legislation on cross-media ownership NS Holdings to sell all non-TV
interests.
Net profit after tax = $8.379m, increase of 138.9%. But earnings per share
= 3.1 cents. Market capitalisation $660.47m.
3873 shareholders and 254,026,734 shares on issue. Top 20 shareholders own
85.21% of Company. (Nugent Brand Holdings Pty Ltd = 1,305,800. Lindsay M.
Hewitt? = 1,151,865.)
7Aug1987:
Northern Star Holdings
announces it will sell titles of Brisbane Daily Sun and Sunday Sun and
Adelaide News to the managements in each city, who will buy with help from
Westfield, Northern Star’s parent, for $35m.
22Oct87: Northern Star and other regional newspapers sold to Provincial
Newspapers (QLD) for $70m. Shortly afterwards PN acquired by Australian Provincial Newspapers,
which now wholly owns The Northern Star, North Coast Advocate, Richmond
River Express, Coffs Harbour Advocate, The Daily Examiner and the Daily
News.
APN News and Media is now a public company and publishes 23 dailies and
over 100 non-dailies in Aust and NZ. + extensive radio interests.
In 1987 Northern Star Holdings Ltd was delisted and deregistered
and a lotta people lost a lotta money.
In Dec1991 NRTV affiliated with Network Ten
In 1994 Northern Star Holdings sold Northern Rivers Television
Ltd (NRTV) to Telecasters Australia and name changed to Ten
Northern NSW
(In 2001 Telecasters Australia bought by Southern Cross Broadcasting and
following year name changed to Southern Cross Ten.)
Daily News:
Started life as The Tweed Times & Brunswick Advocate and Southern
Queensland Record on 31Oct1888 under the ownership and editorship of
Methodist William Robert Baker late of Grafton.
Had worked on the Grafton Examiner, and at age 17 allegedly the
youngest editor of the Grafton Observer. Established the
Grafton Argus 1874, followed by the Lower Clarence Advocate
at Maclean, which he held for 13yrs before going Murbah.
Sold Murbah paper and printing business to C. Lean Jan1899 and became
full-time auctioneer in town, but still chasing newspaper debts 6mths
later. Moved Mullumbimby ~1903 and became auctioneer, real estate agent
and owner of dairy farms. Became chairman of Norco 26Jan1910 and was
director for 27yrs. At opening of Murbah Norco factory he was dubbed
'the unofficial mayor of Murwillumbah.' Was first Mayor of Maclean,
father-in-law of first Mayor of Murbah, first President of provisional
Byron Shire and an alderman on first Mullumbimby municipal council.
(25Feb1899/12Apr1899: 'Catholic Press' reckon 'As a
journalist he (Baker) was by far the ablest man on the Northern
Rivers...'
Lean took in Edward Luney as partner June1899. Luney had been school
teacher at Byron Bay for past 7yrs. Apparently they employed Mr McDonald
as editor from ~1903. New building and printing machinery 1901.
Paper acquired by Catholic Phil Tarlinton Jun1905 and name changed to
The Tweed Times. Tarlinton ex-owner of the Bega Southern Star. (Strangely,
30Jan07
Sister Stanislaus of Catholic Convent cancelled
subscription to paper due anti-Catholic comments.)
Joined in partnership 1908 by Anglican
George Stainlay (25% share) and in Jan 1913 they took over the The
Tweed Herald and Brunswick Chronicle (founded by George F. Nicklin in
Jul1893 and passed to A.L.(Jacob) Stumm Jan1910. Mid 1907
Nicklin purchased
Bangalow Herald from Mr Vincent.
Bangalow Herald sold
to D. Miller of Deniliquin 28Nov08.
Son Frank Nicklin became Premier of Queensland. Uniting Church.)
Employee ~1907 was Victor Charles Thompson who became editor of the
Tamworth Daily Observer 1911 and changed name to Northern Daily
Leader. Elected as Country Party member for New England 1922. Green
MHR for Richmond initially offered this seat.
In Jan1914 Tarlinton & Stainlay combined both papers and created The
Tweed Daily.
Tarlington enlisted 1916 and in England met W.T. Care who became editor
of the Northern Star. George W. Hollinsworth was editor during WW1, but
17yr old H.V. Budd seems to have been temporary editor by late 1917.
William Baker, son of William Robert was editor 1919. Baker apparently took
over editorship of Mullum Star early 1920.
Anglican Harry Vincent Budd (later Sir Harry) became a part owner
(granted shares from Tarlinton) in 1921 and served as editor 1921-23.
Tarlington sold out completely 1928 (and had apparently been editor
since 1922?). Retired to Sydney for a while before returning to become a
farmer at Chowan Creek in the late 1930s.
The Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd was formed in 1913. In 1926
Tarlinton sold more shares, allegedly giving the Budd family a major
shareholding, although the Stainlay family believed to have retained
controlling interest. Tarlinton's remaining shares sold 1928. Darcy
Stainlay, second son of George, became a long serving Director (after
Aub Budd who became chairman 1958), and at the time of retirement was a
Director of
Northern Star Holdings Ltd and
Gold Coast
Publications Pty Ltd. He was also Chairman of
Tweed Radio and
Broadcasting Co Pty Ltd (radio 2MW) at the time it became wholly
owned by
Northern Star Holdings Ltd in 1985.(Radio 2MW started by
Aub Budd 1936)
Other Directors over the years: A.C. (Arthur) Pratt, H.G. (Garth) Wihey,
Chas Beer, Les Warrick, Roger Tomlinson, Bill Brewer, Mick Winders, Bill
Stainlay, Peter Mason. (Arthur Pratt = President of Tweed District
Council of the PPU and Chairman of the Murbah branch of the Country
Party)
J.C. (Jack Cedric) Price took over as managing editor 1933 upon death of
George Stainlay. In 1948 Price handed over to his brother-in-law R.M.
(Reg) Curnow who reigned until 1961.
W.T.K. (Wal) Baird joined Daily News 1946 as accountant and rose to
director of Northern Star Holdings, from where he retired 1986.
The Tweed Daily became the
Tweed and South Coast Daily in
1949 and in 1957 became
The Daily News.
In 1959 Aub Budd negotiated with the Rootes family of Southport to buy
into the
South Coast Bulletin.
The Tweed Newspaper Co Pty Ltd
bought a controlling interest in the paper
(later
Gold
Coast Bulletin) and transferred the interest into a new Company,
Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd, of which Darcy Stainlay became
chairman. John Rootes became General Manager.
In 1964
Northern Star Ltd bought a controlling interest in both
companies (12.5%?).
In 1970 it became wholly owned by
Northern Star Holdings Ltd (45%
held directly and 54% by subsidiary
Northern Star Ltd.)
Darcy Stainlay retired as a director of Northern Star Holdings in
1986. Had been associated with the Daily News for 54yrs. Inaugural
chairman of Gold Coast Publications 1959 when Northern Star and Daily
News acquired controlling interest. Appointed to board of 2MW 1968.
Appointed to board of NRTV 1978 on retirement of Audrey Budd.
Gold Coast Bulletin:
Began life as the South Queensland Bulletin 28Mar1885 under the
ownership and editorship of Patrick Joseph MacNamara. He became President
of the Southport Shire Council in 1892, at which time he apparently sold
out to Davenport Newspapers, formed by a group of Southport
businessmen.
There were other owners until James Shepherd bought the paper on 1Sep1895
and changed the name to the Logan and Albert Bulletin. Shortly
afterwards he was joined in partnership by W.D. Mellor and on 28Jul1904
they launched the Beaudesert Herald.
Mellor became the sole proprietor of the two papers in 1905 and in 1908
sold out to Edward Fass, formerly associated with the Tweed Heads and
Coolangatta Star. Ownership arrangements changed through to 1918, but
apparently Fass retained a controlling interest.
He became a minority shareholder upon selling out to a group of local
businessmen in 1919. Apparently the majority shareholder was Walter
Vincent Rootes, an earlier compositor with the Logan and Albert
Bulletin, but with subsequent experience on a number of newspapers.
The shareholders changed over the years but Rootes remained a Director for
the next 50yrs. His sons, John Herbert, Walter Charles, Thomas Ormond,
became Directors in 1945. J.H. started at age 12 in 1926, assisting
compositor father.
The Logan and Albert Bulletin became the South Coast Bulletin
on 21Dec1928 and the Gold Coast Bulletin on 8May1963. (Norman
Sydney Woodroffe became Managing Director 1930)
In Dec1959 Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd acquired a controlling
interest in South Coast Bulletin Pty Ltd, allegedly 26.5% of the
56,652 shares. Various local shareholders retained the remainder. By 1961,
when it began to be printed at Murbah and Jack Harvey was appointed
editor, it had a circulation of 8000.
In Feb1965 Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd acquired a controlling
interest in Tweed Radio and Broadcasting Pty Ltd, and in
1967 acquired 25% interest in Gold Coast Radio Broadcasting Co Pty Ltd.
In 1968 it held a 28% interest in 4GG and a substantial investment in
the 'Big B' Shopping Mall at Burleigh as well as land and buildings at
Surfers and Southport. In 1968 the Gold Coat Bulletin went from 2 to 4
issues per week.
In Dec1969 Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Northern Star Holdings Ltd, but John Rootes
remained Managing Director and was Chairman 1983-86. Rootes also Director of Northern Star Holdings in 1970-86. (Northern Star Holdings owned
48% directly and its subsidiaries Tweed Newspaper Co P/L and Northern Star
Ltd owned 26% each.) Rootes apparently first chairman of 4GG when Gold
Coast Pubs awarded licence. Awarded MBE 1976.
By the mid 1970s Gold Coast Publications Pty Ltd contributing the major portion of the income of Northern Star Holdings
Ltd.
Richmond River Express:
Founded by Robert Gordon Balmer in 1870, it was the first newspaper
started on the Richmond. Balmer died 1899 Ballina (aged 55/60?).
Robert Page was editor 1880s. William Way Wilson was the staunch conscriptionist editor during WW1, but
couldn't sway the Casino punters.
Apparently under the proprietorship of Grieve and Turner by the late 1920s
and the editorial pen of Percy Charles Beer. Published 5 days/week. (Beer
died Casino 1935.)
It was
25% owned by Northern Star Holdings Ltd at the time that company
went public in 1965. Became wholly owned subsidiary 1970. In 1976
long-serving directors Garnet Percy Raphael, age 78, and S.C. Mitchell
resigned from the Board of The Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd and G.M.
Radburn and Peter Croke appointed as replacements. In 1977 W.E.L.
Hamilton, age 73, reappointed as a director.
In 1975 issues dropped
from 3 to 2 per week and production at Casino ceased and transferred to
Lismore. In 1977 Richmond River Express was given out free on Wednesday
and Friday issue retained as a subscription issue.
Chairman of Casino Newspaper Pty Ltd, Horrie Kwann Fatt, died
23Jul83.
The Casino-Kyogle Courier started life in 1905 under ownership of
Presbyterian Alexander E. Leech ex Glen Innes (b. 1866 Armidale)
Simply the Casino Courier by late 1920s and Leech still proprietor (with son
James Andrew?). Apparently
ceased 1932.
The Kyogle Examiner incorporated into Richmond River Express 1984?
Mullumbimby Star
The Mullumbimby Star started
life in Nov 1905 and went through owners/editors
J. H. Plowright (1905-08), Norman McKinnon (1908), H.J.
Holt (1908-13.) McKinnon could
be connected to F. McKinnon, editor of the Lismore Chronicle for 12mths to
late 1906 – ‘his writings rang with a true moral and patriotic ring’.
Norman McKinnon probably the same 16yr old apprentice Norman J. MacKinnon who
started with the The Tweed & Brunswick Advocate in 1888 with W.R.
Baker - 20Dec05: Mr Norman McKinnon formerly a worker of the old
‘Tweed Advocate’ staff, now occupies a good position on the ‘Transvaal
Leader’ Johannesburg, where he met George Cameron, both coming to
Aust together 1908. 11Dec07:
Mr Norman McKinnon of Johannesburg and formerly of Tweed is on holiday
from S.A. He is staying with his brother-in-law, Mr. E. Prewett of
Tumbulgum. 22Jul09: Mackinnon sells paper but continues as publisher
until Henry Josiah Holt in full control about lateSep09. 24Mar10:
Mackinnon takes over The Noosa Advocate. (McKinnon took in George
Cameron as foreman and perhaps temporary partner of Mullum Star mid 1909.
Went Murbah to work on Tweed Daily after McKinnon sold up.)
Paper acquired from Holt by Scotsman George Cameron 1914.
[Holt died
Mullum 9Dec16.
Started as a compositor at Grafton Examiner (then owned by
Richard Stevenson MLA for Wollombi after unsuccessful tilts for Clarence),
later proprietor of Maclean Advocate established by Baker.]
George
died 27June1920, but sometime prior to
his death the paper was in the management hands of William Baker, the son
of W.R. (William was editor of the Tweed Daily at least from
early 1919. Later on the 'Literary Staff' of the Brisbane Courier.
Editor of Johnstone River Advocate 1907.)
Baker went off to manage a Hughenden paper in
Oct21 (later on the 'Literary Staff' of the Brisbane Courier) and
Muriel Cameron appointed Mr McDonald as editor (probably same H.E.P.
McDonald who handed over editorship of the The Tweed and Brunswick
Advocate to Phil Tarlinton in mid 1905.)
The paper passed to
Milton Flint Nov1932. Flint passed it to Presbyterian Stanley T. Stephens
~1936. In 1936 it became the Byron Bay-Bangalow Advocate, then the
Star-Advocate in 1945 and the Brunswick-Byron Advocate in 1964.
When Stephens went to war Apr1940, ownership reverted to Flint (and
partner Robert Hensby) and the paper ceased publication for a short while
in 1945 until taken up by Robert Wardrop, who took in Allan Green as a
partner sometime later.
In Dec1950
it came into the hands of Scotsman David Harrison, then Jim Brokenshire
from 1951 to 1976, at which time
it
was taken over by the Northern Star, to become the North Coast Advocate
and Summerland News. In 1992 it had become The Advocate.