The Argus (Australia) facts for kids
The Argus was a daily newspaper published in Melbourne, Australia. It started in 1846 and printed its last issue in 1957. For most of its time, The Argus shared traditional views. However, in 1949, its stories began to show more modern or "left-leaning" ideas.
The Story of The Argus Newspaper
The newspaper was started by William Kerr. He was a journalist who had worked on another paper called the Sydney Gazette. Kerr moved to Melbourne in 1839. He then worked on the Port Phillip Patriot before starting The Argus. The very first edition of The Argus came out on June 2, 1846.
The paper became known for its strong and sometimes harsh writing style. By 1853, William Kerr lost control of the newspaper. This happened after several court cases. Edward Wilson then took over as the publisher. The Argus was also connected to a weekly paper called The Australasian. This paper later became The Australasian Post in 1946.
During the Great Depression in 1933, The Argus tried something new. It launched an evening newspaper called the Melbourne Evening Star. This paper was meant to compete with The Herald newspaper. However, the Melbourne Evening Star closed down in 1936.
In 1949, a newspaper group from London bought The Argus. This group was known for the Daily Mirror newspaper. On July 28, 1952, The Argus made history. It became the first newspaper in the world to print colour photographs every day. The paper also had interests in radio broadcasting. By 1956, it was involved in the new world of television. It was part of a group called General Telecasters Victoria (GTV). This group owned the GTV-9 television station.
In 1957, The Argus was sold to the Herald and Weekly Times group. Keith Murdoch, who was Rupert's father, managed this group. He used The Argus' printing presses. However, he decided to close The Argus newspaper. He also sold off its radio and TV interests. The very last edition of The Argus was published on January 19, 1957.
The Argus Building's History
The building where The Argus newspaper was based is very important. It was built in 1926. You can find it at the corner of La Trobe and Elizabeth streets in Melbourne. This building is recognized by the National Trust. It is also listed on the Victorian Heritage Register by Heritage Victoria.
In 1991, a new and modern office building was built right next to it. This new building was named The Argus Centre. It was designed by Nonda Katsalidis and won awards. In 2004, La Trobe University bought the old Argus building. They planned to update it. Their goal was to create space for their law and business schools. They also wanted to add shops on the ground floor.
Images for kids
-
The Argus Office, at 76 Collins Street East, Melbourne, 1867.
-
The Argus Building, opened in 1926 on La Trobe Street as the headquarters for the paper to the design of Godfrey & Spowers.
