When did The Age newspaper first appear in Melbourne?
The first edition of The Age appeared on the 17th of October 1854. It was printed by three Melbourne businessmen: brothers John and Henry Cooke and Walter Powell.
Questions about The Age
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who bought The Age after it struggled financially in its early years?
Ebenezer Syme and James McEwan purchased The Age at auction for £2,000 in June 1856. Ebenezer Syme transformed the publication into a dominant force in Victorian politics following this acquisition.
What major political scandals did The Age expose during the 1970s and 1980s?
In 1975, The Age played a leading role in exposing the Loans Affair which contributed to the demise of the Whitlam government. In 1984, The Age reported what became known as The Age Tapes affair revealing recordings made by police of alleged corrupt dealings between organized crime figures and politicians.
How many copies of The Age were sold daily by 1890 under David Syme's control?
By 1890, The Age was selling 100,000 copies daily making it one of the most successful newspapers globally. Under his control, The Age became Victoria's leading newspaper while supporting liberal politicians like Graham Berry and George Higinbotham.
When did Nine Entertainment Co. announce terms for their merger with Fairfax Media?
On the 26th of July 2018, Nine Entertainment Co. and Fairfax Media announced terms for their merger to become Australia's largest media company. Nine shareholders would own 51.1 per cent of the combined entity while Fairfax shareholders owned 48.9 per cent.