Kiama Independent

Did you know that the 'Kiama Independent' has been published continuously since the first edition in July 1863? It is also the oldest 'family owned' newspaper in Australia and possibly the world. (There are older newspapers, but none continuously owned and run by the same family).

In 1863, the Kiama community called a public meeting when it was feared the 'Kiama Examiner' was about to be amalgamated with the 'Illawarra Mercury', and a decision was made to launch a new newspaper in Kiama. Joseph Weston was the first proprietor and ran the paper for 50 years until his death at age 89 in 1913. The paper remained in the Weston family for another five generations, until 2005.

Joseph Weston immigrated to Australia in 1852, aged 27, from England. He came with his wife and two children, who died on the voyage. The common employment at that time was gold digging, but Joseph, a qualified carpenter, instead began a carpentry business in Wollongong. His love of the land prompted him to move to Kiama where he became a successful farmer, until he turned his attention to publishing.

Joseph married Margaret Hope Maclean from Gerringong in 1871. They had six children. Two of the children, John and Mary Weston, took over the daily running of the 'Kiama Independent' after Joseph died in 1913, and a third child, Eleanor, owned the business in partnership with the other two. Mary was a great journalist while John was the editor for 33 years, through both world wars and the Great Depression. Mary died in 1936 and John died in 1946. John's son, Bert, then took over the paper after John's death. He started to modernise the business, but his plans were cut short when he died from cancer at age 42. Bert's wife, Marjory, kept the business running until their three young sons were old enough to take over.

In 2005, the Weston family sold the 'Kiama Independent' to Southern Independent Publishers, ending their 142-year ownership of the paper. It was then on-sold to Fairfax in 2010. After 157 years, in 2020 the 'Kiama Independent' ceased publication. 

The 'Kiama Independent' reporters have accurately recorded many local historical facts over its lifetime, and it is a widely used resource by historians and researchers.

The front page of the Kiama Independent from 1 March 1887

The original 'Kiama Independent' offices on Shoalhaven Street, Kiama

The brick building was constructed in 1954 in Shoalhaven street is now abandoned, awaiting demolition.

Original bound copies of the 'Kiama Independent' in the Kiama Library historical archives.