First published in Sydney on January 31, 1880, The Bulletin became the longest running magazine in Australia , closing in January 2008.
It was founded by talented journalists John Feltham Archibald and John Haynes .
Present at hangings.
Archibald's prior experience had included working for a mining supply company in the North Queensland Palmer River goldfield, Melbourne court reporting, being present at an 1875 hanging in Pentridge Gaol and making a 300 kilometre trip in a Cobb and Co. coach from Sydney to Mudgee with a hangman , his assistant and knotted rope, to attend the hanging of a man for rape in l879.
He was proficient in shorthand and would later attend and write a graphic account of the hanging of bushranger Captain Moonlite, the son of an Anglican minister, in Darlinghurst Gaol on January 20,l880 .
Haynes was the editor of a proposed new Catholic newspaper, The Express, which was to be produced in a Sydney printery from which he and Fitzgerald planned to also launch a joint publication of their own .
This was to be The Bulletin , the name said to be inspired by the San Francisco Evening Bulletin , founded in l855, which campaigned against political corruption and covered literature and drama , the founder assassinated .
It was arranged for the Catholic archibishop of Sydney, Roger Vaughan, to ride to the building and bless the new publication and the printery .
The ceremony involved all hands kneeling around the stone, sprinkling holy water about the office ; some printers even kissed the prelate's ring.
Bulletin Blessed
At some stage, a bundle of papers from a nearby printing press , identified as being The Express, were duly blessed by the archbishop . They were , however, The Bulletin .
An eagle- eyed priest who was with the archbishop , later noticed there was a story about a celebrated French dancer in the blessed pages and was shocked to think that the archbishop could be linked to such a story in a Catholic publication.
Haynes hastily explained it was the front page of the publication he and Archibald planned to launch.
Nevertheless , the priest , with another cleric , firmly instructed the head printer not to handle any material from the two journalists and they were told to vacate the office.
With very little assets, about 140 pound , they had bought a small case of old display type , put a deposit on a second hand press and set up office in rundown premises which had been a dance venue known as the Scandinavian Hall,.
The first edition, consisting of eight pages , cost fourpence, sold 3000 copies .
During its first few decades The Bulletin reportedly played a significant role in fostering nationalist sentiments in Australia. Its politics were also anti-imperialist, protectionist, insular, racist, republican, anti-clerical and masculinist—but not socialist. It mercilessly ridiculed colonial governors, capitalists, perceived snobs and social climbers, the clergy, wowsers (puritanical moralists), feminists and prohibitionists.
It upheld trade unionism, Australian independence, advanced democracy and White Australia It ran cartoons mocking the British, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Jews, and Indigenous Australians.
Early in its long , influential life , The Bulletin could have been forced to close due to a libel case. Although they lost the case , damages were delared at a mere farthing.
However, in l882, Archibald and Haynes ,unable to pay the court costs , were imprisoned in Darlinghurst Gaol .
They were photopraphed on the lawn in prison , Archibald on the left, and even allowed to have a bottle of whisky and a chair and table from which to write items for the magazine .
Friends and supporters raised funds for them and they were eventually released from prison .
The Bulletin went from strength to strengh, became known as the Bushman's Bible, attracting contributions from writers and artists who became well known national identities , while the Catholic newspaper,The Express, folded after seven years.
Over the years The Bulletin changed ownership several times, became more conservative , and was once part of Consolidated Press , headed by Sir Frank Packer, during which time it was amalgamated with the international magazine Newsweek.
The above cover of the joint venture highlighted a report from Northern Territory journalist Paul Toohey about the Uluru- Ayers Rock - sale. Toohey was recently seen floating about in an Indonesian jukung .
Australia's top art prize for portraiture is named after Archibald . There is also an Archibald fountain in Sydney .
( Bulletin. Archibald. Hangings. )
