One way competing newspapers challenged other publications for readership dominance by increasing the frequency of their publication, moving from biweekly to triweekly and perhaps to daily publishing. However, as one paper adopted this tactic, other papers had to eventually follow in order to maintain their business share. For example, from 30 June 1863, the
Rockhampton Bulletin, moved to publishing triweekly issues, appearing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, to counter the emergence of
The Argus which eventually followed the
Bulletin from 6 February 1865, appearing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Profitable Queensland newspaper dynasties were able to support separate enterprises in the one region from the late nineteenth century until the First World War. However, 'these competitors, as a rule, followed one another in price changes and in stepping up their frequency of publication through biweekly issue to daily status. Within a decade of the end of the war, many of them had either merged with their rivals or ceased publication with the realisation that advertising revenue had not expanded to keep pace with the sharp increase in production costs. Only one paper could make a comfortable living.'
Kirkpatrick, the major historian of the regional Queensland newspaper industry observes that 'Competition tended to survive longer in centers far removed from Brisbane.' This is most evident in the towns listed below:
Maryborough (Wide Bay and Burnett) In 1860–61, the Wide Bay and Burnett area quickly developed and prospered leading to the demand for provincial newspapers in the region. The
Maryborough Chronicle was first published in 1860, running triweekly until 1890 and then distributed on a daily basis. Within a year of its commencement,
The Chronicle met competition in the form of the
Maryborough Mail which commenced weekly publication in 1861. Subsequently,
The Tribune commenced weekly publication in 1869. Then, in 1870,
Wide Bay and Burnett News commenced triweekly publication, with
The Colonist starting weekly publication in 1884.
Toowoomba In July 1861, in opposition to Toowoomba's original newspaper, the
Darling Downs Gazette, a second journal,
The Chronicle, was published providing an opposing political voice on local affairs.
Rockhampton In July 1861,
The Bulletin was published for the Rockhampton area and its success led to Rockhampton overtaking Maryborough as the key provincial newspaper centre. 'The Bulletin promised to present full and late details of all events of local interest, with digests of foreign news to be given on the arrival of the mails.’ There was no telegraph to Rockhampton. Correspondents had been appointed in neighboring districts and from throughout the colonies. However, by January 1863, Rockhampton had its second newspaper, the
Daily Northern Argus which succeeded a short-lived comic paper,
Punch, which originated in July 1862. In 1865, Rockhampton's third journal,
The News was established. However, the Queensland economic depression of 1866-67 resulted in the closure of this newspaper together with other newspapers in neighbouring towns.
Warwick The establishment of Warwick’s first newspaper,
The Mail, was delayed until September 1862 due to the lack of 'cohesion in the business community.' There was strong rivalry between competing provincial newspapers owned by the Morgan and the Irwin families who '…were on opposite sides of the fence in the Warwick newspaper world and on many political issues for nearly half a century. In the manner of the times, the
Argus and the
Examiner sniped at one another constantly in their editorial columns.' This battle continued until James Morgan bought
The Argus from the Irwin family.
Bowen As
overlanders began to bypass Rockhampton, Bowen became a main trading centre with newspaper demand ultimately resulting in the creation of
The Port Denison Times in March 1864.
Nashville (Gympie) In February 1868,
The Nashville Times was first published as a ‘biweekly to serve the fortune-hunting thousands who had swarmed to the Gympie Creek gold diggings.’ As the neighbouring towns of Clermont and Nashville were developed with a mining focus, these two towns were the ‘exception … to the rule of development inspired by pastoral expansion.’
Townsville (Cleveland Bay) The continued expansion of
Queensland frontiers led to the establishment of Townsville's first newspaper,
The Cleveland Bay Express, in 1866. Later in 1876,
The Townsville Herald was introduced and
The Northern Standard soon followed.
Mackay In April 1866, Mackay's first journal,
The Mackay Mercury, was established and published on a bi-weekly basis.
The Mackay Standard commenced publication in 1877 on a weekly basis.
Ipswich In 1855,
The North Australian was first published in Ipswich and appeared weekly for four years before facing competition in the area.
The Ipswich Herald was introduced to Ipswich in 1859 and also ran weekly. In 1861, both newspapers merged into one, being renamed
The Queensland Times, which was first published on 8 October 1861.
Gladstone In January 1868, Gladstone produced its first newspaper,
The Observer (Gladstone). It was not until 18 years later that
The Observer (Gladstone) faced competition from the
Gladstone Advocate in 1886. Both newspapers were published biweekly. ==Demise of PNQ==