Murray Pioneer

The 'Murray Pioneer' is or was a weekly newspaper published in Renmark, South Australia.

History

The 'Renmark Pioneer' (9 April 1892 – 4 July 1913?) was a weekly newspaper published in Renmark, South Australia. Originally published on a Saturday, it later appeared on Fridays.

The paper's first issue was produced by the "chromograph" method (a gelatin pad transfer system); its second by a form of mimeograph, with advertisements printed using a Cyclostyle machine by its first editor, A. P. Corrie. An Albion press was later procured.

The last issue which has been digitized by the National Library of Australia for its "Trove" service is dated 4 July 1913.

The 'Murray Pioneer' or 'Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record' subtitled "With which is incorporated The Renmark Pioneer" first appears in digitized form as the issue dated 2 January 1914; listed as Volume 19 No. 1 and Volume 1 No. 76 New series.

Editors

Rev. Arthur Pitman Corrie (ca.April 1871 – 9 September 1932) produced the first Renmark Pioneer in 1902 and guided its progress from chromograph through cyclostyle to a small printing press, though he never mastered the art of letterpress. He moved to Queensland, where aside from his pastoral duties he was Maryborough correspondent for the Brisbane Courier.

Chris(topher) J(ames) Ashwell (ca.1850 – 27 June 1905) was on the staff of the Mildura Cultivator before becoming in 1896 the proprietor and editor of the Renmark Pioneer. He was particularly known in those towns as a chess enthusiast. He was largely responsible for founding the Renmark Hotel as a community licensed hotel.

Harry S(amuel) Taylor (13 January 1873 – 13 February 1932) was a grandson of Samuel Smith, founder of Yalumba. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and began his working life as a teacher before becoming interested in horticulture. He married S. Helen Smith in 1897, took up an orchard on the River Murray. He progressed to journalism with the Mildura Cultivator (later named the Sunraysia Daily), writing as "H.S.T." and "The Rambler", before taking over the Pioneer in 1905. He was lauded by an editor of The Bunyip, another South Australian regional rewspaper as being well informed on foreign affairs, and uniquely cool headed during the Great War. He was an idealist who did not see his newspaper as a "money-making megaphone".