History

The Melbourne Observer began publication in September 1969 under the proprietorship of IPEC transport tycoon Gordon Barton.

Circulation of the weekly newspaper quickly rose to around 100,000, with an independent distribution network recruiting 2000 newsboys and girls.

One of those newsboys was current day Editor, Ash Long.

Maxwell Newton, who had been Foundation Editor of The Australian Financial Review, and also of The Australian, assumed control of the paper in March 1971.

He recruited Walkley Award-winner John Sorell as Editor, and the circulation worked it way skywards.

One Grand Final edition print run of the Melbourne Observer reached 240,000 copies.

Peter Isaacson took over the newspaper in 1977, purchasing the business for $425,000. He later refused a written offer from Mark Day and Owen Thomson to purchase the newspaper for $2.5 million. Isaacson closed the Observer in 1989, as major publishers announced the introduction of the Sunday Sun, Sunday Herald and Sunday Age. One former Observer journalist, Alan Howe, went on to be Editor of the record-breaking Sunday Herald Sun, before becoming Executive Editor of The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd.

Ash Long re-energised the Melbourne Observer title in September 2002, as a paid-circulation midweek title. The newspaper has again became a vital part of Melbourne life, and has expanded on the East Coast with sister newspapers, the Sydney News and Brisbane Sun. The Observer engaged popular columnists including Hollywoood writer John Michael Howson, radio woman Yvonne Lawrence on life and style, John Pasquarelli on politics, and Len Baker on harness racing.

 35th Anniversary Souvenir

Click here to read the 35th Anniversary Souvenir of the Melbourne Observer (PDF format)

Published in November 2004.

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