Front page of Adelaide edition of early Victorian illustrated newspaper. Page includes portrait of Bishop Patteson of Melanesia, and depiction of a collision between the steamships 'Penola' and 'City of Launceston' in Port Phillip Bay.

The Illustrated Melbourne Post was founded in 1862. Although largely focusing on Victorian scenes and events, in September 1863 the newspaper included an illustration of a South Australian scene, a view of the River Murray near 'Blanche Town'. From this time the Post began regularly to include illustrations depicting the other states.

In January 1865 South Australian artist WA Cawthorne began contributing illustrations to the Post. Cawthorne was a keen amateur anthropologist and contributed many illustrations representing the Aboriginal people. South Australia was also represented with scenes in and around Adelaide, city buildings, country towns, prominent individuals and even events, such as the capsizing of the mail boat at Port Adelaide for the June 1865 issue. Cawthorne also contributed a serial, 'The Islanders', set on Kangaroo Island in 1823.

An 'Adelaide edition' of the newspaper was produced from February 1865. This varied only marginally from the main edition, with the insertion of a page of South Australian advertisements and one article of South Australian news. Similarly there was a Tasmanian edition. The wood engraving for Cawthorne's work was generally done by Samuel Calvert, another South Australian. The newspaper itself took an obvious interest in New Zealand, and printed many illustrations of that country. Occasionally, from December 1865, a simple coloured plate illustration was included with the newspaper, usually at Christmas time. Periodically piano music was printed on the back page. In November 1864 specifically South Australian music appeared with the 'Adelaide Schottisch' by 'A.E.B.'

Following his experience with the Illustrated Melbourne Post, Cawthorne went on to establish his own locally produced illustrated newspaper, the Illustrated Adelaide post, from 1867. This was an offshoot of the Melbourne newspaper and was probably printed in an arrangement with the Melbourne proprietors.

Calvert, Samuel, 1828-1913

Cawthorne, W.A.

Illustrated Adelaide post (Adelaide, S. Aust.)

Cawthorne, WA Sketch of the Aborigines of South Australia: references in the Cawthorne papers [Adelaide]: Aboriginal Heritage Branch, 1991

Cawthorne, WA Who Killed Cockatoo? Adelaide: J.H Lewis, [1862]

Djuwita, R W. A. Cawthorne and early Adelaide: an artist's impressions Thesis (B.A. Hons.) - Australian National University, 1991

Dictionary of Australian Artists Online William Anderson Cawthorne

SA Memory, The Foundation of South Australia 1800-1851 Map of the settled portion of S. Australia 1850, W.A. Cawthorne

SA Memory, The Foundation of South Australia 1800-1851 River Torrens circa 1850

SA Memory, SA Newspapers, South Australian Press Illustrated Adelaide news

SA Memory, SA Newspapers, South Australian Press Illustrated Adelaide post