Adelaide Review was founded by Mark Jamieson, with Gina Roncondi as editor and chief of staff, leading a group of mostly unemployed writers to put together the first issue. Jamieson referred to the new venture as, "South Australia's independent public affairs and entertainment newspaper." (March 1984, p. 2) From the third issue, Christopher Pearson, the Advertiser arts editor, joined the team, becoming editor in July. Under his leadership, the circulation quickly rose to 20,000 and the Review became a free newspaper. Well known local contributors under Pearson's editorship included Peter Ward, Peter Goldsworthy, Lance Campbell, Michael Vanstone, John Bray, and later Federal Opposition leaders, Malcolm Latham and Tony Abbott. Restaurant reviews were contributed by Howard Twelftree. From 2003 the Spanish media enterpreneur, Javier Moll, took over Adelaide Review, and a year later made it a fortnightly publication. Moll was hoping the newspaper might eventually become a daily, competing with the Advertiser. This did not eventuate, and from 2008 it returned to being a monthly publication. Margie Budich joined the AdelaideReview as an executive director in 2007, with Lachlan Colquhoun as editor.