The Bathurst Advocate was a weekly English language broadsheet newspaper published in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.[1]
This newspaper was first published on 5 February 1848 by Benjamin Isaacs, possibly with financial support from Geoffrey Amos Eagar, an accountant.[2] Isaacs had previously set up two newspapers in Parramatta, New South Wales, as well as one in New Zealand.[2] After 10 issues of the paper had been published, its subscribers numbered 70.[2] Only 87 issues of the paper were published, the last being number 39 of Volume 2, which was published on 29 September 1849.[1] The short life span of the newspaper has been attributed to two libel actions which were brought against the editor in 1849.[2]
During that year the paper regularly published criticisms of the local police, and in particular the Chief Constable, John Davies. A poem published by the paper resulted in a libel action by Davies. In reporting the libel action in the newspaper, Isaacs re-published the verses which had sparked the court action, thus leading to a second action.[2]
Before the libel suits came to court, Isaacs sold the Advocate's press, types and building to William Farrand for £450. Farrand then started up the Bathurst Free Press newspaper, publishing the first issue on 6 October 1849. Isaacs was imprisoned for two months and was fined £40 1s.[2]
The paper has been digitised as part of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program of the National Library of Australia.[3][4]