The Transcontinental is a weekly newspaper published in Port Augusta, South Australia which dates from October 1914. It was later sold to Rural Press, previously owned by Fairfax Media, but now an Australian media company trading as Australian Community Media.

History

The Transcontinental was founded by James Clarence Barclay (1873–before 1929), editor, who with his wife Agnes Fleming Barclay, née Johnstone (1877–1946), were owners and operators of the North Western Star (or North Western Star and Frome Journal) published in Wilmington from 1912 to at least 1916.^[1][2] Agnes Barclay, and perhaps James Barclay, moved to Brisbane, Queensland, where their daughter Dulcie Elma Barclay was crowned "Miss Queensland" by Smith's Weekly in 1926.^[3] In 1929, at age 20, she took her own life after being abandoned by her boyfriend.^[4][5] Mrs. Barclay was later involved in the death of a man from caustic soda burns received at her home on Hope Street, South Brisbane.^[6]

The newspaper was first published on Saturday, 7 November 1914, and subtitled "The Only Federal Newspaper in the Commonwealth.", reflecting the view that the paper will "work for the development of the north, and for amelioration of the conditions of the workers."^[7] From Vol. 1, No.3, the proprietor was John Ernest Edwards (died 1955), previously on the literary staff of The Advertiser^[8] and editor was Maurice Henry Hill (died 1957). Lindsay Riches was editor from 1927.

Another newspaper, the North Western Star and Frome Journal (30 August 1912 – 27 July 1917), a sister publication in Wilmington with mirrored content and also run by Barclay, was stopped and replaced by the main publication. In 1945, the newspaper took control of the Quorn Mercury (3 May 1895 – 11 October 1956), and after 1956, it continued by replacing the Quorn column in The Transcontinental.^[9]

In 2007, the paper, acquired earlier by Rural Press, was among the stable of publications in a merger between Rural Press and John Fairfax and Sons.^[10] Papers from Rural Press were then published under the Fairfax Regional Media brand, which later became Australian Community Media.^[11]

The office of The Transcontinental is still located in Tassie Street, Port Augusta.

Distribution

Like other Australian Community Media publications, the newspaper is available locally in print and by subscription online.^[12]

Digitisation

The National Library of Australia has digitised photographic copies of most issues of The Transcontinental from 7 November 1914 (Vol. 1 No.3) to 8 June 1951, which may be accessed via Trove.