The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (also known as The Cumberland Argus or The Argus) was a local newspaper published in Parramatta with coverage and circulation incorporating parts of Greater Western Sydney and North-West Sydney including parts of Hornsby Shire.
It was first published on 24 September 1887 and ceased publication on 24 October 1962, although it had a number of name changes during its life.
Hornsby Shire Library has microfilmed copies from 22 September 1888 through to 26 December 1935. After this date the papers coverage area was concentrated on the Greater Western Sydney region.
The paper was backed by the influential fruit growing industry; because of this its early editions had a number of stories relating to this industry. Examples include commenting on the drought in the Beecroft area in 1908, the exporting of high quality fruit from within the shire to New Zealand and in 1911 commenting on the excellent fruit crop in the district.
It also had regular features on church and sporting activities such as fundraising, fetes, festivals and local reports and results of various sporting events. Community life such as a local bachelor’s ball, the forming of a new scout troop and the local cameras club competition was also covered.
It also commented on the expansion of housing in the district before and after the First World War and the subsequent demise of fruit growing in the area. With the increase in housing we read about the expansion of schools such as Beecroft Public School in 1911.
During the First World War it reported extensively on the fate of the local boys who left the area to go and fight at Gallipoli, France and Belgium. The paper also covered the activities of Hornsby Shire Council, highlighting local issues such as state of footpaths, installation of gas lighting and issues which are still current today such as the removal of native trees.
Hornsby Library Service has joined a consortium of other Sydney Libraries to have copies of this important local history resource digitised and this resource will be available on the National Library of Australia’s TROVE website in 2013
If you wish to read a full history of the newspaper please click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cumberland_Argus_and_Fruitgrowers%E2%80%99_Advocate#cite_note-55
