In Southport, an Irishman sat in a wooden shed on Lawson St, operating a small printing press.

Coming off the metal was the inaugural edition of the Gold Coast’s first newspaper, the Southern Queensland Bulletin.

It was the first edition of what would later be named the Gold Coast Bulletin.

The Gold Coast is famous for its quirky and weird characters and the story of the Bulletin began with one of those very people – Patrick Joseph Macnamara.

He arrived when Southport was a small fishing village home to just 300 people and published the first edition of the paper, a four-page opus with a print run of 100 copies.

The first Bulletin contained stories of war rumblings from the Sudan and fears of Russian advances in Europe.

Working with a primitive hand-run press, McNamara would work alone through the night to produce the paper which contained local, interstate and international news, as well as a collection of English and Irish jokes.

In 1893, McNamara left the Bulletin and the country, taking his family to Paraguay to found New Australia, an infamously unsuccessful endeavour.

He eventually died in 1915. The paper’s ownership changed several times over the decades along with its name, which in 1895 became the Logan and Albert Bulletin.

In 1908 the involvement of the Rootes family, which went on to own the Bulletin for many decades, began with the arrival of Walter Vincent Rootes, who worked as a compositor.

Walter came and went from the Bulletin several times in the following decade but by 1919 had joined the board.

He remained with the paper until his death on February 12, 1970 at the age of 82.

Sadly, due to flooding, the paper’s archives are incomplete, with virtually everything from the first 29 years of the 20th century missing and only a handful of volumes prior to this.

But it is certain that it followed the major events of the era, from the federation of Australia in 1901, the deaths of Queen Victoria and Edward VII, the horrors of World War I and the dramatic expansion of the small townships, including the Jubilee Bridge which was built in 1924 to create a link from Southport to Main Beach.

Around 1928, as money grew tight and the town felt the first pains of the Depression, the Rootes boys – Wally Jnr, John and Tom – were helping at the paper, leaving school early on Fridays to deliver 800 copies that afternoon.

In coming years they would serve their apprenticeships.

In 1931 the paper was taken over by the Bulletin Printery Ltd.

The Bulletin covered the events of World War II from afar and marked the happy, but bittersweet moment of the conflict’s end in August 1945.

Wednesday, August 15, 1945 began like any other for Gold Coasters, waking up to warm sunny weather and wondering what the day would bring.

Everyone knew World War II was winding down: Nazi Germany had been defeated three months earlier and the war in Europe was over, but Australian forces continued to battle the Empire of Japan in the Pacific.

Nervous anticipation grew over how much longer the war would continue.

But at 9am everything changed.

An announcement was broadcast from British Prime Minister Clement Attlee that Japan would capitulate that day.

Attlee’s broadcast was followed hours later by that of Japanese Emperor Hirohito confirming that he would surrender.

Sirens were sounded on public address systems throughout Southport that morning, before New Australian Prime Minister Ben Chiefly broadcast news the war had ended.

He announced that all government services, including the post office, would close immediately for two days.

When the news came through all work for the day practically ceased across the region as shops closed.

Streets across Australia, including Southport were packed with revellers who could not help but express their joy at the war’s end.

The Bulletin’s front page bears the simple headline “peace at last”.

“Throughout the world the glad tidings that the world war has ended will be received with rejoicing, even by those whose loved ones have paid the supreme sacrifice, as (that) sacrifice has not been in vain,” the paper’s editorial wrote that day.

After World War II, the Rootes boys returned to the business.

John had served in the RAAF and was discharged in 1945, along with Wally who had reached the rank of major in the army, while Tom – whose war record included the battle at Milne Bay in New Guinea in 1942 – was discharged in 1944 because of war ailments.

The three bought shares and were invited on to the board. John Rootes became manager in 1953 and then secretary/manager in 1955, before his appointment as managing director of Gold Coast Publications in 1960.

On May 8, 1963, the South Coast Bulletin was renamed the Gold Coast Bulletin.

The 1960s saw plenty of big moments for the paper to cover, including the royal visit from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, as well as the moon landing in July 1969.

The 1970s and 1980s saw the paper, along with city itself grow dramatically, with the first Saturday edition produced in 1974, the Bulletin leaving Southport for its long-time new home of Molendinar and the beginning of John Burton’s decades-long tenure as editor.

The Bulletin reached its publishing zenith in 1982 when it briefly became a seven-day newspaper, however the tough economic times of the era and the recession led to the Sunday Bulletin’s discontinuation after less than a year.

Fast-forward to 1987 and the company was bought by News Corporation.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the Bulletin keep its focus on local issues while also giving significant space and coverage to key events, from Bob Hawke and Paul Keating’s prime ministership, the end of the Cold War, The Fitzgerald inquiry, which brought down several of the city’s biggest political figures, Indy, the trial of former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the OJ Simpson trial, The Gulf War and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

The optimism of the Millennium and dawn of the 21st century curdled into the trauma of the early 2000s with the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The event occurred after the Bulletin had already gone to press but, as it unfolded, the paper was reprinted several times across the night under then editor Bob Gordon to tell the story of that historic day.

The 2000s also saw the horrors of the Bali Bombing, which claimed the lives of several Gold Coasters, the War on Terror and more.

Back at home, the Bulletin also covered big local stories, including the building of the city’s tallest tower, the Q1, and the revelations of a secret “bloc” of council candidates at the 2004 election.

The paper’s coverage of this scandal won a Walkley Award and led to a Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) inquiry.

The past 20 years has seen the Bulletin in the thick of it during the big moments, from the devastation of the global financial crisis on the city’s economy and its long aftermath, the campaign to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, something we successfully pulled off, exposing another corruption inquiry into a council election in 2016, shining a light on the scourge of domestic violence and the creation of the Gold Coast Titans and Suns.

The 2020s saw the Bulletin rise to the challenge again as media embraced the digital age, to adapt and enhance its coverage, spanning in recent times the twists and turns of the devastating Covid-19 pandemic as it changed all of our lives to this month’s tropical cyclone Alfred.

Long may it continue.

BIRTHDAY WISHES

David Crisafulli - Premier of Queensland

“Sharing the highs and lows is part of the fabric of any community and 140 years of doing this is an innings worth celebrating.”

Tom Tate - Mayor

“The Gold Coast without the Gold Coast Bulletin is a place without the soul. Together with Australia Post, it is the longest continuous brand in our city. We’ve never missed a beat and I think the character, that have a go spirit on the Gold Coast, was largely born out of the Gold Coast Bulletin itself. And for that, our city thanks you and we want to wish you a happy 140th birthday. I hope you come back to me again when you reach 150th.”

Donna Gates - Deputy Mayor

“Congratulations on 140 years of leading the delivery of news on the Gold Coast. Coverage in recent years has been positive and a stronger community engagement on matters of importance has been evident through the facilitation of new initiatives and panel discussions. The Gold Coast Bulletin remains an integral part of our city’s history. Happy 140th Birthday - and many, many more.”

Tim Baker - Council CEO

“Happy birthday to the Gold Coast Bulletin, the best regional paper in Australia. It is an absolute pleasure to be the CEO of the City of Gold Coast with a paper that is as extraordinary as the Gold Coast Bulletin.”

John Warn - Experience Gold Coast CEO

“From everyone at Experience Gold Coast, a huge happy birthday to the Gold Coast Bulletin and 140 years, what a remarkable achievement.”

Murray Watt - Senator

Congratulations to the Bulletin, its staff past and present, on 140 years of serving the Gold Coast community. In true GC tradition, the paper looks much younger than it is!

Waking up to read the paper has been an enduring tradition for Gold Coasters for many years.

The Bulletin has always played an important role in informing, entertaining and connecting the community, while advocating for locals and holding city leaders to account.

The city has grown so much over years, and access to local news reporting is absolutely crucial.

Hope you’re celebrating in style!

From ‘paperboy’ to proud local, I’ve grown up with the Gold Coast Bulletin as it has spent 140 years advocating for our community and pushing our wonderful city forward. Many Happy Returns to our trusty old Bully — always championing progress, demanding better, and rallying behind the Coast’s dreams for the future!

Greg Yong - Dreamworld CEO

“I’d like to extend our warmest congratulations to the Gold Coast Bulletin on reaching this remarkable 140-year milestone. For generations, the Bulletin has been the authentic voice of our community, chronicling our city’s transformation from a small coastal town to a vibrant international destination. Behind every story are some of the finest journalists, photographers, GM’s and editors whose dedication has kept our community informed and connected through decades of change. Here’s to 140 more years of outstanding journalism and continuing to be the heartbeat of our wonderful Gold Coast.”

John Witheriff - GoldlinQ Chairman

“To the editor and all the staff, I wish a big happy birthday to the Bulletin. It has been the dominant driver of change for the Gold Coast. The paper has been and continues to be a strong voice for the community of the Gold Coast and has fought for and secured most of the major improvements that the city has seen over the past 100 years. In my experience, without the Bulletin there would be no GC Suns, no Commonwealth Games and all the associated infrastructure which people use every day, no accommodation for a growing population and none of the transport infrastructure needed to support this. I wish everyone all the best and look forward to future leadership.”

Laura Younger - Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce

For over a century, the Bulletin has been the voice of the Gold Coast – Keeping us informed, sparking conversations, and capturing the heart of our city’s journey. From breaking news to community stories, you’ve been there through it all.

A huge congratulations to the incredible team, past and present, who’ve made it happen.

Here’s to 140 years of storytelling – and many more to come.

Billy Cross - Manpower founder and festivals/hospitality identity

“Happy 140th Gold Coast Bulletin - and for that aspiring Irishman who started it all way back then, don’t we all have a lot to thank him for. The Gold Coast Bulletin really engages well with the community, it is a really strong publication in that sense.”

Bikash Randhawa - Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief operating officer

“Happy 140th Gold Coast Bulletin - I have been engaging with the Bulletin for 33 years and to see it evolve into what it is today is what this city desperately needs. You are the voice for tourism, for industry, education and for a better city - and hold people accountable in government.”

Paul Donovan - Tourism identity

“Happy 140th - I have dealt with the Gold Coast Bulletin for 20 years and the team have always been very good at getting the right information out there about the importance of tourism and new products being put in place. I have always believed it has played an important role in the community, keeping people informed on Gold Coast, national and world affairs.”

Clark Kirby - Village Roadshow CEO

“Congratulations to the Gold Coast Bulletin on reaching the incredible milestone of 140 years. The Bulletin has always had the city’s best interests at heart and has been a longstanding source of news and passion for the entire community. To reach 140 years is a wonderful testament to all the journalists and editors who have worked in the newsroom across the years.”