Curio

State Library of New South Wales
The Sydney Gazette window

The Sydney Gazette window

1940
Made by Frank G. O'Brien Pty. Ltd.
Presented by the proprietors of the Sun newspaper

The Sydney Gazette window on the western side of the room commemorates the printing of Australia’s first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette in March 1803. On the left side of the window, George Howe the paper’s printer, publisher, typesetter and proprietor presents a copy of the first issue to Governor Philip Gidley King. Next to Governor King is his son Phillip Parker King, and standing behind the printing press is his wife, Mrs King. The small boy partially obscured on the left of the scene is George Howe’s son Robert. Then serving as a printer’s devil (the nickname given to a printer’s apprentice), Robert later took over from his father as owner of the Sydney Gazette.

The window was presented to the Library by the Sun newspaper to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the invention of the printing press in 1440.

To collect local news, the Gazette’s editor hung a 'slip box' in front of the store where the paper was issued.

In the early years of the colony, government orders were printed on a portable wooden and iron printing press that had been carried to the colony on the First Fleet. As well as being displayed in public places, orders were announced aloud in public. With more than half the population unable to read, notices were also read out during compulsory church services on Sundays.

George Howe’s father, Thomas Howe, had been the government printer on St Christopher’s Island in the West Indies.

Until the appearance of William Charles Wentworth’s paper The Australian in 1824, the Sydney Gazette was the only newspaper circulated in the colony.

The Sydney Gazette’s original name was the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser.

The Sydney Gazette was published from 5 March 1803 until 20October 1842.

The window was designed in the NSW Government Architect’s office.