The Illustrated Melbourne Post was founded in 1862. Although largely focussing on Victorian scenes and events, in September 1863 the newspaper included a view of the River Murray near 'Blanche Town'. From this time the Post began regularly to include illustrations depicting the other states. South Australia was also represented with scenes in and around Adelaide, city buildings, country towns, prominent individuals and even events, such as the capsizing of the mail boat at Port Adelaide for the June 1865 issue.

An 'Adelaide edition' of the Illustrated Melbourne Post was produced from 20 August 1864. The Adelaide edition varied only marginally from the main edition, with a page of South Australian advertisements and one article of South Australian news. Similarly there was a Tasmanian edition.

In January 1865 South Australian artist WA Cawthorne began contributing illustrations to the Post. Cawthorne was a keen amateur anthropologist and contributed many illustrations representing the Aboriginal people. Cawthorne also wrote a serial, 'The Islanders', set on Kangaroo Island in 1823. In 1867 he founded his own Illustrated Adelaide Post, simply using the Melbourne title and adding a front page South Australian news column, and one local illustration.

The wood engraving for Cawthorne's South Australian illustration was generally done by Samuel Calvert. Cawthorne took an obvious interest in New Zealand, and printed many illustrations of that country. Occasionally, from December 1865, a fairly simple coloured plate illustration was included with the newspaper, usually at Christmas time. Periodically piano music was printed on the back page. In November 1864 specifically South Australian music appeared with the 'Adelaide Schottisch' by 'AEB'.

Calvert, Samuel, 1828-1913

Cawthorne, W.A.

Illustrated Adelaide post (Adelaide, S. Aust.)