The Adelaide Musical Herald was a short-lived musical and literary magazine, published by Joseph Elliott and Henry Pounsett. It ran for just thirteen issues. Both men were keen musicians and composers. Pounsett had trained as a printer at the Register newspaper and Elliott later owned the Southern Argus. Elliott acquired a set of type for printing music and each issue contained a sheet music centre spread. The magazine also published poems, brief news items (often describing local concerts), short stories, a chess column and a fashion column.

The second issue contains music for 'The Herald Polka' by Henry Pounsett. (16 January 1863, p. 13) Another local composer featured in the magazine was David Hutton of McLaren Vale, composer of 'Dirge on the Death of Prince Albert'. (30 January 1863, pp. 20-21) A piece of music by an Adelaide boot maker, Frederick Lower, 'The Old Gum Tree' was also published. (27 March 1863, pp. 52-53)

The content was a mixture of locally written material and items copied from other published sources. Several local poets had work published in the Adelaide Musical Herald, in particular 'Leila', 'Frances', and 'Ellie'. The latter was Ellen Elizabeth Turner, wife of the furniture maker, George Debney, of Burnside. Frances was Emma Frances Baker (Mrs WJ Anderson), daughter of the Rev. E Baker of Morphett Vale. She later died in Mauritius. Her epic poem The Witness Spray was published in the magazine over its final two issues.