Coloured original cover of City and country newspaper, published by Ebenezer Ward

City and country was the third short-lived newspaper established by the land agent and politician, Ebenezer Ward. At the time the newspaper was in operation, Ward was the Member of Parliament for the Burra district and minister for agriculture and education. Both these topics were reflected in the content of the newspaper. His other passion was 'land reform,' a highly topical issue at the time, relating mostly to seeking legislative changes to assist small farmers to become land owners. This was also reflected in the newspaper. The newspaper was initially a tabloid of 16 pages, published with a coloured paper cover.

Ward was probably the author of most of the articles in the early issues. After the first issue, the front page contained short, pithy commentaries discussing happenings in Adelaide and the country, under the heading 'Talk of the week'. This was unusual at a time when the front pages of newspapers usually only contained advertisements. The newspaper lapsed after four months - possibly because of Ward's parliamentary commitments taking up more of his time. It was reinstated in January 1882 in a different format. From this time horseracing was an even bigger focus, with the whole of the larger (broadsheet) front page containing articles about races, horses and jockeys. Early issues of the newspaper also contained serialised stories, often reprinted from English journals such as Cornhill magazine.

The final issue of City and country was published by Charles McMullen, and contained a statement that Mr Ward had sold his interest in the newspaper and that in future it would be titled South Australian times.

McMullen, Charles

Ward, Ebenezer, 1837-1917

South Australian times (Adelaide, S. Aust.)

'Early newspaper days', Observer, 9 June 1923, p. 15

Pitt, G.H. The press in South Australia, 1836-1850, Adelaide, S. Aust.: Wakefield Press, 1946

Sowden, William. Our pioneer press [unpublished manuscript], 1926, PRG 41