The Sunday Times (Western Australia)
| Company type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Founder | Frederick Vosper, Edward Ellis |
| Headquarters | Perth , Australia |
Area served | Western Australia |
| Owner | Seven West Media |
| Website | www |
The Sunday Times is a tabloid newspaper published on Sundays by Seven West Media in Perth, with distribution across Western Australia. Originally launched as The West Australian Sunday Times, it adopted the title The Sunday Times on 30 March 1902.
Acquired by News Limited in 1955, the newspaper along with its digital platform PerthNow was transferred to Seven West Media ownership in 2016.
History
Founded in 1897 by Frederick Vosper and Edward Ellis, The Sunday Times initially served as a vehicle for Vosper's opposition to Charles Yelverton O'Connor and major infrastructure projects such as Fremantle Harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, continuing until O'Connor’s death in 1902. A subsequent government investigation found no evidence supporting Vosper’s criticisms.
In 1901, ownership passed to James MacCallum Smith and Arthur Reid through acquisition from Vosper’s estate. By 1912, MacCallum Smith had become the sole owner and managing director, a position he maintained until 1935 while concurrently serving two decades in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. During this era, editor Alfred Thomas Chandler endorsed MacCallum Smith’s advocacy for secessionist policies.
In 1935, a consortium led by Jack Simons, which included Victor Courtney and mining magnate Claude de Bernales, purchased Western Press Limited—the publisher of the paper—for £55,000. Simons acted as chairman and managing director until his death in 1949, after which control passed to Courtney. In 1955, Courtney sold Western Press to News Limited.
The 2016 takeover by Seven West Media received approval from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, allowing collaborative arrangements such as shared news content between SWM and News Corp. Under this agreement, News Corp manages advertising sales for both The Sunday Times and PerthNow in eastern Australia. Additionally, the companies cooperate on Western Australia's Community Newspaper Group. Printing and distribution of local newspapers as well as The Australian within Western Australia are handled by SWN's West Australian Newspapers division.
Format and circulation
Facing reduced demand for print newspapers alongside competition from radio, television, and digital news sources, The Sunday Times has evolved its design and editorial approach. Its broad circulation statewide and significant advertising revenue contribute to its status as one of Australia’s most lucrative newspapers.
As of May 2023, the newspaper’s circulation was approximately 418,000 copies.
In June 2006, The Sunday Times introduced PerthNow, a local news website developed by News Limited. By 2016, external analytics ranked PerthNow.com.au as the 233rd most visited website in Australia and the 32nd most popular news site nationally.
Editors
Recent notable editors include Don Smith (1987), Brian Crisp (1999), Brett McCarthy (2001), Sam Weir (2007), Christopher Dore (2012), Rod Savage (2013), and Michael Beach (2016–2020). As of August 25, 2024, Adrian Lowe holds the position of editor.
Competition-free status
Due to Western Australia’s relatively small population, there has been no rival Sunday newspaper since News Limited acquired and subsequently closed The Independent in 1986.
Prior to 1990, Perth supported competitive Saturday editions such as Weekend News and Western Mail, alongside weekday dailies including The West Australian and Daily News. A state-specific edition of The Australian is printed at The Sunday Times’' facilities; this edition targets a high-end readership without directly competing with The West Australian.
A joint venture produced suburban newspapers under the Community Newspapers banner until Seven West Media obtained full ownership in 2019. The Community masthead was discontinued in 2020. Independent publishers outside Seven West Media include Echo Newspapers, Examiner Newspapers, Herald Newspapers (which publishes Perth Voice), and Post Newspapers.
2008 leak controversy
On 30 April 2008, the fraud squad of the Western Australia Police conducted a raid on the premises of The Sunday Times after a complaint from the state government regarding the unauthorized disclosure of confidential cabinet documents—an uncommon measure against mainstream Australian media. Subsequently, an upper-house select committee determined that no minister, parliamentarian, or staff member had instructed the police to act and described the raid as "an over-reaction" to what should have been a standard search procedure. The committee also reproached the Western Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet along with the Corruption and Crime Commission, advising that the Attorney General consider implementing shield laws to protect journalists.
See also
References
Further reading
- Dunn, Frank (1997) A Century of Sundays Perth, W.A. Sunday Times.