John Pascoe Fawkner, Melbourne Advertiser, 1838, State Library of Victoria

The Melbourne Advertiser was Melbourne’s first newspaper, published by John Pascoe Fawkner. The first issue was displayed in Fawkner’s Shakespeare Hotel, on the corner of Collins and Market Streets. The newspaper’s first 10 issues were handwritten, before Fawkner acquired printing equipment. A further 17 issues were printed before the publication was ceased by law, as the newspaper was not registered. Images and transcripts of the first 16 issues are available through the State Library.