The Lithgow Mercury was established in 1878.[1] Initially a weekly publication, the paper was published daily from 1949 to 1986, then tri-weekly. In 1879, the paper was purchased by Walter Scott Targett, who had started work as a compositor on the paper, and who was later elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Member for Hartley.[2] J.P.T. Caulfield acquired the paper in 1886. He worked as editor for eighteen months, until late 1887 when he sold the paper to the proprietors of the Lithgow Enterprise and Australian Land Nationaliser.[3] In January 1889, the Lithgow Mercury Newspaper Co., headed by James Ryan, purchased the business and property of the Lithgow Enterprise. Ryan became managing editor of the paper, a position he held for over 37 years. In July 1926, Western Newspapers Ltd, led by L.T. Watson, Hubert Browett Whitham and F.V. Sparrow, purchased the plant and book debts of the paper.[4][5] The Lithgow Mercury is currently owned by Fairfax Regional Media.[1]
^"NOTABLE CITIZEN'S DEPARTURE". Lithgow Mercury. New South Wales, Australia. 16 July 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Lithgow Mercury". Vol. 1, no. 469. New South Wales, Australia. 14 January 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
^Kirkpatrick, Rod (2000). Country Conscience : a history of the New South Wales provincial press, 1841-1995. Canberra City, A.C.T.: Infinite Harvest. p. 204. ISBN0646402706.
