Council support behind McIvor Times original launch

IN late 2022, the McIvor Times entered a new era when it was purchased by the Times News Group.

Just shy of its 160th birthday, it emerged from a brief hiatus to again take its place as Heathcote’s local newspaper.

The intervening decades saw it record the everyday workings of small-town life while also reflecting widespread changes stemming from events such as the First and Second World Wars.

It first appeared under the banner of the McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser on Thursday, 2 April 1863 and its opening editorial set high expectations for the future.

“Upon presenting to our readers full, truthful and unprejudiced information, the Times will stand or fall and we leave it to the public to decide whether we carry out this pledge,” it read.

The McIvor Times was the product of intense local political rivalries and aimed to present council dealings in a more favourable light than its direct competitor, the McIvor News.

Heathcote surgeon and politician Charles Robinson had been in a bitter feud with McIvor News proprietor Henry Furze for some time before leading a company of 10 local businessmen and shareholders to form the McIvor Times newspaper and general printing business.

Dr Robinson and his family had sailed from England in 1852 and they settled in Heathcote within a few weeks of their arrival in the fledgling colony of Victoria.

He was appointed Heathcote Hospital’s medical officer and rapidly became a prominent local identity.

Strong political ambitions saw him elected as one of the first members of the municipal council and he was mayor for several years.

By 1864 he had acquired sole ownership of the McIvor Times and soon passed it on to his sons George and Charles Robinson.

In 1866 they purchased the McIvor News, and the amalgamated publication became the town’s newspaper of record.

The paper’s first home was a brick building on the corner of High and Last streets which burnt down in 1865.

It is believed to have then shifted to premises at the rear of the Victoria Hotel before a brief stint opposite the Heathcote Hotel.

From 1871 to 1926 it was at 90 High Street and from 1926 it occupied the current Gaggle of Geese building at 97 High Street.

During his tenure, proprietor Barry Cail moved the office to the old State Bank of Victoria building and then to 170 High Street in the early 2000s where it remained until the early 2020s.

It now operates out of the Bendigo Times office in King Street, Bendigo.

The McIvor Times was published as a broadsheet until 1933 when it changed to its current tabloid format.

George Robinson was sole proprietor from 1868-1915, and he was succeeded by Albert Johnson for eight years from 1915-23.

Jack Bailey and his son Colin were the longest serving owners and editors with 57 years between them starting in 1923.

After Jack died in 1968, Colin took the helm until 1980.

Ray Robinson followed from 1980 to 1986, then Peter Turley from 1986 to 1994.

Barry Cail then occupied the editor’s chair until 2005 when he passed the reins to McPherson Media.

It returned to private hands when it was purchased by Nathan Quilty in early 2020, and he subsequently sold it to the Times News Group in late 2022.

The article was compiled with the kind assistance of the McIvor Historical Society.