Today the oldest existent newspaper in Brisbane, together with the whole of the capital and interest therein, including the Queenslander, issued in connection therewith, and copyright, book-debts and stock, with the plant, stock and book-debts of the Courier General Printing Office, were offered for sale in one lot by Mr. Simon Fraser, this morning, by pubic auction. The sale of the oldest daily morning paper in Queensland naturally drew not only a comparatively large number of intending bidders, but also many who felt an interest in the ultimate disposal of the old Courier. Those in high places too were not without curiosity, and several attended, perhaps not in all cases to bid, but to let the leading journal of the colony go off with at least éclat.
The auctioneer very wisely confined himself to the advertisement, as to what he had to sell, and started the biddings at ten thousand pounds, the conditions being that the purchaser should pay cash or its equivalent on the fall of the hammer. The first bidding in advance was made by the Hon. the Premier of £100, the lowest advance fixed by the auctioneer, and a sort of running fire was kept up between Mr. Palmer and Mr. Baynes at £100 per bid, up to £10,600, until Mr. Baynes made a jump to £11,000. Then followed one hundred pounds in succession until another Richmond came into the field, who bid spiritedly on account of his own or others’ interest, and after a spirited competition of hundreds at a time, the Courier and all its appurtenances passed to the bid of Mr. W.H. Baynes, of South Brisbane, for thirteen thousand six hundred pounds, who, upon depositing the purchase money in the manner necessitated by the terms, was loudly cheered.
Comment on a sale like this is unnecessary, but it must be gratifying to all journalists to see what newspaper property is at last capable of realising a remunerative return for capital employed.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.: 1872 – 1947), Tuesday 4 November 1873, page 2
Moreton Bay and More 