The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, founded by the Shakespeare family in 1926; it was owned from 1964 by Fairfax, Rural Press and others, and since 2019 by Australian Community MediaAustralian Community MediaAustralian Community Media (ACM) is an Australian regional and rural news publishing group with more than 100 brands, including The Canberra Times; in 2019 Nine sold it to a company controlled by interests associated with Antony Catalano and Thorney Investment Group.Open the full entry.
Contents19 sections
Key facts
1913The Founding Idea
After attending the naming of Canberra in 1913, Thomas Mitchell Shakespeare told his children they would “establish a national newspaper in the National Capital.”[1]
1925Federal Capital Press Formed
In 1925 Shakespeare formed a family company, Federal Capital Press of Australia Ltd, to start a newspaper.[2]
September 3, 1926First Issue
The first issue of The Canberra Times appeared on September 3, 1926.[2]
February 20, 1928Becomes a Daily
The paper became a daily on February 20, 1928.[2]
1929Founder Becomes Managing Director
In February 1929 Shakespeare resigned his New South Wales Country Press posts and became managing director of Federal Capital Press.[1]
September 16, 1938Death of the Founder
Shakespeare died on September 16, 1938, aged 65.[1]
1957–1962Into Television
Federal Capital Press founded Canberra Television Ltd in 1957, chaired by Arthur Thomas Shakespeare; it was licensed in 1960 and its station CTC 7 opened in June 1962.[3]
November 1963The Kennedy Assassination
In November 1963, after its printers were called back, The Canberra Times was the only Australian newspaper with news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination that morning.[4]
July 1964Shakespeare Family Sells
After Rupert MurdochRupert MurdochRupert Murdoch is a media entrepreneur, chairman emeritus of News Corp and Fox Corporation, and an investor awarded restitution in the Theranos case.Open the full entry launched the Australian in Canberra in 1964, the Shakespeare family sold out in July that year to Sydney’s John Fairfax Ltd.[3]
1987–1998Changes of Owner and Premises
After the Fairfax break-up in 1987 the paper went to Kerry Packer, to Kerry Stokes in 1989 and to Rural Press in 1998; the newsroom moved to Fyshwick in 1987.[5]
1993First Woman Editor
Michelle Grattan was named editor in 1993, the first woman editor of a metropolitan daily newspaper in Australia.[5]
2007–2018Back to Fairfax, Then Nine
A 2007 merger returned the paper to Fairfax.[5]
In 2018 Nine acquired the regional titles, including the paper, through its merger with Fairfax Media.[6]
April 30, 2019Sold With ACM
Nine announced the sale of about 170 titles, including The Canberra Times, to a company controlled by Antony CatalanoAntony CatalanoAntony Catalano is an Australian media and property-advertising businessman who founded Metro Media Publishing, was chief executive of Domain from 2013 to 2018 and in 2019 acquired Australian Community Media with Thorney Investment Group.Open the full entry and Thorney Investment Group for $115 million.[6]
2020Working Through the Pandemic
Reporters packed up their desks in mid-March 2020 as COVID-19 spread, returned to the newsroom in November and later worked remotely again during a lockdown.[4]
September 3, 202195th Anniversary
At its 95th anniversary the paper produced a daily newspaper alongside a website and app, email newsletters, podcasts and videos.[4]
September 11, 2026University of Canberra Agreement
The paper signed a three-year agreement with the University of Canberra giving about 20,000 students and staff full digital subscription access at no cost to them.[7]
As of October 2026: Status
The paper is owned by Australian Community Media, and its managing editor is John-Paul Moloney.[5]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
The Canberra Times: Official website: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/ (opens in a new window)[7]
Australian Community Media: Official website: https://acm.media/ (opens in a new window)[7]
Sources
- Thomas Mitchell Shakespeare (opens in a new window)
- Biography - Thomas Mitchell Shakespeare - Australian Dictionary of Biography (opens in a new window)
- Biography - Arthur Thomas Shakespeare - Australian Dictionary of Biography (opens in a new window)
- The Canberra Times at 95: keeping track of the capital's pulse, from struggles to triumphs (opens in a new window)
- About the The Canberra Times | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT (opens in a new window)
- Nine sells regional titles for $115m (opens in a new window)
- University of Canberra Partnership | ACM Media (opens in a new window)