According to the Coonamble Shire website, 'a man by the name of McNamara planned to publish The Coonamble Independent newspaper in 1877. But didn’t proceed. He sold out to a syndicate of 10 people including George Edwin Cass, who later purchased all shares from his partners.
'The first issue comprising of 4 pages subtitled 'The Castlereagh River Advocate' was published on January 12th 1878 on the premises of Tooloon Street.'
It has been claimed that The Coonamble Independent was the first newspaper to be printed on the Castlereagh.
Source: Coonamble Shire website, http://www.coonambleshire.nsw.gov.au/index.html (PDF file on Coonamble Museum)
Sighted: 19/08/2013
