The Townsville Herald resulted from the merger of The Cleveland Bay Express with The Townsville Times in August 1876. Initially co-owned by James McManus, formerly of the Times, and Thomas Williams, formerly of the Express, McManus became sole proprietor from 1 December 1876. In September 1884, the Herald was purchased, along with The Townsville Daily Bulletin and The North Queensland Bulletin, by a limited liability company. The North Queensland Bulletin was incorporated into the Herald, which became the weekly edition of the Townsville Daily Bulletin until it was replaced by The North Queensland Herald in 1891.
In 1880 the Sydney Bulletin commented on the high turn-over of editors at The Townsville Herald, reaching thirteen in a two year period.
