Established in March 1874 by James Reid Smith and J. E. Larkin, The Cooktown Courier underwent ten changes of ownership in the twenty-nine months to August 1876, and had been served by fifteen editors by July 1877. Larkin quickly sold his share to William Reid, who became joint proprietor with his brother (Smith) from 1 October 1874. On 12 April 1875, the brothers sold the newspaper to The Courier Company. This move was followed by a number of short-lived editors and owners.
Stability was finally achieved when Francis Charles Hodel and William Pritchard Morgan purchased the paper in August 1876. Hodel remained as proprietor until his death on 11 March 1896, following which The Courier soon ceased publication in June.
According to Gordon & Gotch (Australasian Newspaper Directory, 1888), the office of the Courier housed 'the oldest printing-press in Queensland, a small Albion press, hand power, on which the first copy of the Moreton Bay Courier was printed. That press has been in constant use for over forty years, and is still [1888] in fairly good order.'
