Andrew Murray arrived in Port Adelaide, South Australia, in January 1839. After the failure of his drapery business, Murray, Greig & Co., in 1842, Murray turned to journalism becoming editor of the Southern Australian in 1843 and its proprietor from 31 October 1844 to 19 August 1851. From 1845 Murray also acted as government printer with an office in Rundle Street, Adelaide. In January 1852 he founded the Adelaide Morning Chronicle selling it in May 1853.
In 1852 Murray moved to Melbourne, Victoria, where he joined the Argus as a journalist later becoming the paper's editor from 1855 to 1856. From an office in Bourke-street west in Melbourne he established and edited Murray's Prices Current (1862-1867) and Bear's Weekly Circular and Rural Economist (1858-1860) continuing as The Economist (1861-1875). He retired from publishing in 1874.
D. Camfield in his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry on Murray notes that 'Murray's strongly decentralist attitude to government was reflected in his newspapers.' The Southern Australian 'was noted for mild editorials, general support of the government and catering for the wealthy pastoralists who disliked the South Australian Register for favouring small farmers.' His later newspaper, The Economist, 'emphasized free trade and catered exclusively for the squatting, proprietary and agricultural interests.'
Murray was also known as a wine grower in the Boroondara district of Melbourne, Victoria, where his house, Balwyn, gave its name to the future Melbourne suburb. He was active in the Vinegrowers Association and local Boroondara district organisations.
Andrew Murray is the brother in law of writer Catherine Helen Spence. He married her sister, Jessie, on 2 November 1841 in Adelaide.
Source: D. Camfield, 'Murray, Andrew (1813-1880)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murray-andrew-4277/text6917, accessed 13 February 2013.
