'The Albany Mail and King George’s Sound Advertiser was started by a group of local Albany businessmen in 1883, with Christopher James Ashwell as the printer and publisher. Depending on what source you read, Mr Ashwell was either from Victoria or New Zealand. In April of 1886 he sold his interests to his stepdaughter Mrs Clark(e), who became editor with the support of her literary husband. Each issue of the paper states "printed and published by the proprietress Louisa Bessy Franklyn" so one can only assume that these two ladies are the same person.
'There is no indication in the last issue of the Albany Mail of 28 August 1889 that the paper would cease publication, as they were still taking advertising. A notice in the Australian Advertiser of 25 September 1889 states: "The proprietors of this paper have purchased the Albany Mail with its plant, stock etc, and henceforth it will be incorporated with the Advertiser."'
Source: J S Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia. ‘Access to Early WA Regional Newspapers: Pre-Federation to 1905’. State Library of Western Australia. (2002): 7.
Sighted: 30 July 2013
