In its first issue, the Parramatta Chronicle, and Cumberland General Advertiser announced its intention 'to enliven the town of Parramatta with the introduction of a local newspaper' and to provide 'an advertising medium, the want of which has been the means of retarding the progress of trade, agriculture, and science' of the district. It also expressed the hope that the paper would be 'an agreeable companion to pass away a dull hour after the labours of the week - a grateful relief from the weariness and ennui which the monotony of Parramatta life is said to engender'. From the outset, the newspaper was energetic in its 'promotion and protection' of the Parramatta district and laboured 'zealously' to advance the fledgling township 'to that important eminence her wealth, population, and resources entitle her to'. Politically, the newspaper saw itself as 'absolutely free; unfettered by any party or faction, ever maintaining ... the immutable principles of Truth and Right on whatever side they may be found' (1.1 (30 December 1843): [1]).
Weekly issues featured local news from Parramatta and Liverpool and regional news from the 'Interior'. The 'Interior' comprised settlements such as Maitland, the Lower Murrumbidgee, Bathurst, Goulburn and Queanbeyan. Reports were also included from colonial settlements in Port Phillip, Van Diemen's Land, Swan River and South Australia. Depending on the arrival of ships, international news was provided from Ireland, the USA, New Zealand, India and Tahiti. Most issues included some news from England.
Colonial news focused heavily on crime and accidents. Significant space was given over to reports of violent crime, insolvencies, suicides, illicit stills and crimes perpetrated by the Indigenous populations of, in particular, the Port Phillip district. Typical crime headlines were 'Murders by the Blacks', 'A Horrid Murder' and 'Wicked Villainy'. Many issues included reports from the Parramatta Quarter Sessions, the Windsor Police Court and the Central Criminal Court. News items about accidental deaths from drowning and burns were also prominent.
The Parramatta Chronicle published some poetry by colonial and British authors, but literature was not an important feature in the newspaper's pages. (It did include an extract from Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens.) Regular column space was devoted to shipping arrivals and departures, shipping accidents and shipwrecks, race meetings and sporting activities, recipients of tickets-of-leave, impoundings, and births, deaths and marriages.
The newspaper also ran advertisements for local providers of goods and services and 'wanted' ads for those seeking household help or offering their labour. Among the advertisements were notices for theatrical performances, the publication of almanacs and an announcement, from Edmund Mason (q.v.) of the establishment of a library service for Parramatta.
In its early issues, the Parramatta Chronicle leant its support to women's rights and was a strong advocate of education for women.
