Abraham Cohen was the younger brother of Emanuel and Nathan Cohen, who published the Brighton Guardian. He probably gained some experience in publishing with his brothers, and when he emigrated to New South Wales at the age of 23, he quickly became involved with colonial publishing, purchasing a stake in The Australian, the colony's second-oldest newspaper. He subsequently also became the printer of the newspaper, and in 1838, published the short-lived monthly Australian Magazine. In September 1839, Cohen sold out his interest in The Australian to another of the proprietors, G. R. Nichols. Cohen then moved with his family to Port Macquarie, henceforth eschewing the press to pursue a career as a merchant and landowner.
A paragraph in the Sydney Gazette (30 January 1838): 2 reports that 'On Sunday evening last [28 January 1838] the lightning struck the house of Mr. Abraham Cohen (of the Australian printing office), situated in Harrington-street, and broke the windows. Fortunately none of the inmates received any injury from it.'
