In the final issue the editorial states the aims of the newspaper and the reason for its demise; 'When
The Australian Weekly was started, its promoters had in view the establishment of a penny paper, dealing with social, political and literary questions from a Christian standpoint, and at the same time free of sectarianism. Above all we aimed for the discussion of Australian subjects by Australian men and women. The only undenominational religious paper published in Melbourne at that time was almost exclusively composed of extracts from home papers. We hope we have done something to end the system of scissors and paste in the religious journalism of Melbourne. The continued financial depression has however, been unfavourable to the experiment of a penny paper at the present time ...'
Source: 'Our Farewell Number ', The Australian Weekly (11 October 1895): 13
