Aug 9, 1984... The first edition of The Shepparton Adviser was published Thursday, August 9. The tagline as seen here was 'Advertising the best of everything,' and it was Australia's first advertising newspaper based on successful advertising publications in the United States. In the early days, The Adviser was designed to be a business directory, full of retail sales and advertising. In the beginning there were seven staff and 150 boys and girls who distributed The Adviser to 18,000 homes.
The evolution of The Adviser
The Adviser celebrates 40 years of publishing
history this month. The Adviser reaches two significant milestones, printing and distributing more than 55 million copies during its 40-year history, as well as a multi-generational family contribution to country newspapers around Victoria.
It is not unusual for newspaper publishers to be generational. Publisher of The Adviser, Geoff Adams, has four generations of newspaper publishing history on his mother Angela (Higgins’) side and three generations of newspaper publishing history on his father’s side.
GCA Adams (deceased) published newspapers in the Colac district, GJC Adams published newspapers in Casterton, Coleraine, Merino, Heywood and Benalla and helped found The Adviser before launching a publishing business in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. From the UK, GJC continues to take a close interest in The Adviser.
GCA, was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE), was a Life Member of the Victorian Country Press Association and three generations of Geoffreys have held presidencies at the Victorian Country Press Association.
Aug 9, 1984… The first edition of The Shepparton Adviser was published Thursday, August 9. The tagline as seen here was ‘Advertising the best of everything,’ and it was Australia’s first advertising newspaper based on successful advertising publications in the United States. In the early days, The Adviser was designed to be a business directory, full of retail sales and advertising. In the beginning there were seven staff and 150 boys and girls who distributed The Adviser to 18,000 homes.Aug 6, 1991… The Adviser celebrates seven years of publishing with a massive 72-page edition, the largest ever newspaper produced to date at the time by The Adviser. By the 1990s, editions had expanded to be more than a business directory, featuring local news, the latest in sports and much more, while still championing local business, employing local staff and delivery walkers.Aug 2, 1994… In 1994 The Adviser celebrated 10 years of publishing. Within this edition there are 100s of deals from businesses, some that are still operating today including Finny’s, Collins Booksellers, Spotlight, WB Hunters, Sherbourne Terrace, Goulburn Murray Credit Union (GMCU), and even Crown Casino!Aug 10, 2005… Wiser, better and continuing to grow, The Adviser turns 21 in 2005!Jan 16, 2013… The Shepparton Adviser had a remarkably more modern appearance in the 2010s. This front page of Tatura East dairy farmer, Michael Tuhan, ahead of International Dairy Week, was published around the same time The Adviser opened its Facebook page. As described by managing editor, Geoff Adams, recently in the August 7 2024 birthday edition, the advent of social media has been a huge change for journalism and publishing.July 31, 2024… In its 40 years of existence, The Adviser has undertaken incredible change. As seen in one of the latest editions at the end of July 2024, newspapers are full colour, incorporating QR codes to the online free edition, distribution is around 60,000 readers in print and online, and available on most commonly used social media platforms. Today there are around 16 dedicated staff and many walkers to help publish The Adviser each week, including special and regular features and lift-outs.
