Arthur Shakespeare
Encyclopedia
Arthur Thomas Shakespeare (27 September 1897 – 11 October 1975) was an Australian journalist and newspaper editor, best known for founding the Australian Capital Territory
's most widely-circulated commercial newspaper, The Canberra Times
. He was son of Thomas Shakespeare, founder of the Federal Capital Press of Australia.
and educated at Grafton
and Fort Street Boys' High School, Sydney. In 1916 he commenced work at the Sydney Morning Herald and eventually obtained the position of sub-editor.
, the Australian Capital Territory's second newspaper. it remains Canberra's widest-circulated commercial newspaper. Shakespeare continued to own the paper until 1964, when, facing pressure from Rupert Murdoch
's new paper The Australian
, he chose to sell the paper to the Fairfax group
.
On 12 January 1963, Shakespeare married Heather Gladys Cameron (subsequently Heather Shakespeare), who at that time was secretary to the managing director of Federal Capital Press (Arthur's father, Thomas Shakespeare). The marriage occurred at St Ninian's Presbyterian Church. Heather Shakespeare died on 28 September 2008 at the age of 99.
As chairman of The Canberra Times, he served as president of the Country Press Association, secretary and president of the Australian Provincial Press Association, and director of the Australian United Press Ltd. He also was a member of the Provincial Press Accreditation Bureau and the Commonwealth Press Union.
He was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council from 1945 - 1955 (serving as chairman in 1953).
Other community associations included the council of the Australian National University, the Canberra Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Eisteddfod Association and the Committee on Cultural Development.
.
The station was licensed to operate in 1960. It made its first test transmission on 23 May 1962 and commenced public transmission on 2 June 1962.
It broadcast on VHF7 from a transmitter atop Black Mountain. , CTC 7 still broadcasts in the Canberra area under the branding of Southern Cross Ten
.
.
Jon Stanhope
as one of the 17 inaugural inductees in the ACT Honour Walk. This commemmoration took the form of a plaque set into the pedestrian space in Ainslie Avenue, Canberra City, which bears the text: "Arthur Shakespeare. Founding editor of The Canberra Times, who helped develop a distinct vision for Canberra in its early years. Served on the executive of more than 40 organisations and the ACT Advisory Council."
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
's most widely-circulated commercial newspaper, The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
. He was son of Thomas Shakespeare, founder of the Federal Capital Press of Australia.
Early life
Shakespeare was born in CondobolinCondobolin, New South Wales
Condobolin is a town in the west of the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, on the Lachlan River. At the 2006 census, Condobolin had a population of 2,847.- History :...
and educated at Grafton
Grafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
and Fort Street Boys' High School, Sydney. In 1916 he commenced work at the Sydney Morning Herald and eventually obtained the position of sub-editor.
The Canberra Times
In 1926 Shakespeare founded The Canberra TimesThe Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
, the Australian Capital Territory's second newspaper. it remains Canberra's widest-circulated commercial newspaper. Shakespeare continued to own the paper until 1964, when, facing pressure from Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
's new paper The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
, he chose to sell the paper to the Fairfax group
Fairfax Media
Fairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John...
.
Marriage
On 15 October 1927, Shakespeare married Marjorie Agnew Patten. Marjorie died in 1961.On 12 January 1963, Shakespeare married Heather Gladys Cameron (subsequently Heather Shakespeare), who at that time was secretary to the managing director of Federal Capital Press (Arthur's father, Thomas Shakespeare). The marriage occurred at St Ninian's Presbyterian Church. Heather Shakespeare died on 28 September 2008 at the age of 99.
Community Work
Shakespeare served on the executive of more than 40 organisations.As chairman of The Canberra Times, he served as president of the Country Press Association, secretary and president of the Australian Provincial Press Association, and director of the Australian United Press Ltd. He also was a member of the Provincial Press Accreditation Bureau and the Commonwealth Press Union.
He was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council from 1945 - 1955 (serving as chairman in 1953).
Other community associations included the council of the Australian National University, the Canberra Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Eisteddfod Association and the Committee on Cultural Development.
Canberra Television Ltd
In 1957, Federal Capital Press Ltd founded Canberra Television Ltd, of which Arthur Shakespeare was chairman. The primary business of Canberra Television Ltd was to broadcast the television station CTC 7CTC (TV station)
CTC is a television station in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The station was the tenth to begin transmission in regional Australia, and the 26th station in Australia as a whole.-Origins:...
.
The station was licensed to operate in 1960. It made its first test transmission on 23 May 1962 and commenced public transmission on 2 June 1962.
It broadcast on VHF7 from a transmitter atop Black Mountain. , CTC 7 still broadcasts in the Canberra area under the branding of Southern Cross Ten
Southern Cross Ten
Southern Cross Ten is an Australian television channel broadcast by the Macquarie Media Group in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia. The channel is owned by the Macquarie Media Group as is affiliated to Network Ten...
.
Death
Arthur Shakespeare died on 11 October 1975 and was buried in Canberra CemeteryWoden Cemetery
The Woden Cemetery is the main cemetery in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is located adjacent to the Woden Town Centre.The cemetery opened in 1936 as the Canberra General Cemetery. It closed for burials in 1979, but was re-opened in March 1999...
.
Honours and Commemmoration
In April 2005, Shakespeare was named by ACT Chief MinisterChief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of party with the largest representation of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role...
Jon Stanhope
Jon Stanhope
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as...
as one of the 17 inaugural inductees in the ACT Honour Walk. This commemmoration took the form of a plaque set into the pedestrian space in Ainslie Avenue, Canberra City, which bears the text: "Arthur Shakespeare. Founding editor of The Canberra Times, who helped develop a distinct vision for Canberra in its early years. Served on the executive of more than 40 organisations and the ACT Advisory Council."