Welcome to the Independent

Welcome to the premier edition of The Inner West Independent, your new community newspaper. Leichhardt has a long and proud tradition of intellectual independence. From vocal locals on the left like Nick Origlass and Izzy Wyner, to Paddy McGuinness’ right-wing campaign for Balmain to break away from the Leichhardt local government area, the municipality has long been home to eccentrics, iconoclasts and non-conformists. The area’s village precincts are also home to many thriving independent businesses, from the upscale boutiques of Darling Street to the trendy cafés along Norton Street.

Leichhardt also once boasted several independent community newspapers. The Glebe was launched by Len and Colleen Campbell in the 1970s and ran old-fashioned muckraking stories, until News Limited took over the title in the ’80s. In the ’90s, Kylie Davis launched the Village Voice, whose motto was “Proudly Parochial”, until it was eventually gobbled up by News as well. In 2007, the Courier newspaper group, which was once locally owned by the Hannan family, was also sold to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, leading to the merger of The Glebe and the Inner West Courier. Today every publication providing local community news coverage in the area is owned by just one Delaware-based transnational corporation. Until now.

The Inner West Independent is the Alternative Media Group of Australia’s fourth local inner-city community newspaper. Since 1995, we have proudly distributed our flagship publication, the City Hub, along the bustling high streets of Balmain, Rozelle, Annandale and Leichhardt, and throughout the inner city. Our independent, irreverent style has gained us many loyal readers throughout the area. In 2002, we acquired the City News from a Balmain-based publishing company. The City News is the only independent community newspaper to serve the City of Sydney. In 2005 we added the Bondi View to our group, delivering independent community news to the Eastern Suburbs. We look forward to providing the inner west with indispensable, unique, alternative news coverage, because you deserve an Independent point of view.

Lawrence Gibbons, publisher, Alternative Media Group of Australia