I get sidetracked when looking thru Hiram's scrapbook - it has 60 years of cuttings pasted into it, and it so EASY to just wander off. Here is something I found which may interest some - "The First Newspaper in Beechworth - In reply to a correspondent from Bright we may state that the first newspaper issued in Beechworth was The Ovens and Murray Advertiser. The first number, a copy of wich may be seen at our office, was published by Mr. F.H. Nixon, for the proprietors, Messrs. F.H. Nixon adn Co., on the 6th January 1855, so that the paper is in its 21st year. The journal was first issued once a week adn the first number, which consists of 8 jpages demy folio size, contains a goodly amount of advertisements and a fair quantity of reading matter - Ovens Spectator" Denise