The Illawarra Mercury is marking 170 years of continuous publication with a multi-platform anniversary campaign celebrating its legacy and connection to the Illawarra community.
Editor Kathy Sharpe told Mediaweek that while she only joined the paper earlier this year, she has had a life-long interest in it.
“I’ve always loved newspapers and I used to write letters to the editor of my local newspaper when I was a kid,” Sharpe said. “But I remember reading the Illawarra Mercury even at a young age.”
Sharpe grew up in nearby Nowra, which is about an hours-drive away. “A lot of people in Nowra read the Illawarra Mercury because it is an Illawarra South Coast publication. I was really familiar with it. And, of course, during my 30-year career in media, I’ve always read the Illawarra Mercury and seen the different changes, the different styles, different editors.”
The newsroom has, like all newsrooms, changed quite dramatically since the paper launched. These days Sharpe has a team of around 12 that report in to her, but in reviewing all of the archive photos for the anniversary, Sharpe noted just how different things are now.
“It is incredible what our young reporters are doing with an iPhone in their hand in many cases. Tracing the history of the paper since 1855, and looking at old photos of newsrooms… bulging with people using funny old-fashioned computers. You know, of course, there was also a big crew of typesetters typing up all the type and there was people involved in the press, printing staff, huge sales departments…”
The anniversary promotional campaign officially launched today, Wednesday 8 October with a special 24-page Souvenir Edition in both print and digital. The commemorative wrap reflects on the masthead’s rich history of journalism, iconic photography, and storytelling across nearly two centuries.
First published in 1855, the Mercury has been a consistent voice for the region, covering everything from the rise of heavy industry to the successes of local sporting teams like the Illawarra Hawks. It has also launched the careers of notable journalists including Bevan Shields, Linton Besser, and Andrew Drummond.
This morning to celebrate the anniversary, they staged a get together where readers could come along.
“We’ve got an event at a newsagents, just to celebrate that side of people who actually sell our paper. Then we’re having an in-staff event in the office, a morning tea this morning. We invited lots of people from the community to contribute video messages. I invited a lot of the musical groups in Wollongong to sing happy birthday to us. Which was responded to with great enthusiasm,” Sharpe noted.
Mr Norm Rangley presses start on a new press in October 1967.jpg
Community and editorial initiatives
Running until 14 December, the 10-week campaign features a mix of editorial features, local events and retail activations:
• Souvenir Anniversary Edition (8 October): Distributed online and in print, supported by in-store celebrations at Corrimal Lotto & Gifts with cupcakes, balloons, Illawarra Hawks juniors and mascot Mercury Max.
• 170 Faces of the Illawarra: An ongoing editorial series celebrating local residents.
• Reader Giveaway (8–22 October): Over $4,000 in prizes available to local readers.
• UOW Student Journalism Competition (27 October): A spotlight on emerging talent from the University of Wollongong.
• Photo Exhibition (3 December): A showcase of Mercury photography at Wollongong Library.
• Sport & CSR Activation (11 December): Sponsorship of the Illawarra Hawks’ Alumni Round at WIN Entertainment Centre.
The paper reports reaching more than 467,000 readers across print, digital, social and event platforms, providing cross-platform advertising solutions for local and national brands.
The anniversary campaign underscores the Mercury’s role in driving community engagement and economic impact across the region.