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Arden's Sydney Magazine was George Arden's second editorial venture in Australia. He began the Port Phillip Gazette in 1838 (at the age of approximately eighteen) and continued with that paper until 1842 when financial difficulties forced him out. By 1843, Arden was the Port Jackson correspondent for the Port Phillip Herald and during the same year he launched his Sydney Magazine.
In his first 'Editor's Address', Arden offered some 'extenuating remarks for the frequent faults' that appeared within the pages of the first number—he had composed nearly the entire issue himself and 'the exertion to produce variety in the original articles ... demanded no little versatility of mood and imagination'. Arden noted that 'little more than a fortnight' was available for the 'composing, illustrating, arranging, compiling and printing' of the first issue.
The second, and final, number of the Sydney Magazine carried another 'Editor's Address'. On this occasion, Arden stated that his design in publishing the magazine was to 'improve the taste of the public for literary habits' and to encourage 'works of art'. In relation to the latter purporse, Arden attracted the services of artist J. S. Prout and the magazine carried samples of Prout's work including his illustration of Sydney's Tank Stream. (Other versions of this drawing are held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.)
In its only two appearances, the Sydney Magazine canvassed a range of issues of importance to New South Wales including the prospect of a colonial constitution and the 'Civilization of the Aborigines'. It also began an 'Early History of Port Phillip', provided a round-up of colonial news, and produced a 'memoir' of Benjamin Boyd. While the first issue contained original poetry, no poetry was included in the second issue.
Following the demise of the Sydney Magazine, George Arden returned to England before again settling in the Port Phillip District. According to his biographical record in the Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, in May 1854 Arden 'was found dead on Bakery Hill, Ballarat—childless, still young, dismissed by his peers as a man of talent and power cut down by his own intemperance'.
Sources: Arden's Sydney Magazine, and Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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New Magazine
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Australasian Chronicle , 12 August vol. 5 no. 586 1843; (p. 2) -
Editor's Address
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature , October vol. 1 no. 2 1843; (p. i-viii) The editor, George Arden, states that 'it is not unusual for Magazines, when first projected, to collect and publish the Notices of the Press on their success and prospects'. In that light, he reprints a range of 'announcements' that appeared in various colonial newspapers including the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australasian Chronicle, the Port Phillip Herald, the Port Phillip Patriot and the Melbourne Times. Also re-produced are reviews of the first issue of Arden's from the Colonial Observer, the Australasian Chronicle, the Sydney Morning Herald and the True Sun. -
Editor's Address
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature , September vol. 1 no. 1 1843; (p. 64) The editor, George Arden, apologises for the hasty compilation of the first issue of Arden's Sydney Magazine. He acknowledges that 'nearly the whole of the present number' has been composed by himself and admits that 'the compilation deserves much critical censure'. -
Review of Colonial Literature and Productions of Art : [Introduction]
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature , September vol. 1 no. 1 1843; (p. 52-54) -
Untitled
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: The Colonial Observer , 16 September vol. 2 no. 166 1843; (p. 1304)
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Arden's Sydney Magazine, for October, 1843. Sydney, Morris
1843
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekly Register of Politics, Facts, and General Literature , 21 October vol. 1 no. 13 1843; (p. 196)
— Review of Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature 1843 periodical (2 issues) -
Arden's Sydney Magazine
1843
single work
advertisement
— Appears in: The Colonial Oberver , 6 September vol. 2 no. 162 1843; (p. 1281) -
Untitled
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: The Colonial Observer , 16 September vol. 2 no. 166 1843; (p. 1304) -
Review of Colonial Literature and Productions of Art : [Introduction]
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature , September vol. 1 no. 1 1843; (p. 52-54) -
Editor's Address
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature , September vol. 1 no. 1 1843; (p. 64) The editor, George Arden, apologises for the hasty compilation of the first issue of Arden's Sydney Magazine. He acknowledges that 'nearly the whole of the present number' has been composed by himself and admits that 'the compilation deserves much critical censure'. -
Editor's Address
1843
single work
column
— Appears in: Arden's Sydney Magazine of Politics and General Literature , October vol. 1 no. 2 1843; (p. i-viii) The editor, George Arden, states that 'it is not unusual for Magazines, when first projected, to collect and publish the Notices of the Press on their success and prospects'. In that light, he reprints a range of 'announcements' that appeared in various colonial newspapers including the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australasian Chronicle, the Port Phillip Herald, the Port Phillip Patriot and the Melbourne Times. Also re-produced are reviews of the first issue of Arden's from the Colonial Observer, the Australasian Chronicle, the Sydney Morning Herald and the True Sun.
