'Modelled closely on the English Punch, in 1868 William Roberts and William Fawcett published their local [South Australian] version. The illustrations were by Tom Carrington, previously of the Melbourne Punch. This incarnation however, lasted only 12 issues.
In 1878 it was revived by Caleb Dalwood under the title Rattlesnake or Adelaide Punch. Dalwood was a nephew to the Frearson brothers of the Illustrated Adelaide News (and other titles) and seems to have also contributed illustrations to his uncles' newspapers as "C. Penstone". With the third issue, the Rattlesnake was renamed Adelaide Punch and William Henry East joined Dalwood as partner in the paper...
'Although intended to be published weekly, early issues were intermittent, and East left the partnership after a short time. In July 1878 Adelaide Punch passed to Scrymgour & Sons, a large firm of Adelaide printers. Dalwood continued to contribute cartoons to Frearson's weekly and Frearson's monthly through the following year, and also contributed cartoons to Adelaide Punch until 1880... The main cartoons in this period are signed "WJK" (William John Kennedy), but the editorship is unclear until December, when J. C. F. (Joseph) Johnson took over as owner and editor. Joseph Johnson had been the drama critic for the Register, and also wrote on mining and viticulture for that newspaper. "WJK" remained the artist of the main cartoons until early 1880."
'Johnson, an accomplished writer, was also an able artist and contributed the "side pictures' for Adelaide Punch. In 1882 he sold the paper due to the press of his "other business." ...The new owner of Adelaide Punch was Edward Derrington of the Port Adelaide News.
In early 1884 the paper was sold again, being taken over by its chief cartoonist, Herbert Woodhouse, with Harry O'Donnell as a partner in the paper for a short time. Woodhouse had begun drawing the side pictures for Adelaide Punch in 1881 and by 1884 seems to have been contributing almost all the cartoons. Other cartoonists had previously included "A.E." or A. Esam, "H. R.", E. Dale and "Dane".
'In October 1884 Adelaide Punch ceased, being sold by Woodhouse to its rival, the Lantern.'
Source: SA Memory, http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/
Sighted: 30/01/2013
