AustLit

The Sydney Record had a short publication run of only six months. It covered general, legal and political news from Sydney and its surrounding districts as well as from Port Phillip, South Australia and Van Diemen's Land. Depending on the arrival of ships, international news was provided from New Zealand, India and South Africa. Some issues also included news from England.

Prominence was given to shipping intelligence, including arrivals, departures, the movement of whaling ships, and ships 'at sea' and 'in harbour'. Information was also provided on prices of colonial and imported merchandise. Space was regularly given to advertising and letters to the editor.

The Sydney Record established an elevated moral tone in its editorials and reportage. The newspaper incorporated extensive news of the Anglican Church in Sydney and offered theological and biblical reflections in its pages. The proprietorship of the newspaper changed in early 1844 and, from this time onwards, the emphasis on Christianity increased.

Much of the colonial poetry published in the Sydney Record was written by James Brotherston Laughton (q.v.). In the final issues of the newspaper, the poetry all originated from England and was written by members of the Oxford Movement including John Keble and John Henry Newman. Other poets selected for publication were James Clarence Mangan, Caroline Bowles, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

The final issue of the Sydney Record gave no indication that publication was to cease. It still carried prices for quarterly, half-yearly and yearly subscriptions.