page_title: Daily Cargo News
section_title: Daily Commercial News
hierarchical_section_title: Daily Cargo News / History / Daily Commercial News
caption_attribution_description: English: Daily Commercial News, Issue 1, 13th April 1891
context_page_description: Daily Cargo News is a monthly Australian shipping, trade, transport and logistics focused magazine, published by Paragon Media. First published in 1891 as Daily Commercial News, Daily Cargo News is Australia's longest running national newspaper.
context_section_description: Howard Ignatius Moffat, born in Redfern, New South Wales in 1861, traveled to the United States at an early age to study American business methods. He returned to Sydney in 1887 intent on establishing a shipping newspaper, founding Shipping Newspapers Ltd under the name The Daily Shipping Paper in November 1890 with business partner Jeremiah Roberts. On Monday 13 April 1891, the first edition of Daily Commercial News (DCN) was published. On Saturday 30 April 1892 the newspaper changed its title to Daily Commercial News and Shipping List.
  Moffat remained the driving force behind the newspaper until ill health and failing eyesight forced his retirement in 1935. His retirement coincided with the financial crisis resulting from The Great Depression. Like so many other businesses at the time, DCN found itself in a difficult position. The National Bank of Australia stepped in and appointed a receiver, Charles Witt. The rescue was so successful that shareholders persuaded him to remain on as Chairman, which he did until his retirement in 1962.
  During World War II, Australian authorities sought suspension of publication of all shipping movements for fear that the information could fall into enemy hands. With the strong support of the Australian shipping industry a compromise was reached – only after a ship had sailed, returned and sailed again would its original sailing be published. This policy was revoked at the conclusion of the war.
  For over 50 years DCN was published at 16 Bond Street, Sydney, which had extra floors added over the decades to accommodate peak staffing levels of over 1,000 employees. In 1962 new Chairman Raymond Morris initiated a move to a new building in North Sydney. A site on the corner of Hill Plaza and Elizabeth Street was purchased from P&O for £60,000. An old building on the site was demolished and Shipnews House was erected. Marine artist John Charles Allcot created the iconic sailing ship for the building, whose port and starboard lights illuminated at night, a landmark for passers-by on the nearby Pacific Highway.
  By 1966 Shipping Newspapers Ltd had expanded to include subsidiaries in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, each with its own printing plant. The group also included The Manufacturer Publishing Company, The Commonwealth Jeweller and Watchmaker, Marchant & Co General Printers and Broadway Typesetters. 
  Asset rich, but underperforming in share value, Shipping Newspapers Ltd became a prime target for corporate raiders. Sir Ronald Brierley purchased the company in 1969, dividing and selling its assets. Subsequently, DCN was sold to businessman Maxwell Newton with funding from Marrickville Holdings. In 1981 Peter Isaacson bought the newspaper from the liquidators of Maxwell Newton. Peter Isaacson Publications was acquired by Independent News & Media's Australian media arm, Australian Provincial Newspapers (APN) in 1993, where DCN remained until purchased by Informa Plc in 1999.
  In total, the Daily Commercial News ran for 108 years under its original banner. During this time it occupied a unique position amongst a select group as one of only three national Australian daily newspapers alongside The Australian and Australian Financial Review - yet with a much more tightly defined market and readership than its colleagues.
caption: Daily Commercial News, Issue 1, 13 April 1891
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