Photo of grave courtesy of Find a Grave Website. 

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc.

IN 1882 Alfred Colless’s “Nepean Times” newspaper originally had eight pages that later increased to ten selling at 3d (pence) a copy.  Early in the 1890’s he bought out the “Penrith Argus” and the “St Marys Times.”  He was first elected an Alderman of the Penrith Council in 1876 and at its first General Meeting he was appointed to the Finance Committee and the General Purposes Committee and continued to play a prominent part in council matters for seven years. Elected Mayor in 1880 he continued in that position (being re-elected annually) until 1883 when he resigned. The very first edition of the “Nepean Times” so what did other papers think?

Evening News – We have received the first number of the “Nepean Times” a weekly paper published at Penrith. This new candidate for public favour is neatly printed and contains a good selection of local and general news besides having a fair show of advertisements. The proprietor Mr Alfred Colless, deserves to succeed.  

Wagga Express – We must apologise for tardiness in noticing the birth of a new contemporary, The Nepean Times at Penrith, but the delay was through an oversight. The first number that reached us a few days ago is excellently printed and in every respect creditable to the proprietor. 

Cowra Express – We have much pleasure in congratulating Mr Alfred Colless on the very creditable appearance of the first issue of his literary venture “The Nepean Times.” The original articles are well written in a trite and taking style, the extracted matter carefully selected and the typography faultless. We wish our contemporary a lengthy career of usefulness and its spirited proprietor a greater financial prosperity than is ordinarily vouchsafed to provincial journalists,

Queanbeyan Times – We have to acknowledge the first number of the “Nepean Times” a journal published in Penrith. It is demy-folio, eight pages and is neatly got up. We wish it every success.

Newcastle Herald – Issue No 1 of this latest addition to NSW journalism is to hand, hailing from the picturesque town of Penrith. “The Times” is an eight-page journal and starts well backed up by advertising support, a guarantee that it will not be short-lived. There is scope in the Penrith district for this latest enterprise and judging from the first number the residents will profit not a little by its existence. Mr Alfred Colless of High Street, Penrith is the Publisher. 

Burrangong Chronicle – We are in receipt of the first issue of the “Nepean Times” published at Penrith. In politics the new aspirant for public support claims to be Liberal-Conservative, not merely in politics but in religious municipal and indeed all other subjects.
The paper is very well got up and a credit to the growing districts in which it has cast its lot. 

Yass Evening Tribune – We have to acknowledge the receipt of a paper published at Penrith under the title of “Nepean Times” the size of those in this paper. It contains a good share of advertisements and a nice collection of reading matter and altogether the journal appears to be well suited to the requirements of the district.

Murrumburrah Signal – We are in receipt of the first number of the “Nepean Times,” a weekly paper just started in Penrith in opposition we presume to the “Penrith Argus.” The paper is fairly got up and contains a good deal of local and general information.

Southern Argus – We have much pleasure in welcoming a fresh addition to the already long list of colonial newspapers namely, “The Nepean Times.” This paper is published at Penrith and is very well brought out. It contains an excellent variety of original matter which is a good recommendation and one that the public will speedily appreciate. We wish our new contemporary every success.

Bathurst Independent – The Nepean Times.  On Friday last was issued from the office of Mr Alfred Colless of Penrith and a very creditable production it is. As regards its sentiments we will let it tell its own tale from its first leading article. It says “Our sentiments are of the Liberal-Conservative school and these sentiments are not confined merely to politics but to religious, municipal, temperance, literature and kindred subjects of a manifestly progressive character. It is on these grounds we ask a generous support. As journalists we all respect the rights and opinions of all men and do that ourselves which we believe to be just and right regardless of any man’s frown and unbiassed by any spurious sentimentality about self-interest. We have made our venture to a great extent on strictly commercial principles.” We heartily wish our new contemporary a prosperous and useful career. 

Temora Herald – The first number of “The Nepean Times” is to hand and we certainly must congratulate the people of Penrith on their possessing such an excellent newspaper evidently in the hands of no tyro in journalism. The proprietor is Mr Alfred Colless who was or is Mayor of Penrith and we congratulate him on his new journalistic enterprise.  Alfed’s health started to fail him in December 1920 and he died in hospital in Sydney. The funeral took place when his body was brought back to his residence in Derby Street then afterwards to St  Stephen’s Church for the service and then to the Church of England portion of the Penrith General Cemetery and is buried with his  wife Georgina.

Source: Nepean Times Friday 17 March 1882 (1st Edition)