Charles Macfaull

Charles Macfaull (1800 – 13 Dec 1846)[1] was an early settler in the Swan River Colony in Western Australia. He arrived in 1830, and is credited with having planted the colony's first vineyard,[2] using vines brought from the Cape of Good Hope. He worked as the colony's postmaster, and in 1833 established its first successful newspaper,[lower-alpha 1] the Perth Gazette and Western Australian Times, which survives today as The West Australian.[4] The original printing press, a tiny Ruthven press that was used to prepare the first paper, is currently housed in the Western Australian Museum.[3]

He was the subject of the first book printed in Western Australia. Entitled A report of the late trial for libel !!! : Clarke versus Macfaul, 4 September 1835,[lower-alpha 2] it gives William Nairne Clark's account of his successful libel suit against Macfaull.[4]

Macfaull died on 13 December 1846 in Perth.[1] He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who took on the ongoing role of publishing the Perth Gazette.

Notes
  1. Several short-lived newspapers had previously been published.[3]
  2. The book title spells both surnames incorrectly.[4]

References
  1. "Died. Charles Macfaull (transcription)" (364). Perth: The Perth gazette and Western Australian journal. 19 December 1846. p. 2; col A. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  2. Battye, O. K. (1976). "Stirling, Edmund (1815–1897)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 6. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 3 January 2009 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  3. "Ruthven Printing Press". Western Australian Museum. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  4. "Treasures of the Battye Library – WA's First Book". Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.


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