Australia’s Today newspaper group is growing its footprint in Victoria with the acquisition of Sunraysia Daily publisher Elliott Newspaper Group’s newspaper interests to SA Today.

ENG directors Ross and Jamie Lanyon announced the transfer of the four-days-a-week Sunraysia Daily on Wednesday, along with the Swan Hill Guardian, Gannawarra Times, Broken Hill Times and North West Farmer.

The deal, which closes on September 1, follows Today’s acquisition of the Hamilton Spectator and Portland Observer and “revitalisation” of The Bunyip (Gawler and District) and Border Watch (Mt Gambier and district). It also launched Centralian Today in Alice Springs in 2023, following News Corp Australia’s closure of the Centralian Advocate in 2020.

Based in Mildura in north-western Victoria, the Sunraysia Daily escaped near death in 2020, announcing its closure after advertising fell as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With reduced staff and government JobKeeper and Public Interest News Gathering support, it was able to resume four-day publication the following year.

The Lanyon family’s connection dates to 1920 – with the merger of the Mildura Cultivator, the Mildura Telegraph and Darling and Lower Murray Advocate (1913) and Merbein Irrigationist (1919) – and the ownership of James Lanyon and of son Charles Dudley (CD) Lanyon who had joined the business as company secretary, the first of several family members to do so. According to Wikipedia, he drove expansion that took the group across Victoria and interstate in all facets of media including newspapers, radio and television. CD’s son, William Russell (Bill) Lanyon continued the legacy, serving as executive chairman until his death in 2013.

Ross Lanyon – who has led the company in recent decades with brother Jamie – said they had “always seen ourselves as custodians, not just owners.”

“This decision ensures these newspapers will continue to serve their communities with purpose and integrity. We believe SA Today shares those values.”

SA Today is owned by entities associated with fourth-generation newspaper publisher Paul Thomas (whose family-owned Pakenham Gazette is three years older that the Daily – and media strategist Damian Morgan, who also own Today News Group’s Queensland operations.

Thomas says the Lanyons have built something special: “This is about honouring their legacy and strengthening the future. We’re grateful for the trust Ross, Jamie and the family have placed in us.”

“We believe in the value of public interest journalism – not just in the capital cities, but in the places where it’s most under threat. These are communities that need a strong local voice and deserve professional, well-resourced reporting on the issues that affect them.”

Pictured: Paul Thomas (centre) with Jamie and Ross Lanyon