German-language media
Newspapers, Radio, Television
An Australian lady reads Die Woche in Australien in front of a shop in Main St, Hahndorf, South Australia.
German-language newspapers, radio and television broadcasts offer information and entertainment to Germans, Austrians, Swiss and others in Australia who appreciate the German language.
In 1848 Germans in Adelaide published Australia's first non-English newspaper, Die Deutsche Post für die australischen Kolonien. Carl Kornhardt established the paper and the first editor was Johannes Menge, who is also known for making important geological discoveries in South Australia. The paper closed down in 1850.
German-language newspapers in Australia have had an eventful history. Over the years many papers and magazines were established in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Some survived only a few years, and numerous mergers took place.
In 1954 Dr Mark Siegelberg (an Austrian immigrant) established the newspaper Neue Welt in Melbourne. Later it was called Neue Heimat und Welt, appeared monthly and was available in other states as well. The newspaper reported on Australian domestic politics, particularly when it related to immigration and new citizens. It published news from Germany, Austria and other countries of origin of German-speaking Australians. The newspaper also contained ‘advice articles, event calendars and news from German-speaking associations’ (...) as well as ‘advertisements from German-born retailers, importers, tradespeople and service providers’. In 2004 it ceased publication.[1]
Today the only newspaper is Die Woche Australien, published in Sydney. It was founded in 1957 by Johann Jakobi and reports on politics, economics, cultural events, sport and the activities of German clubs and associations.
Regular German-language radio broadcasts in Australia began in June 1975 with the establishment of the multicultural radio stations 2EA (Sydney) and 3EA (Melbourne). These stations were under the control of the Attorney General's Department. The Special Broadcasting Service assumed responsibility for both stations on January 1st 1978.
German broadcasts began:
on 3EA in 1975 with three broadcasters - coordinator Mr W. Schauble
on 2EA in 1976 with twelve broadcasters - coordinator Mr Claus Hannekum
(Source: first Annual Report of the Special Broadcasting Service)
In 2002 the magazine Deutschland (produced by the Press and Information Office of the German Government, issue #3/2002) wrote:
Alongside the USA and Canada, Australia is one of the countries with the most radio broadcasts in German. Around 50 different programs are produced there. The most extensive program comes from the government multicultural broadcaster "Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)".
In 1980 the Federal Government established the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS),
with radio and TV broadcasts in many community languages. SBS Television often
shows documentary films in the German language from Europe, as well as movies
from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The
SBS website carries information about the broadcast times of its German-language programs.
In Australia one can also listen to the broadcasts of Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster.
♦ Notes:
1. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, December 23). Neue Welt (Zeitschrift). In: Wikipedia – Die freie Enzyklopädie. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neue_Welt_(Zeitschrift)&oldid=251518230 (Accessed: 4th February 2026, 23:51 UTC)
♦ Reference:
Tampke, Jürgen. (2006). The Germans in Australia. Port Melbourne (Victoria): Cambridge University Press. pp.104-106, 128 (newspapers)