A new newspaper will start printing in Horsham in western Victoria next week and its publisher is hoping to fill the void created when the Wimmera Mail-Times stopped publishing last month.
Wimmera Mallee News, the publisher of the Warracknabeal Herald and Dimboola Banner, will start a new weekly paper called the Horsham Times.
Managing editor David Ward said he wanted to fill the gap left when Australian Community Media (ACM) stopped publishing the Wimmera Mail-Times.
"It's left a huge vacuum in the region for local news," he said.
"I've had a huge number of phonecalls from people keen to see a newspaper in Horsham."
ACM cited a drop in advertising revenue for its decision to stop the Wimmera Mail-Times, along with sister papers the Stawell Times-News and Ararat Advertiser, until at least the end of June.
A rival publisher has also stepped into the Ararat market with the new Ararat Advocate to print a weekly edition from May 1.
A familiar name in town
The Horsham Times was the name of the original Horsham paper up until 1959.
In that year, the Times merged with the West Wimmera Mail to form the Wimmera Mail-Times, which has been printed until last month.
Mr Ward said he has a family connection to the original Horsham Times.
"In the 1890s my great-grandfather George Ward came to Horsham and worked on the Horsham Times and ended up being the owner," he said.
"The name was available and we felt there was a really strong family connection there and felt we would continue that tradition."
Mr Ward said he was planning on employing up to six staff and was also looking at leasing an office space in Horsham.
He said he wanted to continue printing the newspaper, even if the Wimmera Mail-Times returned to print next month.
"We don't do things in halves," he said.
"If we are going to do it we do it for the long-term with the aim to make it successful.
"I think there's room for us."
