Community & Business
7 December, 2025
Coonabarabran Times to close in December 2025
The publishers of the Coonabarabran Times have made the difficult decision to close the publication at the end of this year
Published Coonabarabran Times - November 27, 2025, reproduced with permission
By Lynne Estens
The Coonabarabran Times was originally founded in 1927 as an amalgamation of The Bligh Watchman (1877–1927) and The Clarion (1910–1927). It continues to be a solid publication, made up of local news, community issues, sport, events and advertising.
For nearly 150 years, the Coonabarabran Times has been the voice, memory and heartbeat of our region.
We have told the stories of the six towns across the Warrumbungle shire – faithfully, consistently and with pride.
We’ve been here through droughts, floods, fires, celebrations, tragedies and milestones. We were here when the world shut down during COVID and most country papers stopped printing.
We kept going, even without advertising or events to fill our pages, because our community deserved a paper – its own paper.
Now, for the first time since the 19th century, the future of the Coonabarabran Times is uncertain.
After two years on the market, no buyer has stepped forward. And unless someone with the passion to continue this work emerges, our region may soon lose not just a newspaper, but one of its most important community institutions.
Here is the text rewritten in full sentences, with no tabs, and presented as clear paragraphs. I have not changed the meaning, only corrected broken words and sentence flow.
What would we lose? The loss would be deep, immediate and felt in every corner of the Shire. We would lose our record of local life: Australia Day awards honouring quiet achievers; kindergarten photos cherished by generations of families; Bunny Bazaar snapshots; ANZAC, VP and Remembrance Day commemorations; the social pages, debutante photographs and simple moments that reflect who we are. We would lose the annual North West Equestrian Expo features – a highlight for so many young riders – along with favourites like Out and About Baradine and Coona Buzz.
We would lose coverage of sport, club reports, Council decisions, local government notices, achievements that make our region proud, and the advertising that helps keep community life moving – from events and garage sales to funerals, real estate and government announcements. A weekly paper is more than printed pages – it is the collective memory of a community. Without it, our stories vanish as quickly as they unfold.
In 1978, Max Estens joined the Coonabarabran Times as an apprentice compositor. Two decades later I joined him, and from 2010 we ran the paper side by side. Our daughter Kait, inspired by the community she grew up in, returned home as a journalist and later became editor. For Max, and for all of us, this paper was never just a business – it was a commitment to this district. Max’s recent passing has left us shell-shocked, feeling flat and struggling to find the motivation that once came so easily. Making decisions about the future of the paper without him has been incredibly difficult.
Even in this grief, we know how much the Times means to the people it serves, and that belief has strengthened our resolve to try to see it continue, because its story is bigger than ours. This year, the paper was recognised as the most-awarded publication at the 2025 Country Press NSW Awards of Excellence, taking home four major awards and a commendation. It was a proud moment not just for us personally, but for the entire district. It proved once again that small communities can punch far above their weight when given a voice.
Is there someone out there who will carry this forward? The Times may be a niche business, but it remains a rare and rewarding opportunity. Full training will be provided and the operation is flexible enough to be run off-site or from home. It could suit a couple working together, with part-time or full-time contributors, and it comes with the security of regular contract advertisers, strong government advertising, established stockists and considerable room for growth. The sale also includes the hugely popular Wattle magazine, adding even more value. For the right person or team, this is more than a livelihood; it is a chance to safeguard the history, identity and pride of an entire region.
For the moment, the final edition of the Coonabarabran Times will be published on Thursday, 18 December 2025 before we embark on extended leave. Whether the Coonabarabran Times returns depends entirely on whether someone steps forward.
Our hope – our plea – is that someone with energy, curiosity and a commitment to telling the stories of this district will recognise the value of what has been built and ensure it continues. Because if the Times falls silent, a whole community loses its voice.
If you or someone you know feels called to this work, please reach out. The future of the Coonabarabran Times depends on it.
