The Koori Mail digitised collection is the only complete online archive for the Koori Mail – Australia’s fortnightly national Indigenous newspaper.
It was launched by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and the Koori Mail in partnership with the Department of Industry and Science, CAVAL and the State Library of New South Wales at a special ceremony in Canberra on 4 May 2011, which was also the date of publication for the Koori Mail’s 500th edition.
View the Koori Mail collection
Read featured essays from the Koori Mail
"The story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia is a big one, and important for our nation. That it has been able to be told for 20 years and through 500 editions of the Koori Mail is a matter of enormous pride and privilege for my Bundjalung people.
The Koori Mail’s first edition was just 24 pages, all black and white (except for the masthead), and read by about 25,000 people. Today, the newspaper averages close to 100 pages, is alive with colour, and reaches more than 100,000 readers right around Australia every fortnight. If it involves our mob, you’ll find it in the pages of the Koori Mail.
The highs and the lows, the joy and the despair. From the grassroots of our communities to the big end of town and national affairs. But more than that, we also have a successful business that is owned and controlled by Aboriginal people. I’m proud to say that every cent of profit earned by the Koori Mail goes to Indigenous Australians, either as sponsorships and scholarships or dividends to the owning community organisations*...
The Koori Mail Board is delighted that, with the help of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), we are now able to bring that story to life in digital form. It is our gift to the nation."
Russell Kapeen
Bundjalung man
Chairman,Koori Mail (since 1995)
Chairman,Kurrachee Co-operative
*The Koori Mail – 100 per cent Aboriginal owned and controlled – is situated on Bundjalung country on the far north coast of New South Wales. Its shareholders are five small Aboriginal organisations – the Bundjalung Tribal Society (Lismore), Bunjum Co-operative (Ballina/Cabbage Tree Island), Buyinbin Co-operative (Casino), Kurrachee Co-operative (Coraki) and Nungera Co-operative (Maclean).
Sensitivity statement
Visitors should be aware that the Koori Mail Digital Collection may contain images and other references to deceased people which may cause sadness or distress, particularly to the relatives of the deceased.
Visitors are advised that the Koori Mail Digital Collection may contain words or descriptions which reflect the author’s attitude or that of the period in which the item was written. These may be considered inappropriate today in some circumstances.
I have read and understood the warnings given above. I agree to treat this material with sensitivity being aware that it may contain words or descriptions which may be offensive or distressing.
Copyright Information
Copyright in the Koori Mail newspaper is held by the Koori Mail, PO Box 117 Lismore NSW 2480.
AIATSIS has been granted permission to reproduce this content online.
Readers of this online collection may make print-outs for research purposes.
You may download, display, print and reproduce this content for your personal or non-commercial use but only in an unaltered form and with the copyright acknowledged.
Anyone wishing to publish material from this website should seek permission of The Koori Mail and AIATSIS Collections.