The House of Packer: The Making of a Media Empire

Australia's richest man, Kerry Packer, came to the helm of Australian Consolidated Press a quarter of a century ago; in recent years his son, James, has begun taking over the reins of the dynasty. But despite the legendary reputation of Kerry Packer and his father Sir Frank, and the popular fascination with young James, the story of how Australian Consolidated Press came to be the behemoth it is today has never been told. This is the first book ever written about the creation of one of Australia's foremost media empires. ACP was the result of an unlikely partnership between Frank Packer, the son of a brilliant but controversial newspaper executive, and E. G. Theodore, a former Labor Premier and Federal Treasurer. The House of Packer tells how their piratical activities provided the capital for the launch of the spectacularly successful Women's Weekly in 1933 and then the acquisition of the Daily Telegraph, the Nine Television network, the Bulletin and Cleo. The House of Packer presents a riveting account of the internal feuds which periodically convulsed the empire; the rumbustious, bohemian journalistic atmosphere inspired by Sid Deamer, Brian Penton and Cyril Pearl; the activities of other renowned editorial figures such as George Warnecke, David McNicoll, Donald Horne and Ita Buttrose; Sir Frank's feudal managerial style; the exit of the Theodore family; the emergence of Clyde and Kerry Packer; and the sale of the Telegraphs to Rupert Murdoch in 1972. This book also examines a series of often bizarre industrial disputes; tells how the company's political stance inspired savage attacks from both sides of politics; and charts the vigorous, and at times highly amusing, rivalry with the Fairfax and Murdoch dynasties. For better or for worse, the House of Packer has made, and continues to make, a considerable contribution to Australia's public culture. Here is how it all began.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Abbreviations List of illustrations Timeline Preface 1.'This gang of respectable thieves' 2.Miracle magazine, 1932-1934 3.Guarding the crown jewels, 1934-1936 4.Thoroughly modern, 1936-1938 5.'Arm yourself,but keep your head', 1938-1940 6.There will always be a Telegraph, 1940-1942 7.Power through popularity, 1943-1945 8.A birthright invaded, 1946-1950 9.A corporate octopus curtailed, 1950-1953 10.Pig Iron Frank, 1954-1957 11.Dividing the spoils, 1958-1962 12.Wheeling and dealing, 1963-1967 13.Selling the plantation, 1968-1974 Appendix 1 Weekly women's magazine circulations, 1938-1974 Appendix 2 Sydney morning newspaper circulations, 1936-1972 Appendix 3 Sydney Sunday morning newspaper circulations, 1940-1972 Appendix 4 Australian Consolidated Press Walkley Award winners Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Bridget Griffen-Foley PhD is NSW Ministry of the Arts History Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Sydney.