What's doing in Sydney, circa 1803

A rare collection of editions of Australia's first newspaper will go on sale this weekend for $575,000.

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiserwas founded in 1803 by George Howe, an editor, typesetter and printer who had been transported from London to Australia for shoplifting in 1800. It was printed using a press brought over by the first fleet.

Douglas Stewart with some early Australian newspaper editions. Photo: Justin McManus

The newspapers were assembled by a private collector over 50 years and comprise 800 editions.

The Gazette's founding editor was an "ingenious man and managed in spite of the inadequate press, a chronic shortage of ink and paper, and the refusal or inability of many of his subscribers to pay their debts", according to the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

At the time of first publication Sydney Cove had a population in the low thousands.

The newspaper ceased printing in 1842 when its then owner couldn't afford to pay his printers.