The Tocsin (often referred to only as Tocsin) was an Australian socialist newspaper, published from 1897 to 1906.[1] It was co-founded by several prominent political figures, including Edward Findley, John Percy Jones and Bernard O'Dowd.[2] Jack Castieau served as the first editor, while artist Norman Lindsay drew its first cover design.[3]
Writers for the paper included Frank Anstey, Lilian Locke and Frank Wilmot, and John Arthur Andrews was editor for a time.[4][5][6][7] Tocsin readers formed themselves into "Tocsin Clubs", conducting well-attended public meetings for political discussion in several places across Melbourne.[8] Co-founder Findley was expelled from the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1901 after Tocsin was found to have libelled King Edward VII.[2]
In the pre-federation era in Australia, Tocsin argued against Federation.[9]
Tocsin was succeeded by the Labor Call.[10]
It has been digitised by the National Library of Australia as part of the Trove project.[1]