Arthur Sidney Lyon (1817–1861), was a journalist and newspaper proprietor, who was also known as 'the father of the press in colonial Queensland'. He was the founder of the Moreton Bay Courier (later Brisbane Courier, now the Courier-Mail) and the Darling Downs Gazette.
His obituary in the Brisbane Courier said, amongst others, that he:[1]
'...arrived in the Moreton Bay district some little time anterior to the year 1846. In the February of that year he convened a meeting at the " Victoria Hotel" for the purpose of establishing a newspaper, a project for which his ability and experience well qualified him. His career on the Melbourne press, previous to his arrival here, we are not acquainted with, but we have been informed that it was somewhat lengthy in its duration. The meeting referred to was productive of good results, inasmuch as he received flattering offers of support, and when Mr. Swan (late proprietor of the Courier) arrived soon afterwards with the requisite material, the first paper in the district was started under the title of the Moreton Bay Courier, and our "No. I” made its appearance on the 20th of June, 1846. Mr. Lyon's connection with this journal continued for about three years, and he then entered upon other pursuits until, in July, 1850, he again made his bow as a journalist in the columns of the Moreton Bay Free Press, a paper which was started as the organ of the party who were at that time anxious to achieve "separation with exiles." The subject of this sketch does not appear to have remained for any length of time – not more than two years at most - on the Free Press, and we again lose sight of him in his professional capacity until 1855, in the October of which year he appeared as editor of the North Australian, the first number of which was issued on the 2nd of that month. After remaining for upwards of two yean, on that paper, a disagreement with the proprietors occurred, which ended in his relinquishing his connection with them, and he attempted to start a second paper in Ipswich. Not being satisfied with the prospects which presented themselves, he turned his attention to the idea of establishing a journal on the Downs, and on the 11th of June, 1858, he issued the first number of the Darling Downs Gazette. A short time subsequently, he became the subject of repeated and virulent paralytic attacks, and he was ultimately compelled to vacate the editorial chair, although his connection with the Gazette as proprietor did not end until long after separation had taken place. After leaving Drayton he betook himself to Cleveland and the southern islands of the bay in which localities he has since lived, and in the former of which he breathed his last.'
He died on the 22 October 1861 and was buried at the Cleveland No.1 Cemetery.[2]