History
[1996 – Melbourne]
[1997 – Sydney]
[1998 – Brisbane]
[2002 – Adelaide]
[2002 – Perth]
[2004 – Canberra]
[2006 – Regional Victoria]
June 1996 – Australian launch
The Big Issue was launched in Melbourne on the steps of Flinders street station in June 1996. It started as an independent monthly magazine that could also generate income for the homeless and long-term unemployed. The Big Issue soon went fortnightly and hit the streets of Sydney in march 1997. Distribution gradually spread to Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and regional Victoria.
The Big Issue has a number of sister publications worldwide, including in the UK, Japan, Namibia and South Africa. They are all members of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), which encourages and supports street papers to create innovative and sustainable social enterprises.
The Body Shop and Australia Post are key sponsors in Australia, and there are many other sponsors, individual supporters and advocates who support the organisation. Funding and supporters
1996 – Melbourne
Starting life in a coffee shop on Brunswick Street and moving to Lonsdale Street in 1996 in a building attached to the Wesley Church, The Big Issue in Melbourne began as a small management and editorial team. The magazine is still produced in Lonsdale Street in the old rectory at the Wesley Church.
Initially, around 12 vendors sold the magazine. Since 1996 the Melbourne office has trained more than 1500 vendors.
The Melbourne office has a courtyard where vendors can drop in, rest, have a break and a cuppa, and share their day with the rest of the team.
1997 – Sydney
Opening in March 1997, Sydney originally started with two support workers; one in a car driving around and one based at a coffee shop. The Sydney team soon after worked from a tiny upstairs room in the Scots Church, donated by the Wesley Mission. Then they upgraded to a shop front. The Big Issue lost its premises when the church went up for redevelopment and was unable to find another donated space.
Struggling to meet Sydney’s high rental demands, they considered closing the office and setting up a mobile service until the ABC TV program Compass featured a story on The Big Issue in 2005. Since then sales have dramatically improved and the Sydney office has found a new home in Chippendale.
1998 – Brisbane
The Brisbane office opened in 1998 in the heart of the CBD, in premises offered free of charge by Wesley Mission and close to Emergency Relief and Housing Services. The Big Issue will move to new premises when Wesley House is redeveloped in the near future.
There’s a young vendor community in Brisbane, compared with other Big Issue offices, as well as a higher number of vendors who are sleeping rough. The office hopes to expand state-wide soon.
2002 – Adelaide
There was no office when the first state manager came on board in Adelaide. Instead, she would keep a stack of magazines in the boot of her car and meet vendors on the street.
Launched by the city’s mayor and the state premier, the first mags were sold at the Fringe Festival in March 2002 after funding was sourced through the Adelaide City Council and State Government’s Social Inclusion Unit. The magazine is now sold in more than 30 locations in South Australia.
2002 – Perth
Since the Western Australian office opened in 2002 it has supported around 150 vendors. There are currently 54 vendors actively working. The Big Issue in WA works with Ruah Community Services in an office in Northbridge.
2004 – Canberra
When The Big Issue in Canberra signed up its first vendor in February 2004, there was one support worker managing a small office in the city based at Woden Community Service.
The Big Issue is extremely important to vendors and their loyal customers in Canberra, with sales of between 900 and 1000 copies each fortnight. The Big Issue is gradually reaching all areas of Canberra; currently it is sold in Woden, Civic, Belconnen, Dickson and Tuggeranong.
2006 – Regional Victoria
The Big Issue is expanding into regional Victoria by forming strong local partnerships with community agencies. Marginalised people and the homeless in Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong are gradually building a strong team of vendors. The Victorian State Government’s Community Support Fund has helped The Big Issue’s push into regional Victoria.
