Charles Macfaull
Charles Macfaull was an early settler in the Swan River Colony in Western Australia. He arrived in 1830, and is credited with having planted the colony's first vineyard, using vines brought from the Cape of Good Hope. He worked as the colony's postmaster, and in 1833 established its first successful newspaper, the Perth Gazette and Western Australian Times, which survives today as The West Australian.
The original printing press, a tiny Ruthven press that was used to prepare the first paper, is currently housed in the Western Australian Museum.
He was the subject of the first book printed in Western Australia. Entitled A report of the late trial for libel !!! : Clarke versus Macfaul, 4 September 1835, it gives William Nairne Clark's account of his successful libel suit against Macfaull.
Macfaull died on 13 December 1846 in Perth. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who took on the ongoing role of publishing the Perth Gazette.
