Star News Group’s direct origins date back to 1909 when the “Berwick Shire News and Pakenham and Cranbourne Gazette” was first published, however the oldest title in the stable, the Dandenong Journal, dates back to 1865. In 1909 Albert Edward Thomas founded the Gazette after gaining extensive experience in the printing industry. The company was established in an office in Gloucesteer Avenue, Berwick in Victoria. In1917 Albert was persuaded to move to Pakenham, south east of Melbourne, where the company has been based since. Since then four generations of the Thomas family have worked and run the business, Albert’s son Herb and his wife Florrie, his grandson Ian and wife Dorothy and great grand son Paul and wife Sarah. Star News Group remains a family company. In 1987, under the management of Dorothy and Ian, one of the company’s most significant steps was taken in establishing the Berwick City News. This was the first time a free newspaper had been published by the company and was the start of significant expansion over the next thirty years. Today, through various acquisitions and start-ups the company now publishes newspapers in the south east of Melbourne, Geelong and from Noosa to Longreach in Queensland.Star also publishers newspapers and specialist titles in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. In Melbourne’s West and North , MMP-Star publish six titles called Star Weekly. MMP Star was established in May 2014. The company also publishes a number of niche titles, has a suite of websites and digital assets across all areas of the business.