The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Sinnett, Frederick
Sinnett, Frederick, journalist, was a son of Mrs. Percy Sinnett, a well-known English authoress, and was educated for the profession of civil engineer. He went to South Australia in 1849 as engineer to the Adelaide and Port Railway Company; but the scheme was never carried out. He contributed regularly to the Mining Journal, edited by George Stevenson, at that time considered the best-conducted paper in South Australia. When the Victorian gold fields were discovered in 1851 Mr. Sinnett left South Australia for Melbourne, and accepted an engagement as contributor to the Herald, of which paper he became eventually editor and part proprietor. About 1855 he severed his connection with that paper and became a contributor to the Melbourne Argus, with which journal he remained till 1859, with the exception of a short period spent in editing the Daily News at Geelong. About the time that he joined the Argus was commenced the Melbourne Punch, of which journal he was one of the founders, and to the success of which he greatly contributed. In 1859 Mr. Sinnett again returned to South Australia to take the management of the Adelaide Ice Works. During his sojourn in South Australia from 1859 to 1865 he edited the Daily Telegraph, and was Parliamentary reporter for Hansard. He returned to Melbourne in 1865, where he resumed his connection with the Argus and was retained on the literary staff of that paper as contributor and leader-writer until within a short time of his death on Nov. 23rd, 1866.