Australia's richest man, Kerry Packer, came to the helm of Australian Consolidated Press in the 1970s, handing the reins to his son in the 1990s. This book examines ACP, one of Australia's foremost media empires, including an exploration of the rivalries with the Murdoch and Fairfax dynasties.

Acknowledgments vii..Abbreviations x..List of illustrations and tables xii..Timeline xiii..Preface xiv..1 'This gang of respectable thieves' 1..2 Miracle magazine, 1932 - 1934 20..3 Guarding the crown jewels, 193 - 1936 38..4 Thoroughly modern, 193 - 1938 56..5 'Arm yourself, but keep your head', 193 - 1940 75..6 There will always be a Telegraph, 194 - 1942 89..7 Power through popularity, 194 - 1945 115..8 A birthright invaded, 194 - 1949 145..9 A corporate octopus curtailed, 195 - 1953 178..10 Pig Iron Frank, 195 - 1957 209..11 Dividing the spoils, 195 - 1962 231..12 Wheeling and dealing, 196 - 1967 258..13 Selling the plantation, 196 - 1974 282..Appendix 1 Weekly women's magazine circulations, 193 - 1974 299..Appendix 2 Sydney morning newspaper circulations, 193 - 1972 300..Appendix 3 Sydney Sunday newspaper circulations, 194 - 1972 301..Appendix 4 Australian Consolidated Press Walkl