The paper was launched on 27 April 1969 as a Sunday only publication, under the banner The Independent, with its founding editor was Maxwell Newton (who was previously the foundation editor of The Australian). On 3 January 1971 it was renamed The Sunday Independent. Circulation was claimed to be 80,000 copies at its peak, however it never seriously challenged that of its rival, the well established The Sunday Times. In 1973 it ran as a daily for four weeks, as The Independent Sun, in direct competition with The West Australian. It appeared from 10 October 1973 to 8 November 1973.