The Southland Times is parent to six free community newspapers: The Mirror, which was started in 1987 and covers the Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago; Newslink, which covers Northern and Eastern Southland, was established in 1991; The Eye, which is delivered fortnightly to all residents in Invercargill and Otatara; and in July 1998 the company took over South Otago Newspapers, incorporating the Clutha Leader based in Balclutha, the Taieri Herald based in Mosgiel; the Otago Southland Farmer, which is delivered fortnightly to all rural mailboxes in both Otago and Southland. On 1 July, 2003 The Southland Times became a division of Fairfax Media, when Independent Newspapers was bought by Fairfax.