Hales then visited America and England and returning to Adelaide started the Adelaide Standard. He next went to the goldfields in Western Australia and started the Coolgardie Mining Review. A fire destroyed his plant and he was penniless, but after working for some time as a dry-blower he went to Boulder and with his brother Frank started the Boulder Star and later the Boulder Miner's Right.
Hales traveled to America and England before returning to Adelaide and starting the Adelaide Standard. He then went to Western Australia's goldfields, establishing the Coolgardie Mining Review. A fire destroyed his printing plant, leaving him penniless, but he eventually found work as a dry-blower and moved to Boulder where he partnered with his brother Frank to launch the Boulder Star and later the Boulder Miner's Right newspaper.