By MICK ROBERTS © THE Glenrowan Inn where the bushranger Ned Kelly’s ‘last stand’ took place in 1880 is likely Australia’s most infamous pub. While the history of bushranger Ned Kelly is well documented, the story of Glenrowan Inn host,… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © UNLIKE most of Australia, Queensland and Western Australia had a ‘watered-down’ version of the infamous ‘six-o’clock swill’. The ‘swill’ was a nickname given to the frenzied rush by Australians and New Zealanders to buy drinks from… Read More ›
MEET Jimmy ‘Tich’ McCann (pictured). Jimmy was a well-known newspaper seller and ‘bootblack’ on the streets of Perth, Western Australia, during the 1930s. The ‘old fella’ loved his beer – especially upside down. You see, Jimmy claimed he could make… Read More ›
From pint, to long sleever, to pot and schooner By MICK ROBERTS © THE ‘long sleever’ was an impressive looking beer glass that stood 45cm high and held an Imperial pint, or 20 fluid ounces. In colonial times, when… Read More ›
TO help celebrate the 130th anniversaries of the Heritage Hotel, Bulli and the Bellambi Hotel, Bellambi, ‘Time Gents’ presents the history book, ‘Sister Pubs’, featuring stories of their colourful characters, a list of all the publicans, amusing yarns, and plenty… Read More ›
AUSTRALIAN soldiers found this bottle of Asahi beer at Milne Bay, New Guinea, after defeating the Japanese in one of the great battles of World War II. The Australians were the first to brake the invincibility of the Japanese army… Read More ›
UNLIKE NSW, where barmaids were more plentiful than barmen in hotel public bars, women were as scarce as hens’ teeth in the pubs of South Australia and Victoria for many decades during last century. From 1908 until 1967 no woman… Read More ›
MEMBERS of the Salvation Army band were playing and singing Christmas carols outside a South Brisbane hotel. Drinkers in the bar joined in merrily. “You can’t sing in here,” roared the barman. “If you want to sing go out and… Read More ›
MELBOURNE, Tuesday – The woman licensee of a Ballarat hotel raided at midnight, told police who found three bottles of beer in the lounge: “They don’t belong to me Father Christmas must have dropped them through the roof”. Ownership of… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © A HUGE crowd gathered at Billy O’Connell’s remote pub in the Victorian highlands waiting for its official opening – and free beer. They were to be disappointed. The Melbourne Herald reported on June 15 1937 that… Read More ›
A Picture story: Back from long war service to the old home city that had nine to nine beer when he last knew it, a post-war John Citizen finds things puzzling, tough. He reads that despite ample malt, hops, labour… Read More ›
A MAN discharged from a ‘lunatic asylum’ in 1896 caused headlines when, armed with a knife, he ransacked the Star of the Sea Hotel at Bulli, south of Sydney. John Reynolds and his brother, William were sent to a lunatic… Read More ›
