THERE was once a Queensland publican who refused accommodation to a couple of ‘scab’ labourers, either out of fear, or to show support for the union during the height of the great shearers’ strike of 1891. The 1891 shearers’ strike is… Read More ›
…An old seafarer’s inn By MICK ROBERTS © CURRENTLY used as student accommodation, the former Cleopatra Hotel in the port city of Fremantle has a history stretching back almost to Western Australia’s foundations. The pub was founded in 1836, when… Read More ›
Australia’s largest timber pub, The Malanda Hotel. Picture: Mick Roberts Collection Exploring the pubs of the Atherton Tablelands © By MICK ROBERTS THE last leg of our Far North Queensland road trip brought us to the historic pubs of the… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © THE five Hill brothers made their fortune through beer, wine and spirits. The ‘currency lads’ – a name given to native born colonist – George, William, David, and Richard were Sydney publicans, who besides pumping ale,… Read More ›
“Time gents, drink ’em up”, was the barman’s call as six o’clock approached and the taps were turned off for another day. The six o’clock swill was Australian and New Zealand slang for the last-minute rush to buy drinks before the… Read More ›
Old Dunmore Arms Hotel, corner George and Elizabeth Streets, Brisbane: Between the hotel and the Bank of New South Wales are old buildings, which for years were the business premises of Francis Hicks (familiarly known as “Old” Hicks). The office of Mr…. Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © A CANNY Scotsman with a reputation for being careful with his money, Jimmy Richardson, was one of Australia’s most successful hoteliers. Jimmy built an empire of Melbourne hotels, before selling them all – with the exception of… Read More ›
Theatrics, drama and drinking at colonial inn By MICK ROBERTS © AMID the clanging of pewter mugs, narrating of bawdy poetry, raucous sing-a-longs, and of course, the ale induced bellowing of theatrical recitals, stood Sydney innkeeper, William ‘Bill’ Dind. Dind… Read More ›
The pubs of the Atherton Tablelands By MICK ROBERTS © OVER two and a half hours south of Cooktown, we reach the next destination on our Far North Queensland road trip – the village of Mount Molloy and the National… Read More ›
Is your local pub a Royal? If so, you’re in good company. New data from Liquor & Gaming NSW shows Royal is by far the most popular hotel name in NSW. With 88 Royal Hotels across the state, it’s more… Read More ›
MEET the 1953 South Australian cask ‘walking’ champion, Peter McKechnie. Weighing-in at 15 stone, 10 pound, 38-year-old Peter took out the title by walking a 150 pound wine barrel down the main street of Nuriootpa. But that wasn’t the first… Read More ›
The frontier pubs of Cooktown By MICK ROBERTS © THERE are not many places to quench the thirst on the three hour journey along the Mulligan Highway to Cooktown, but the quality of the pubs on the 250km trek sure… Read More ›
AS the saying goes, Burraga on the central tablelands of NSW these days is ‘as dry as a dead dingo’s donga’ when it comes to pubs. The village lies 47km south west of Oberon, and about 67km south of Bathurst…. Read More ›
Showing old Grand Hotel on the site occupied by Pine Beach Hotel at Emu Park, Queensland. It was destroyed by fire, in which a school inspector lost his life. – The Capricornian Thursday 31 March 1927
