By MICK ROBERTS © SAID to be a modest man, publican James Alexander Martin managed to keep from an official government inquest how he saved the life of a drowning man when he gave evidence in 1914. Jim Martin was… Read More ›
Month: July 2015
Blind Publican Happy On Job
JOHN Wall said to be the only blind hotel licensee in Australia is happiest when he is doing his hotel chores. He is mine host at the Oxford Hotel, Taylor Square Darlinghurst. When a Truth reporter called this week, Mr. Wall was in the chill… Read More ›
Publican composer made history in 1948 by topping the hit parade
By MICK ROBERTS © A SECOND generation publican, Allan Ryan became famous during the 1940s and 50s for his music writing talents. With orchestra leader William Flynn, Ryan, licensee of Melbourne’s Young & Jackson Hotel, composed the song, ‘Goodnight, Mr… Read More ›
She Couldn’t Buy Her Beer
THIS woman went into the main bar of the Australia Hotel, Castlereagh Street, Sydney, last Wednesday afternoon and asked for a beer. Barmaids refused to serve her. She then helped herself to several beers standing on the counter before a group of men…. Read More ›
Women’s dry argument with the Rex bar
THE Hitching Rail Bar, the male stronghold of the Canberra Rex Hotel, was invaded yesterday by about 30 members of the Women’s Electoral Lobby demanding the same service as men. Hotel employees refused to serve them, saying the bar was for men only. They were… Read More ›
Joe is a regular
JOE THE RABBIT, owned by Sandy Mills, a Lockleys gardener, is a regular visitor and occasional drinker at the Mile End Hotel, Hilton [South Australia]. Joe is well known to the customers and today he perched on Les Smart’s shoulders while he was having a drink. Joe… Read More ›
A tall tale
SWEDISH seaman Carl Bergman, 23, of the motor vessel Polamola, who stands something over seven feet in his shoes, stood at the back of a crowd fighting four-deep for beer in a bar of a Sydney hotel on Saturday, leaned easily over their heads, and got his… Read More ›
NSW/Qld border divided Hungerford pub’s bar
By MICK ROBERTS © LEGEND has it that a there was once a pub that sat ‘slap-bang’ on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. As a consequence the outback pub, located at Hungerford, had its bar half in… Read More ›
Big win on the horses
MR. H. W. DEDMAN, the Victorian punter who walked off Flemington racecourse last Saturday winning £20,200 from an original investment of £2, was photographed in a Sydney hotel bar on Wednesday. He is in Sydney on business. Mr. Dedman had an armored car waiting for… Read More ›
Sailor fights over ‘mongrel’: Admitted to bar
A be-ribboned dog caused a struggle between a soldier and a sailor in Wellington-street last night. Climax came when the sailor crashed through a £16 plate glass window, gashing his ear. Perth Police Court evidence today was that the argument started when the soldier greeted… Read More ›