THE Queensland city of Rockhampton is known as the beef capital of Australia. So when you’re in that neck of the woods, don’t be surprised to hear a few tales about their prized cattle. Like the time when three stockmen wrestled a roan cow to the floor of the lounge bar of the Oxford Hotel.

The Oxford, established in 1869, is one of Rocky’s oldest pubs, and continues to be a popular watering hole at the corner of East and Denham Streets to this day.

The disorderly cow stirred-up plenty of panic in the bars of the Oxford in 1952 when it wandered into the public bar and lounge, before finishing-up almost “under the table”.

The animal, reported the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on August 12 1952, had strayed along Quay Lane and made for the back entrances of the pub. Reportedly, it squeezed through a door into the pub and made a circuit of the bar as patrons scrambled out into the street.

One customer was ordering a rum and milk when a more observant friend called out: “The milk’s on tap and nearer than you think”. The rum drinker had a quick backward glance and went without both.

The cow then ambled into the private lounge where she met three men with stock experience. They threw her on the floor and held her there until the police “took her into custody”.

A crane and a truck removed the uninvited guest.

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Categories: animals, Queensland hotels

Tags: cow, Oxford Hotel Rockhampton, rum