By MICK ROBERTS ©
I’VE been researching pubs for almost 40 years, and am amazed at how sometimes the simplest detail can slip you by!
This is a story about the Bulli Family Hotel in the Illawarra region of NSW, its owner, Edmund Resch, and the great “E.R” mystery.
Now trading as the Heritage Hotel, I’ve published several histories of this pub; my first in 1989 (during its centenary year). The ‘pediment signage’ on the “squat tower’ has long fascinated me.
Currently the signage displayed is a simple “K.B”. However, it wasn’t always “K.B” and originally the tower displayed “E.R” on its pediment (circled in the top picture). Sometime after 1929, however, it was changed to “K.B” (Kent Brewery).
The original pub was almost doubled in size in 1910 when the then owners, Resch’s Brewery, built the large squat tower, lounge bar and additional upstairs bedrooms to its southern side.
Here’s the thing. I always believed the original “E.R’ on the tower was an abbreviation or initial of ‘Edwardus Rex’, Latin for “King Edward”. The word Edwardus means Edward, and rex means king.
Interestingly, before the extensions were completed, the King of England (and Australia), Edward VII, died on May 6, 1910, at which point his son, George V, ascended to the throne. So my belief was that the “E.R” was simply out-of-date when Bulli’s new pub extensions were completed!
However, a recent post on the Reschs Appreciation Society’s Facebook Page suggests the “E.R” on Bulli pub was to honour Reschs Brewery founder, Edmund Resch. Now after reading that, I realised I may have missed a simple historical detail.
Struth! I knew Resch’s Brewery owned the pub, and built the squat tower and extension during 1909/10, but not for one minute did I believe the initials could have paid tribute to the famous brewer.
The theory now opens up two scenarios: Was the “E.R” meant to honour King Edward – as in ‘Edwardus Rex’ – or was it simply a tribute to the great brewer himself – Edmund Resch?
I know what theory I would like to believe.
Seven years after the Bulli pub’s squat tower and extensions were completed, Edmund Resch was interned. Born in Hörde, Westphalia, Germany (now part of Dortmund) on June 9, 1847,he was arrested during the Great War as an “enemy alien”!
The great brewer arrived in Australia in 1863 at around the age of 16.
Upon arrival, Resch initially worked on the Victorian goldfields before moving to NSW in 1871 to pursue copper mining and prospecting. He eventually transitioned into hotelkeeping in Queensland and brewing in Wilcannia before building his brewery empire in Sydney.
Despite having lived in Australia for decades, becoming a naturalised British subject, and actively supporting the Australian war effort financially (such as donating thousands of pounds and making up the army pay difference for his enlistee employees), anti-German sentiment and strict laws like the War Precautions Act 1914 caught up with him.
In November 1917, at the age of 70, he was arrested and taken into custody. He was sent to Holsworthy Internment Camp in NSW.
Due to his advanced age and failing health, he was hospitalised and subsequently released on parole in March 1918. He served out the remainder of the war under “home internment” at his mansion, Swifts, in Darling Point, Sydney.
Edmund Resch died on May 22, 1923, at his Darling Point home at the age of 75. He was buried in the Anglican section of Waverley Cemetery in Bronte, Sydney.
After Edmund Resch died in May 1923, management of his brewery was taken over by his sons, Edmund Resch Jr. and Arnold Resch.
Tooth & Co. acquired the assets of Reschs Limited in July 1929 (including the Bulli hotel) for around £2,500,000, issuing Tooth & Co. shares to the Resch family.
Following the acquisition, Reschs Limited was placed into voluntary liquidation, though Tooth & Co. continued brewing and distributing beers under the popular Reschs brand name (such as Reschs Dinner Ale and Reschs Pilsener).
Now, getting back to Bulli pub’s “E.R”. I’m unsure of the exact year the “E.R” was changed to “K.B”, but it was likely in 1938 after Tooth & Company aquired Resch’s in 1929. A Tooth and Company photograph of the Bulli pub about 1934 shows the “E.R” on the tower, while five years later, a 1939 photograph from the brewery’s collection, shows the “K.B” in place.
Major renovations, including a new roof, were made to the hotel by Tooth and Company in 1938, and this was likely when the “E.R” was changed to “K.B”.
Intrestingly, today (2026) the Heritage Hotel at Bulli continues to pour Resch’s Draught from its taps. Next time you visit the pub, be sure to order a Resch’s and raise a glass to the great brewer and one-time Bulli pub owner.
© Copyright Mick Roberts 2026
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Categories: Australian Hotels, Breweries, Illawarra Hotels, NSW hotels
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