Author Archives
A newspaper journalist, writer and local historian, Mick Roberts specialises in Australian cultural history, particularly associated with the Australian hotel and liquor industry. Mick has had an interest in revealing the colourful story of pubs, inns and associated industries in the Sydney and Illawarra regions of NSW for over 30 years. He is currently working on a comprehensive history of the hotel and liquor industry in the Illawarra region of NSW. Besides authoring a number of history books, Mick has owned and operated several community newspapers. He was one time editor of the Wollongong Northern News, The Bulli Times, The Northern Times, The Northern Leader and The Local - all located in the Wollongong region. As a journalist he has worked for Rural Press, Cumberland (News Limted), Sydney based, City News, and is now with Torch Publications.
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Tragic death of the founder of Prospect’s Royal Cricketers’ Arms
FORMER publican, Jim Manning had been missing for over 24 hours when his son discovered his blood saturated body in bushland in Sydney’s west in 1927. Jim’s death at the age of 73 was a tragic end to the life… Read More ›
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Venues warned of Covid crackdown throughout NSW
Liquor & Gaming compliance officers will be out across NSW to check if venues are COVID safe and that those participating in the NSW Government’s Dine & Discover program are complying with its rules. Liquor & Gaming Director of Compliance… Read More ›
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Bondi cab driver’s brilliant method of lubricating his Sunday social club
WE’RE an inventive lot, us Australians. When obstacles are put in our way – especially when it comes to enjoying a beer with mates – we can become quite imaginative. In fact, in Bondi cab-driver, Cec Hayne’s case, resourcefully clever…. Read More ›
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Bungendore’s two Royal Hotels
The Royal Hotel in Bungendore opened for business in 1883. However, it wasn’t the first Royal in the township. About 20 minutes drive from Queanbeyan in NSW, the ‘new Royal’ took over from a 16 room coaching inn that has… Read More ›
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Publican to the miners: ‘Bold Mac’, of the Murchison goldfields
John McManaway was a famed Western Australian publican, who hosted three pubs to the heavy drinking miners of the Murchison goldfields. Known far and wide as ‘Bold McManaway’, or simply ‘Mac’, the Irishman was said to have feared nothing, was always up-for-a-fight –… Read More ›
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A Pelican Spree in The Big Scrub
By Jimmie Pannikin* When Gang No. 7½ of cane-cutters cut-out last season, it was found that they had made the record cheque; and to show their joy and pride, they decided to go on the razzle right away in Fourpubbs*,… Read More ›
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Cornish builder responsible for Sydney’s Centennial Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral, also constructed and hosted Woolloomooloo’s Merryfield Hotel
LARGELY unheralded for his many notable building projects, Cornish builder, Richard Merrifield Nancarrow was responsible for an imposing pub that traded at Woolloomooloo, in Sydney’s east, for almost a century. The Merryfield Hotel, which sadly called last drinks in 1972… Read More ›
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Paddy Larkin’s pub at Sydney Central Station
FACING Sydney’s George Street, stark and unwelcoming concrete stairs, replace where the Prince of Wales Hotel at Haymarket once traded for over 115 years. Demolished in 1970, the Prince of Wales Hotel sat between Rawson Place and Barlow Street, opposite… Read More ›
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Feature pub: Agincourt Hotel, Broadway Sydney
THE Hotel Agincourt opened in Sydney in 1897 replacing an earlier hotel by the name of the Turon on the same site. The hotel was named in honour of the ‘Battle of Agincourt’, an English victory in the Hundred Years’ War. It took place on 25… Read More ›