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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Policeman shot dead in bar of Perth’s Brisbane Hotel
NOW a popular pub in the Perth inner city suburb of Highgate, the Brisbane Hotel has traded for over 120 years. The pub, located at the corner of Brisbane and Beaufort Streets, was established in 1898. In recent years, the… Read More ›
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A loophole allowed Attunga pub to have a 17-year-old licensee in 1939
THE Attunga pub, in the New England region of NSW, can lay claim to probably the youngest licensee in the state, if not Australia. The publican was so young in fact that he was unable to drink in his own… Read More ›
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Tattersalls Hotel: The evolution of Armidale’s art-deco masterpiece
ELLEN Maccoy had the license of the House of All Nations at Rocky River transferred to Armidale (NSW) on April 27, 1858, opening the Wellington Inn on Beardy Street – the current site of the Tattersalls Hotel. The license has… Read More ›
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Armidale’s International: Once popular with thirsty railwaymen, stock salesmen and drovers
SADLY now confined to the pages of history, the International Hotel was located in Niagara-street, Armidale, NSW. During the 1920s the freehold of the pub was owned by William Joseph Doyle. Arthur William Chapman was licensee when the hotel was… Read More ›
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Melbourne chef brings fine dining to Sydney pub
WHILE many believe that the added attraction of fashionable eateries into Australian pubs is a new phenomenon, here’s a little “advertorial” from Sydney newspaper, Australian Star on August 8 1903, that would suggest otherwise. Here’s a picture which partly shows… Read More ›
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Perth publican ‘Old Penn’ was a colourful character
By MICK ROBERTS © A LARGER than life character, Jabez Penn made quite an impression during his 20 year career as a Perth hotelier. The son of an English conservative politician, Jabez Penn hosted two pubs and a wine saloon… Read More ›
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Police operation will focus on compliance as pubs reopen across NSW today
A MONTH-LONG high visibility police operations is underway focusing on social distancing and Public Health Order compliance in licensed premises, as pubs reopen across NSW today (Monday June 1). NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that hotels across the state will… Read More ›
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Royal Hotel, Brisbane
AIRY, SPACIOUS BARS AND LOUNGES Royal Hotel Has New Features ENTIRELY remodelled from roof to cellar, and the very latest ideas in hotel construction incorporated, the old Royal Hotel, for many years a landmark in Queen-street, is now one of… Read More ›
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Cloudy the pony enjoyed a beer at the bar
CLOUDY was a pony that made the news with his beer drinking antics in 1953. The 88cm (35 inch) pony, reported the World’s News on March 23, had raised around £800 by appearing at fairs, fetes and parades. Besides his… Read More ›
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