Author Archives
A journalist, writer and historian, Mick Roberts specialises in Australian cultural history, particularly associated with Australian pubs. Mick has had an interest in revealing the colourful story of Australian hotels or pubs and associated industries for over 35 years. Besides writing a number of history books, Mick has managed several community newspapers. Editorially, he has managed 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 reported for Rural Press, Cumberland (News Limited), City Hub Sydney (City News), and Torch Publications (based in Canterbury Bankstown, Sydney).
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Study finds despite Covid-19 pub restrictions, Aussies did not “get on the beer” at home during lockdowns
NEW research has revealed Australians did not “get on the beers” at home during the nation’s COVID-19 lockdowns despite the closure of licensed venues. On-premises alcohol consumption was prohibited in Australia in March following the closure of pubs, clubs, restaurants,… Read More ›
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Mayor redeveloped Ballina theatre into the Australian Hotel
By MICK ROBERTS © THE tamed applause from opera at a Ballina theatre, was replaced with the raucous shouting, laughter, and bawdy tunes of a pub in 1895. Where Gilbert and Sullivan’s lolanthe had entertained from the stage, beer suddenly… Read More ›
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How a thatched tavern in Adelaide’s south-west doubled as a church: The Brighton Metro Hotel
By MICK ROBERTS © A RESOURCEFUL woman, who outlived two publican husbands, Margaret Leahy made a few ‘firsts’ during her life as a South Australian hotelier. At the helm of one of the state’s oldest trading pubs, she was one of… Read More ›
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Condobolin’s Royal Hotel has been serving up cold beers since 1886
THE magnificent art-deco Royal Hotel at Condobolin was nearly lost earlier in the year when it was closed for business. David Price, who has been licensee of the Royal since mid 2018, had different ideas though. He had been managing… Read More ›
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Road Trip: Millaa Millaa and beyond
OUR road trip to north Queensland in September 2020 provided us with the opportunity of visiting the small rural townships of Millaa Millaa, Ravenshoe and Mount Garnet. While we’ve visited the Atherton Tablelands in the past, this time we had… Read More ›
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Two resilient landladies, two remarkable women: Tattersall’s Hotel, Barringun
By MICK ROBERTS © ONCE a landmark on the lonely road from Bourke to Queensland, flames and controversy abruptly ended over 130 years of history at Barringun’s Tattersall’s Hotel. The original historic timber inn was tragically reduced to ashes on… Read More ›
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How the Hidden Treasure Hotel got its name: A history of a Newcastle pub
By MICK ROBERTS © BY the 1870s most Australian pubs were going by unimaginative names like the Royal or the Commercial. However, there was one Newcastle pub, which opened in 1877, that bucked the trend, and was given the tantalising… Read More ›
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Queen’s Hotel, Mossman
A COUNTRY HOTEL M.A. Tyrell’s Hotel at the Mossman, Port Douglas. (Photo by H. C. P. Crees.) One of the rising localities of North Queensland is the Mossman River in the locality of Port Douglas. Here the rich river flats… Read More ›
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Carlton’s United States Hotel publican charged with murder after shooting dead an intruder
By MICK ROBERTS © THE publican of the United States Hotel, in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Carlton, had experienced four raids by thieves within nine months before shooting an intruder in May 1925. Publican John Maxwell O’Shea shot dead John… Read More ›
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Frightening tales from two wayside inns
The Midnight Prowler IT was dark when Burnett, and I pulled up at Sunder’s pub and asked the distance to Muralla. We had just finished a droving contract and were bound for that one-horse township to see if we could… Read More ›