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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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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Attunga pub’s 17-year-old publican, who couldn’t drink in his own bar
A PUB in the New England region of NSW can arguably lay claim to having Australia’s youngest licensee. In fact, the publican was so young he was unable to drink in his own bar! During the 1930s a loophole in… 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 Hotel was once popular with thirsty railwaymen, stock salesmen and drovers
WHEN the International Hotel closed for business in 1928 there were 14 pubs trading in Armidale, on the NSW Northern Tablelands – a town with a population of between 6,000 and 7,000! Sadly now consigned to the pages of history,… 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: A history of the Woodbridge Hotel
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, Queen Street, Brisbane: 1862-1970
BRISBANE’S Royal Hotel was a popular haunt of journalists from the nearby Telegraph newspaper offices. The pub sat almost opposite the Brisbane General Post Office in Queen Street and was established in 1862. At the time of its construction, the… 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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Carlton & United Breweries rolling out 2,000 barrels of free beer to help pubs through pandemic
Carlton & United Breweries is rolling out 2,000 barrels of free beer to help pubs and clubs survive the coronavirus crisis. Having already raised more than $1 million in cash for struggling pubs and clubs through the For the Love… Read More ›