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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Assembly Hotel, Sydney: Proud beauty scorns the demon rum
YOU can see Sydney’s only religious cockatoo any time in the saloon bar of the Assembly Hotel, Phillip-street. The cockatoo, called Smith, lives there, but he — Refuses alcohol of any kind, and cannot be tricked. He is shown turning… Read More ›
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David Fitch, publican, mayor and sportsman: The Court House Hotel, Narromine
For many years, during the early part of the 20th century, the Court House Hotel at Narromine, a town located about 40 kilometres west of Dubbo in the central west of New South Wales, was known simply as ‘Fitch’s’. The… Read More ›
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The pub named after a lone gum on a clay pan: The One Tree Hotel
Located between Hay and Booligal on Cobb Highway in NSW is the famous and historic One Tree Hotel. The hotel was built in 1862 by Alexander Finch. Originally known as Finch Inn, it was renamed the One Tree Hotel later… Read More ›
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Pubs also defied government health orders during 1919 Spanish influenza pandemic
THE 2020/21 Covid-19 pandemic is not the first time an infectious disease has forced the closure of Australian pubs. Between January and September 1919, pneumonic influenza, commonly known as the ‘Spanish Flu’, killed 6,387 people in NSW, infecting as many… Read More ›
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Road trip: Rydal Pub host tells the ‘chilling’ tale of his shortened bar
Coming soon: Time Gents’ next road trip takes us to the Lithgow region of NSW, where we visit three beaut bush pubs – The O’Connell Hotel, O’Connell, Tarana Hotel, Tarana, and the Alexander Hotel, Rydal. We chat with two of… Read More ›
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Zandra the pub nude made Chloe look like ‘an elderly spinster in a red flannel negligee’
EVERYONE knows Chloe the famous ‘goil – in – oils’ at Young and Jackson’s Melbourne bar. Now in Perth (a short priced city in any pulchritude contest) she’s got a rival. And I mean rival. She’s Zandra, a finely-executed nude… Read More ›
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And then there was one… The last delivery horse at SA Brewery
‘WHISKY’, a grey, is, the only horse left at the SA Brewing Company, after horses have pulled the company’s beer delivery wagons in Adelaide for more than 60 years. They have been replaced by motor trucks. The last pair of… Read More ›
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A minor hold-up in Albury’s liquor trade!
There was a tempting sight for the thirsty when, reported the Border Morning Mail on August 6 1938, a Carlton Brewery lorry was bogged for several hours while delivering beer in Dean Street, Albury.
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The flash bars of Melbourne’s Royal Mail Hotel
The Royal Mail, Bourke and Swanston Streets, Melbourne CHARLES LEECH, Proprietor. THIS famous hotel is a notable landmark of Melbourne, and is one of the most popular houses of call in the city. Under the energetic guidance of the present… Read More ›
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Bert the navvy could out-swear a bullocky
NAVVY WHO OUTSWORE BULLOCKIES CLEARED HOTEL IN FIVE MINUTES CONST. AMAZED NEWCASTLE. Monday. HERBERT GAMBLE, laborer, walked into the public bar of the Great Northern Hotel on Saturday afternoon. Within five minutes it was empty. In the words of Constable… Read More ›