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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Sydney’s blind publican, John Wall had no problem tapping his own kegs
By MICK ROBERTS © WHEN returned serviceman John William Wall applied to become a publican, the Licensing Magistrate had some misgivings, doubting his ability to manage a hotel. Wall, 42, was legally blind, and the magistrate was unsure the AIF… Read More ›
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Sister Pubs, A history of the Bellambi Hotel, Bellambi & Heritage Hotel, Bulli
TO help celebrate the 130th anniversaries of the Heritage Hotel, Bulli and the Bellambi Hotel, Bellambi, ‘Time Gents’ presents the history book, ‘Sister Pubs’, featuring stories of their colourful characters, a list of all the publicans, amusing yarns, and plenty… Read More ›
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Walbundrie publican’s tragic ‘last shot’
By MICK ROBERTS © JIMMY and Ada Mitchell’s is a tale of what could have been. A tragic story of a newly married couple’s life journey, cut short. Jimmy survived the battle fields of World War One, only to be… Read More ›
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Publican feared his hotel would be torched if he offered beds to ‘scab’ labourers during great shearers strike
By MICK ROBERTS © A QUEENSLAND publican who refused accommodation to ‘scab’ labourers, out of fear that his pub would be burnt to the ground, during the height of the great shearers’ strike, was shown no mercy by a magistrate…. Read More ›
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Fremantle’s Cleopatra Hotel: Began trading as a seafarer’s inn
By MICK ROBERTS © CURRENTLY used as student accommodation, the former Cleopatra Hotel in the port city of Fremantle has a history stretching back almost to Western Australia’s foundations. The pub was founded in 1836, when Elizabeth Pace, the wife… Read More ›
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Road Trip: Far North Queensland 6
Australia’s largest timber pub, The Malanda Hotel. Picture: Mick Roberts Collection Exploring the pubs of the Atherton Tablelands © By MICK ROBERTS THE last leg of our Far North Queensland road trip brought us to the historic pubs of the… Read More ›
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Melbourne hotelier, Jimmy Richardson
By MICK ROBERTS © A CANNY Scotsman with a reputation for being careful with his money, Jimmy Richardson, was one of Australia’s most successful hoteliers. Jimmy built an empire of Melbourne hotels, before selling them all – with the exception… Read More ›
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Dind’s Hotel, Milson’s Point
Theatrics, drama and drinking at colonial inn By MICK ROBERTS © AMID the clanging of pewter mugs, narrating of bawdy poetry, raucous sing-a-longs, and of course, the ale induced bellowing of theatrical recitals, stood Sydney innkeeper, William ‘Bill’ Dind. Dind… Read More ›
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Road Trip: Far North Queensland, Part 5
The pubs of the Atherton Tablelands By MICK ROBERTS © OVER two and a half hours south of Cooktown, we reach the next destination on our Far North Queensland road trip – the village of Mount Molloy and the National… Read More ›
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Royal Hotel way out front as NSW’s top pub name
Is your local pub a Royal? If so, you’re in good company. New data from Liquor & Gaming NSW shows Royal is by far the most popular hotel name in NSW. With 88 Royal Hotels across the state, it’s more… Read More ›