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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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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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 ›
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Carcoar’s Stoke Hotel
One of the oldest and most , historic hostelries in the western districts the “Stoke Hotel,” at Carcoar, which is nearly 90 years old, has ceased to exist as an hotel. It has been purchased by Messrs. Hugh Heavener and Co., from the estate of the… Read More ›
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Pub resorts to sawn-off bottles, jars and enamel mugs during war time beer glass shortages
AUSTERITY BEER MUGS BEER AT Hides Hotel, Cairns, is served in sawn-off beer bottles, coffee jars, enamel mugs, and honey jars. The manager says all the hotel’s drinking glasses have been “souvenired.” Prices for drinks range from 9d to 3/6,… Read More ›
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Oberon’s notoriously ‘flimsy’ Brighton Hotel
By MICK ROBERTS © IN its final days, the Brighton Hotel, in the NSW Central Tablelands’ town of Oberon, wasn’t the place for the faint-hearted. Remembered as a ‘blood house’, due to the frequent fights in its bar, many unsuccessful… Read More ›
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The McLeods and Dungog’s Royal Hotel
The McLeod family ran the Royal Hotel at Dungog in the Hunter Region of NSW for 15 years. Tom McLeod was granted the license of the pub in 1925, and his son, Arthur took the reins in 1931. The McLeods… Read More ›
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