Author Archives
A journalist, writer and 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 Australian pubs and associated industries for over 30 years. He is working on a comprehensive history of the hotel and liquor industry in the Illawarra region of NSW. Besides writing a number of history books, Mick managed several community newspapers. He has been 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 Limited), the Sydney city newspaper, City News, and Torch Publications based in Canterbury Bankstown, NSW.
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Double jabbed beer drinkers rewarded with a free glass by Lion
A NATIONAL initiative to reward double-jabbed Australians with a free glass of beer when pub doors safely reopen has been announced by Furphy and parent-company Lion. As a way to boost jabs in arms throughout the country and in line… Read More ›
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Customers at the Queensland Hotel, Coolangatta queued when beer was in short supply
RETIRED journalist and one time publican, Philip Derriman, now living with his wife in Oberon, on the NSW Central Tablelands, has put together this interesting story for Time Gents about his father, Bernard Derriman. My father, Bernard Derriman (1902-77), widely… Read More ›
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Tragic death of the founder of Prospect’s Royal Cricketers’ Arms
FORMER publican, Jim Manning had been missing for over 24 hours when his son discovered his blood saturated body in bushland in Sydney’s west in 1927. Jim’s death at the age of 73 was a tragic end to the life… Read More ›
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Venues warned of Covid crackdown throughout NSW
Liquor & Gaming compliance officers will be out across NSW to check if venues are COVID safe and that those participating in the NSW Government’s Dine & Discover program are complying with its rules. Liquor & Gaming Director of Compliance… Read More ›
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Bondi cab driver’s brilliant method of lubricating his Sunday social club
WE’RE an inventive lot, us Australians. When obstacles are put in our way – especially when it comes to enjoying a beer with mates – we can become quite imaginative. In fact, in Bondi cab-driver, Cec Hayne’s case, resourcefully clever…. Read More ›
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Bungendore’s two Royal Hotels
The Royal Hotel in Bungendore opened for business in 1883. However, it wasn’t the first Royal in the township. About 20 minutes drive from Queanbeyan in NSW, the ‘new Royal’ took over from a 16 room coaching inn that has… Read More ›
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Publican to the miners: ‘Bold Mac’, of the Murchison goldfields
John McManaway was a famed Western Australian publican, who hosted three pubs to the heavy drinking miners of the Murchison goldfields. Known far and wide as ‘Bold McManaway’, or simply ‘Mac’, the Irishman was said to have feared nothing, was always up-for-a-fight –… Read More ›
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A Pelican Spree in The Big Scrub
By Jimmie Pannikin* When Gang No. 7½ of cane-cutters cut-out last season, it was found that they had made the record cheque; and to show their joy and pride, they decided to go on the razzle right away in Fourpubbs*,… Read More ›
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Cornish builder responsible for Sydney’s Centennial Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral, also constructed and hosted Woolloomooloo’s Merryfield Hotel
LARGELY unheralded for his many notable building projects, Cornish builder, Richard Merrifield Nancarrow was responsible for an imposing pub that traded at Woolloomooloo, in Sydney’s east, for almost a century. The Merryfield Hotel, which sadly called last drinks in 1972… Read More ›