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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Coolgardie Brewery 1895-1906: The best selling beer on the goldfields
The Coolgardie Brewery was set up by a syndicate in 1895, and John Cocks was appointed brewer and manager. According to the late Keith Deutsher in his the book, The Breweries of Australia, A History, the brewery was a small… Read More ›
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Albion Brewery, Wagga Wagga
The Albion Brewery in Baylis Street Wagga Wagga, NSW was established by William Davoren and Hugh McDonald in 1889. According to the late Keith M. Deutsher, in his book ‘Breweries of Australia, A History’, the pair had two competitor breweries… Read More ›
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On the water wagon
Brewery Advertising Rejected Newcastle Council has a new water wagon. A brewery firm is also anxious to go on the wagon. At the council meeting last night a letter was received containing congratulations on the up-to-date motor water wagon,… Read More ›
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Hotel Cuicairn, Culcairn
The Hotel Cuicairn : Fine Example of a Country Hotel. Fourteen years ago Mr. F. W. Seholz took over the old hotel — a small, one-storeyed building on the present site — on a five years’ lease, and then bought… Read More ›
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Sydney’s Royal Hotel: Teenage lift operator stabbed guest eight times
The tragic tale of the murder of a publican’s wife By MICK ROBERTS © TWO years after the Royal Hotel in Sydney’s George Street closed for business in 1914, a young man who had committed a horrific murder from within… Read More ›
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Royal Hotel, Lismore
LIKE OLD TIMES.-At about midday on Thursday, a young man drove up to the front of the Royal Hotel, in Molesworth-street, Lismore, got out of the sulky, took the horse out and tied him up to the post, and politely left them… Read More ›
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Innamincka’s heritage listed ‘dead marines’
By MICK ROBERTS © NOT many countries can claim to have a ‘pub dump’ – made-up of rum, whisky, gin, brandy and beer bottles – with a government heritage listing. Australia can. At Innamincka, a small settlement 821km north-east of… Read More ›
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A favourite with the marines: Sydney barmaid becomes internationally famous
DRINKERS at the Australia Hotel bar are all “boys” to Elfreda Hall, 33-year old barmaid who this week became internationally known. The reason was that 16 US Marine Corps officers (all “ordinary fellas”) in Virginia, who drank at Freda’s bar… Read More ›
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Missing sign mystery: Hotel Victor, Victor Harbour
The missing sign mystery WHAT ever happened to the large Hotel Victor sign that was sold for just $5 at auction in February 1990? Christina Nixon of Allenby Gardens bought the sign off the pub at Victor Harbour, South Australia,… Read More ›
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Grand accommodation for seven shillings a night along the Pittsworth Road
The Brisbane Telegraph published this fantastic photograph taken in the Darling Downs, of South West Queensland on November 30 1933 with the statement: “We wonder whether the traveller who camped under this well known hotel sign on the Pittsworth Road… Read More ›