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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Hannans’ Brewery, Kalgoorlie
The well-known Hannans’ Brewery has always had a reputation for producing a brew of undoubted quality, and ample evidence of the appreciation of the public is afforded in the amount of beer which is consumed daily. A visit to the… Read More ›
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Taffy’s Corner at ‘The Rex’: Regular drinker honoured with a plaque
The Ainslie Rex Hotel has honoured one of its consistent and oldest drinkers – a 69-year-old Welshman. He is Taffy Shepherd, pictured, of Ainslie. Taffy sits in one cor-ner of the hotel every day for about six hours, and the… Read More ›
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Oatley Hotel begins with a blast
BLASTING WITHOUT PERMISSION. Frank J. Dwyer was fined £2 and 8/- costs for blasting at Oatley without at first having obtained permission. Sergeant Francis stated that defendant was blasting rock to make a cellar for a new hotel. Tiles and… Read More ›
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Royal George, Fortitude Valley
HISTORIC ROYAL GEORGE HOTEL IN THE VALLEY SOLD AT A RECORD PRICE The Royal George Hotel, which stands at the busy intersection of Ann and Brunswick Streets, Valley, has been sold for what is described by its former owner, Mr…. Read More ›
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Queensland goldfield pubs: Moonmera & Baree’s Golden Spur Hotels
Old Land Mark Disappears: The Moonmera Hotel (By Our Mt Morgan Correspondent) THE passing of the Moonmera Hotel, situated at the foot of the Razor-back, due to the surrendering of the license and the sale of the buildings, will remove… Read More ›
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Treasure trove found under bar-room floor of Rockhampton’s Palace Hotel
WHEN Rockhampton’s old dilapidated timber pub, ironically known as the Palace, was replaced in 1888 with a building better befitting its sign, there were 60 hotels within five miles, and another 25 within a half a mile radius of where… Read More ›
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Publican almost loses the lot in 1925 Warrandyte Hotel blaze
Warrandyte Hotel Burnt Out The Warrandyte Hotel, an old landmark 17 miles from Melbourne, was totally destroyed by fire in the early hours of Monday. The hotel was established about 70 years ago by the late Mr James MCutcheon, and… Read More ›
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Gruesome, grim coincidence: Dredged from the Yarra after visiting ‘a number’ of pubs
WILLIAM Morrow was employed by the Melbourne Harbour Trust as caretaker of the Dredge Latrobe. The 56-year-old single man lived on board the dredge. One evening in June 1910 he went up into Yarraville to buy some groceries, bought them,… Read More ›
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Evolution of a Brisbane pub: The Shamrock Hotel, Fortitude Valley
Netherworld in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley was formerly the Shamrock Hotel and later the Step Inn, having undergone several name changes before becoming the arcade, bar, and diner venue that opened in its current form in January 2017. The quirky venue has… Read More ›
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St Leonards Inn: A South Australian pub hosted by a family for almost a century
AFTER an unbroken record of close to 90 years the licence of the St Leonards Inn, in the South Australian bayside town of Glenelg, finally left the McDonald family on September 11 1933. The pub had been handed down among… Read More ›