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).
-
Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood
Explosion in Door of Hotel An explosion, which shook the building, blasted the lock from the front door of the Gasometer Hotel, Smith-street, Collingwood (Victoria), early on Saturday. An unexploded stick of gelignite was found beside the door, but police… Read More ›
-
His daily drink
The Commercial Hotel, Picton SYDNEY, February 22. John Procter, licencee of the Commercial Hotel, Picton died suddenly last night, and at the inquest to-day a verdict that death was due to heart failure accelerated by alcohol was returned. From the… Read More ›
-
Wagon Wheel Hotel, St Marys
RIOT OVER BEER SYDNEY. December 21.— Windows were smashed and beer glasses hurled when 300 workers demonstrated outside the Park View Hotel, St. Mary’s, 35 miles from Sydney, early to-night. The demonstration was a protest at the hotel’s policy on Christmas bottle beer issue!… Read More ›
-
Marble Bar makes comeback
SYDNEY’S well loved and well remembered Marble Bar, of the old Adams Hotel, is to reappear early next year. The entire 45ft. square of Victorian opulence, mecca of sentimental drinkers for 75 years, and dismantled two years ago, is now… Read More ›
-
Pugnacious publican
The New Sydney Hotel, Bathurst Street Hobart, Tasmania. Photo: Google Streetview Richard Morrison, a cabman, obtained a verdict of £5 against George Eaves, licenee of the New Sydney Hotel, Bathurst street, Hobart in the Supreme Court today. The evidence Fix… Read More ›
-
Hec calls the tune
In this age of TV and large scale entertainment, there’s one hotel in Ballarat (Victoria) which has solved the problem of entertaining customers with a one-man show. It’s the Athletic Club Hotel, where barman Hec Stephens (pictured) plays a toy… Read More ›
-
Parrot frozen to water bowl
Joy the parrot at the Bridge Hotel, Yackandandah, Victoria, went to sleep with his long tail dipping in his water bowl. Although the cage was placed in a closed shed for the night, the water froze, and in the morning… Read More ›
-
Parkview Hotel, Alexandria
From bloodhouse to gentrified watering hole By MICK ROBERTS © REVIEW: Who would have thought that Alexandria’s Parkview Hotel was once one of Sydney’s toughest pubs, the haunt of hard drinking men, frequented by members of the notorious razor gangs that… Read More ›
-
Commercial’s plucky barmaid
PLUCKY BARMAID When Jack Quigley, a former noted jockey, and now licensee of the Commercial Hotel, Bathurst, was attacked by a man with great ferocity, a barmaid, Mary McNamara, picked up a mallet, used to open barrels of beer, and… Read More ›
-
Kopke the albino talking crow
“Six o’clock ! Get out !” No longer will that familiar squawk be lheard at a hotel near the Haymarket, for Kopke, the famous white crow, died yesterday. Five years ago Kopke was presented to Mr. Norman Barrie, licensee of… Read More ›