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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The Balcony Disaster at Quirindi.
DURING the presentation of awards after a major sporting carnival at Quirindi, a town in the north-west slopes region of NSW, it was a miracle no one was killed when a pub’s balcony collapsed. The collapsing of the balcony resulted… Read More ›
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After 67 years “at the bar” Auntie pulls her last beer
67 years “at the bar” kept her youthful. By CYNTHIA STRACHAN “THEY say I’m a gay old spark – and I suppose they’re not far wrong,” Mornington’s 80-year-old hotel proprietor, Miss Edith Ruth Clifton, said with a mischievous chuckle on the eve of he retirement after… Read More ›
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Memories of a long-gone Tasmanian inn: The Half Way House, Antill Ponds
A PROMINENT feature and the social centre of Antill Ponds was its Half Way House, a two-storey hotel, which serviced travellers and locals residents with accommodation, meals and liquor. The inn traded for just over a century about halfway on… Read More ›
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Counter Attractions
By Tom Glover Too, too sumptuous counter-lunches are alleged to be ruining some publicans. The Political Barmaids :- “Darn the expense; come and eat, drink, and be merry – until after the Elections!” – The Newcastle Sun (NSW), Wednesday 25 August… Read More ›
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A tribute to the pub ‘boots’, yardmen and the odd jobs knock-about bloke
OFTEN A thankless job, involving mundane tasks, yardmen were – and still are in many bush and regional pubs – an indispensable cog in the works of a successfully operating hotel. Usually knock-about blokes employed to do odd-jobs around the… Read More ›
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Shearers take over pub
A PUBLICAN in shearing country once told me a beaut yarn. Before taking the license of a pub in the Riverina district of NSW, he was host of a pub in Wollongong. So he wasn’t accustomed to the drinking habits… Read More ›
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When Business is Slack
A strong-looking man walked into a public-house, and enquired if they wanted a ‘chucker-out’ for Saturday nights. Landlord (who has only served about 20 customers during the week): “No, my good man, we do not want a chucker out. What we -want is a chucker-in!”…. Read More ›
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He Saw Trouble Ahead
PUBLICAN: “There’s that chap Binks, mad drunk in my bar; come an’ ‘elp us to get him out and I’ll give y’ a bottle of whisky, Bill.” BILL: “Then who’s goin’ t’ get me out?” – Punch (Melbourne, Vic.) Thursday 1 October 1908.
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Publican painter
Although he will be 86 on March 17 Mr. Sagar Whittle is still able to make neat work of a painting job on the Duke of York Hotel, in the city, which he owns. Mr. Whittle said yesterday that he had painted the hotel each year for the past six… Read More ›
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More Bad News
A new clause has been inserted in the Licensing Bill providing for registration of barmaids, with a view to their being gradually eliminated. —News item. Alas! a dismal world is this! The Wowsers run the show; They’ve shut the pubs at… Read More ›