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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Blackall publican killed by bursting beer keg
Walter Leslie Rutherford, and his wife, Josephine, acquired the freehold and lease of the Prince of Wales Hotel at Blackall, south-east of Longreach, Queensland, in 1937. Wally, as he was known, was 48 when he was killed in the freak… Read More ›
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Kicked bung from keg
Two small boys on holidays In Whyalla last week, committed the unforgivable sin of knocking the bung from a barrel of beer at the rear of one of the hotels. The manager said later that he would not have minded if they had broken… Read More ›
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Santa-Claus and the beer
THE woman licensee of a Ballarat hotel raided at midnight, told police who found three bottles of beer in the lounge: “They don’t belong to me. Father Christmas must have dropped them through the roof.” Ownership of the beer was also denied by 14 other people… Read More ›
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Turkey kept head
Shepparton, Tuesday. Fred Banjo Price, 60, hotel useful, tried to lassoo a turkey in the yard of the Shepparton Hotel. He missed and fell. Price was admitted to Mooroopna Hospital with a broken thigh. The turkey is still roaming free. – The Argus (Melbourne) Wednesday 31… Read More ›
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Watch those pub cellars
Fatal Fall Down Cellar John Healy, aged about 50, a labourer by occupation, fell down the cellar of the Trades Union Hotel, Harbour-street:, city, this morning and broke his neck. It is said that he had an altercation with two women just prior to… Read More ›
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Explosion in hotel cellar
An unusual explosion took place in the Border City Hotel at Albury, when a cask of beer in the cellar exploded, sending the flooring into the bar. A wooden mallet, which was lying on top of the casks was driven through the… Read More ›
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The Popular Pub: When the Wowser Breasts the Bar.
THE Legislative Assembly has decided to permit publicans to sell non-intoxicating drinks after 9.30pm. It is expected that local publicans will follow the example of Glasgow by converting their hotels into social tea and refreshment rooms during prohibited hours. – Truth (Melbourne, Victoria edition), Saturday 2 October 1915,… Read More ›
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The Sydney Inn of Long Ago: When Quaint Signs Creaked Over the Doorways
“Whoe’er has travelled life’s dull round, ‘Where’er his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome at an Inn.” SHORTLY after white settlement, Sydney had an assortment of public houses with quaint names… Read More ›
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Beware the grog at the Black Dog
By MICK ROBERTS © BEWARE the grog at the Black Dog, they warned. And for good reason! A short, but steep walk up Brown Bear Lane from George Street at The Rocks during the first half of the 19th century, would… Read More ›
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The Hero of The Rocks
By LESLIE F. HANNON TURN down any of the jigsaw streets on the northernside of Wynyard Square, run down the rock-hewn steps, slip through the twisting lanes behind the bondstores, and you are standing in chapter one of Australia’s history. The stout chipped stone blocks of the hotels, shops, warehouses, and residential that crowd the foot paths can tell… Read More ›