A FEW hours after he broke into the cellar of the Grose Farm Hotel, Joseph Byrnes was found asleep in the bar after polishing of a bottle of whiskey and two bottles of wine. Byrnes, who was almost totally deaf… Read More ›
NSW hotels
Old Billy Fitzpatrick called the Harp Hotel his local for 65 years
By MICK ROBERTS © THE Harp Hotel was old Billy Fitzpatrick’s second home. The retired baker had been a ‘regular’ at the pub, in the Illawarra region of NSW, for 64 years when he was photographed enjoying a noggin of… Read More ›
Regents Park Hotel: The Publican verse the Salvationist
By MICK ROBERTS © One of the more notorious incidents in almost a century of trading at the Regents Park Hotel in Sydney’s west was when the publican booted out a Salvation Army officer, who was collecting donations and selling… Read More ›
Tragic death of the founder of Prospect’s Royal Cricketers’ Arms
FORMER publican, Jim Manning had been missing for over 24 hours when his son discovered his blood saturated body in bushland in Sydney’s west in 1927. Jim’s death at the age of 73 was a tragic end to the life… Read More ›
Venues warned of Covid crackdown throughout NSW
Liquor & Gaming compliance officers will be out across NSW to check if venues are COVID safe and that those participating in the NSW Government’s Dine & Discover program are complying with its rules. Liquor & Gaming Director of Compliance… Read More ›
Bondi cab driver’s brilliant method of lubricating his Sunday social club
WE’RE an inventive lot, us Australians. When obstacles are put in our way – especially when it comes to enjoying a beer with mates – we can become quite imaginative. In fact, in Bondi cab-driver, Cec Hayne’s case, resourcefully clever…. Read More ›
Bungendore’s two Royal Hotels
The Royal Hotel in Bungendore opened for business in 1883. However, it wasn’t the first Royal in the township. About 20 minutes drive from Queanbeyan in NSW, the ‘new Royal’ took over from a 16 room coaching inn that has… Read More ›
A Pelican Spree in The Big Scrub
By Jimmie Pannikin* When Gang No. 7½ of cane-cutters cut-out last season, it was found that they had made the record cheque; and to show their joy and pride, they decided to go on the razzle right away in Fourpubbs*,… Read More ›
Cornish builder responsible for Sydney’s Centennial Hall and St Mary’s Cathedral, also constructed and hosted Woolloomooloo’s Merryfield Hotel
LARGELY unheralded for his many notable building projects, Cornish builder, Richard Merrifield Nancarrow was responsible for an imposing pub that traded at Woolloomooloo, in Sydney’s east, for almost a century. The Merryfield Hotel, which sadly called last drinks in 1972… Read More ›