BUILT by convict labour about 1815, the large sandstone coaching inn known as the Sans Souci Hotel in southern Sydney met its demise after more than a century of trade in 1921. The hotel was located just west of the… Read More ›
NSW hotels
Redfern’s Abercrombie Hotel, Sydney’s beer shortages and Richmond beer
By MICK ROBERTS © DURING World War II limits were placed on beer production in Australia, requiring breweries to reduce their output by two-thirds. Rationing of beer came into force in March 1943, and by January 1943, newspapers were reporting… Read More ›
Originally a general store built in the 1840s, Maitland’s former Royal Hotel was licensed to sell liquor in 1872
THE old Royal Hotel at West Maitland was established in 1872. However, the former pub is much older, built in the 1840s as Dickson’s general store. First licensed in 1872 by Henry Hook, and known as Hook’s Family Hotel, it… Read More ›
Road trip: Pubs of NSW Central Tablelands
By MICK ROBERTS © THERE were lessons to be learnt from our road trip to the central tablelands of NSW. And what was one of those lessons? Bush pubs are as diverse as the publicans behind their bars. Our road… Read More ›
George Adams’ Tattersall’s Hotel & his magnificent marble bar
By MICK ROBERTS © FROM a humble innkeeper on the NSW South Coast with a keen interest in horse racing, to one of Australia’s wealthiest businessmen, the story of George Adams centres firmly on Sydney’s Tattersalls Hotel. Having a punt… Read More ›
The ‘sign-board’ banter between Chippendale’s Broadway Hotel and Barnabas Church
The priest and the publican By MICK ROBERTS © THE friendly contest of chaffing – perfected and usually kept within the bar-room – spilled outside onto one of Sydney’s busiest streets during the 1980s. Chaffing – the pleasure of teasing… Read More ›
Notorious Sydney wharfies’ pub, the Bristol Arms
By MICK ROBERTS © SYDNEY’S remaining wharfie pubs are far and few between, where brawls were common, and thirsts were big. Down on Sussex Street, towards Darling Harbour, can be found a pub from that era, although its ‘bloodhouse’ days,… Read More ›
McConkey’s Bodalla Hotel
A pub filled with history McCONKEY’S Hotel has been a landmark at Bodalla [on the NSW South Coast] for many years, and is overflowing with history. Established in 1875 and owned by The Bodalla (Pastoral) Company until the 1930s… Read More ›
Gollan Hotel’s Royal stay
The Queen waving a greeting from the balcony of the Hotel Gollan, Lismore to the wildly enthusiastic crowds in the street below. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh spent Tuesday night at the Hotel Gollan. – Warwick Daily News Thursday February 11 1954. WHO would have… Read More ›
Beer and bustle don’t mix
In London in 1750 the gin shop signs used to announce that you could get “drunk for a penny, dead drunk for tuppence.” In Sydney in 1946, due to the tempo of drinking, you can get drunk on four pots,… Read More ›