The death of pioneering publican Reg Tolley By MICK ROBERTS © THE suspicious death of a publican, who was pioneering improvements in the drinking habits of Australians, made headlines around the country in 1952 when detectives ordered the exhumation of… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © THE Dapto Agricultural Hall, south of Wollongong in the Illawarra region of NSW, had a ‘full house’ on the evening of Wednesday October 6 1897. The large and enthusiastic audience had gathered to be entertained by… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © THE balcony of the Occidental Hotel, on the NSW north coast, overlooked the magnificent Richmond River for almost half a century before closing for business in 1932. The pub was established in what is today Fawcett… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © SADLY the vivid red sands and hardy outback desert shrubs have reclaimed where once the Yanco Glen Hotel served-up icey cold beers to weary travellers. Arguably made famous nationally by the iconic promotional photograph of the… Read More ›
From pint, to long sleever, to pot and schooner By MICK ROBERTS © THE ‘long sleever’ was an impressive looking beer glass that stood 45cm high and held an Imperial pint, or 20 fluid ounces. In colonial times, when… Read More ›
A MAN discharged from a ‘lunatic asylum’ in 1896 caused headlines when, armed with a knife, he ransacked the Star of the Sea Hotel at Bulli, south of Sydney. John Reynolds and his brother, William were sent to a lunatic… Read More ›
A BEAUT yarn I recall about a long departed pub in Wollongong, south of Sydney, happened back in the 1980s during my employment with the now defunct Australian government telecommunications company, Telecom, as an assistance linesman. Basically, my job involved… Read More ›
EVERYONE loves a good ghost story – especially when it involves a pub. Bulli’s Heritage Hotel, on the NSW South Coast, has been ‘haunted’ by ‘Old Ted’, a former publican, for almost 90 years. Many a publican and resident of… Read More ›
NOT many pubs can boast of their own private passenger train. Well, Bellambi Hotel on the NSW South Coast, can… The pub had its own train, which took guests to the beach. William Wilson, manager of the South Bulli Colliery… Read More ›
