A group of slightly drunk looking men, three sitting on Tooth & Co., beer barrels at Morpeth (near Newcastle). Photo: University of Newcastle collection. “The police report for 1903 shows there was an increase of 800 in the number of… Read More ›
NSW hotels
The Six O’Clock Swill
THE six o’clock swill was an Australian and New Zealand slang term for the rush to buy drinks at the pub before closing time. During a significant part of the 20th century, most Australian pubs turned off the beer at 6pm, which… Read More ›
After 60 Years Old Ballina Hotel Closed
THE Occidental Hotel, after more than 60 years as a licensed house in Ballina, has now been closed, and the license surrendered. On the water front, the Occidental in early days was the gathering place of seamen of the… Read More ›
The Yanco Glen Hotel
FOR AN UPDATED AND MORE DETAILED VERSION OF THIS STORY, VISIT: Outback Sands Reclaim Yanco Glen Hotel IN January 1987, with a group of friends travelling outback NSW, we stopped at a memorable little galvanised iron pub, with the tiniest… Read More ›
Keep Barmaids Young Smart & Cheerful
NSW politician Les Jordan caused a stir in 1954 when he suggested that barmaids should be dressed in black and be over 60. The Country Party (forerunner of today’s National Party) MLA was commenting on one of the provisions of… Read More ›
The Hotel Illawarra’s First Ladies
By MICK ROBERTS © THE host of the Illawarra Hotel, Hilda Condon brought a touch of glamour to the New South Wales Liquor Royal Commission. The Wollongong socialite splashed a little razzle-dazzle – with her trademark styled blue hair, expensive… Read More ›
Dobell’s barmaids: Just who was the woman who sat for the famous artist?
THOSE who appreciate fine art have likely heard of William Dobell’s oil painting, “Barmaid from Ushers Hotel”. The oil on masonite was painted of a somewhat gaunt looking barmaid at Ushers Hotel, Sydney during World War II. William Dobell (b.1899… Read More ›
Cow Rushed The Bar
Sydney, Wednesday A MADDENED cow charged down the main street of Wagga last night with a policeman close behind. The cow charged through the door of Wagga’s newspaper office, knocked down a fence, then stormed through two sets of swinging… Read More ›
Clairvoyant engaged to solve mysterious death of Albury publican
By MICK ROBERTS © THE cause of publican Raglan Davey’s violent death in the early hours of October 21, 1886 remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of colonial Australia – was it suicide or murder? Despite suspected foul play,… Read More ›
Spirits haunt the bar at Mt Kembla Hotel
By MEGAN LEVY Patrons ordering a pint of Guinness at Mt Kembla Hotel should beware – there may be ghosts on tap. The section of bar from where the Irish stout is now served was the site of the hotel’s… Read More ›