John McManaway was a famed Western Australian publican, who hosted three pubs to the heavy drinking miners of the Murchison goldfields. Known far and wide as ‘Bold McManaway’, or simply ‘Mac’, the Irishman was said to have feared nothing, was always up-for-a-fight –… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © THE tamed applause from opera at a Ballina theatre, was replaced with the raucous shouting, laughter, and bawdy tunes of a pub in 1895. Where Gilbert and Sullivan’s lolanthe had entertained from the stage, beer suddenly… Read More ›
ONCE a landmark on the lonely road from Bourke to Queensland, flames and controversy have abruptly ended over 130 years of history at Barringun’s Tattersall’s Hotel. The original historic timber inn was tragically reduced to ashes on Christmas Eve 2017… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © A LARGER than life character, Jabez Penn made quite an impression during his 20 year career as a Perth hotelier. The son of an English conservative politician, Jabez Penn hosted two pubs and a wine saloon… Read More ›
Bob Connell Burlington Hotel, Bunbury Mine host of the remodelled Burlington Hotel, in Victoria-street, Bunbury, Bob has proved one of the most effective workers in the interests of the town and district. No man is better versed in the potentialities and the… Read More ›
For many years, during the early part of the 20th century, the Court House Hotel at Narromine, a town located about 40 kilometres west of Dubbo in the central west of New South Wales, was known simply as ‘Fitch’s’. The… Read More ›
Coming soon: Time Gents’ next road trip takes us to the Lithgow region of NSW, where we visit three beaut bush pubs – The O’Connell Hotel, O’Connell, Tarana Hotel, Tarana, and the Alexander Hotel, Rydal. We chat with two of… Read More ›
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 ›