THIS grainy image of the Twenty-Mile Hotel, also known as the Half-Way House, being half-way between Aramac and Barcaldine in outback northern Queensland, was taken in 1911. At the time the pub was owned and hosted by Jack Richardson, who later… Read More ›
RUM STORY OF A COW A roan cow stirred up plenty of excitement when it wandered into the bar and lounge of a Rockhampton pub, and finished almost “under the table”, reported the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on August 12 1952…. Read More ›
Take a gander at the pencil drawing, by long-dead and unsung artist, J. W. Laing, which accompanies this article. Believe it or not, that’s the corner of George and Turbot streets, in the City of Brisbane! And there stands the… Read More ›
WAY before the online services of Trivago and Wotif, there were other means to search for hotels in Australia. Most states had a “hotel and boarding house directory”, a small booklet listing the hotels, their features and prices. Here are… Read More ›
“What are ya lookin’ so upset about, mate?” “Oh, we’ve been stuck in the mud out west for about 15 hours.” “Could’ve been worse.” “How?” “You could’ve been stuck there the rest of ya life.” “Suppose you’re right.” If you… Read More ›
ONCE there were three things in Hebel, Queensland (not counting the dust). There was the Commercial Hotel (HEBEL’S LEADING HOTEL, says the sign outside), there was the store, and there was a pile of empty bottles which rivalled the pyramids… Read More ›
THE Little pub stands at the foot of a 1,180-foot rock face, just north of Mackay, Queensland. The mountain’s correct name is Mount Mandarana, but the local people call it The Gin’s Leap. And that is how the pub came… Read More ›
THE classic art deco Grand Hotel at Goomeri in Queensland was re-built in 1943 after the original pub was destroyed in a tragic fire that killed the publican and his wife, a barmaid, and five guests on December 23 1939…. Read More ›
Drunk again, eh sarge? Ex-Police Sergeant Alfred Bee, of St. John’s Home, Toowong, used to be paid to get drunk one day a week. Each Sunday, he used to stagger from one Brisbane hotel to another until he had to… Read More ›
LARGE HOTEL DESTROYED Damage Estimated at £30,000 PRIVATEL ZOO SAVED. Brisbane, Monday: The well known Surfers Paradise Hotel near Southport was destroyed by fire early this morning. The hotel was destroyed, with the exception of a number of detached living cabins and a comprehensive private zoo. The damage is… Read More ›
