By MICK ROBERTS © UNLIKE most of Australia, Queensland and Western Australia had a ‘watered-down’ version of the infamous ‘six-o’clock swill’. The ‘swill’ was a nickname given to the frenzied rush by Australians and New Zealanders to buy drinks from… 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 ›
MEMBERS of the Salvation Army band were playing and singing Christmas carols outside a South Brisbane hotel. Drinkers in the bar joined in merrily. “You can’t sing in here,” roared the barman. “If you want to sing go out and… Read More ›
WAY before gaming machines and television screens, pubs had to find other means to attract and entertain customers. Pets of various descriptions were often used to draw custom, and occasionally the talented animals and their pubs gained national and… Read More ›
Old Dunmore Arms Hotel, corner George and Elizabeth Streets, Brisbane: Between the hotel and the Bank of New South Wales are old buildings, which for years were the business premises of Francis Hicks (familiarly known as “Old” Hicks). The office of Mr…. Read More ›
THERE was once a Queensland publican who refused accommodation to a couple of ‘scab’ labourers, either out of fear, or to show support for the union during the height of the great shearers’ strike of 1891. The 1891 shearers’ strike is… Read More ›
Australia’s largest timber pub, The Malanda Hotel. Picture: Mick Roberts Collection Exploring the pubs of the Atherton Tablelands © By MICK ROBERTS THE last leg of our Far North Queensland road trip brought us to the historic pubs of the… Read More ›
The pubs of the Atherton Tablelands By MICK ROBERTS © OVER two and a half hours south of Cooktown, we reach the next destination on our Far North Queensland road trip – the village of Mount Molloy and the National… Read More ›
The frontier pubs of Cooktown By MICK ROBERTS © THERE are not many places to quench the thirst on the three hour journey along the Mulligan Highway to Cooktown, but the quality of the pubs on the 250km trek sure… Read More ›
