By MICK ROBERTS © THERE are some publicans who truly earn a legendary status. As a bush publican, shearer, colt-breaker, mail coach driver, boundary rider, noted athlete, scalper, and successful racehorse owner and trainer, Hermann Schmidt, was one of those… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © DEFYING the odds, Margaret Tabitha Radestock was a successful hotelier, who despite an abusive husband, and antiquated licensing laws, became a wealthy and respected South Australian businesswoman. The daughter of German winemakers, Margaret, after almost 20… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © A RESOURCEFUL woman, who outlived two publican husbands, Margaret Leahy made a few ‘firsts’ during her life as a South Australian hotelier. At the helm of one of the state’s oldest trading pubs, she was one of… Read More ›
‘WHISKY’, a grey, is, the only horse left at the SA Brewing Company, after horses have pulled the company’s beer delivery wagons in Adelaide for more than 60 years. They have been replaced by motor trucks. The last pair of… Read More ›
By MICK ROBERTS © NESTLED in the shadows of the ever-shifting sand dunes, on the eastern edge of the Nullarbor Plain, once traded a South Australian pub frequented by thirsty camel drivers, teamsters and merchant sailors. The Globe Hotel, Fowlers… Read More ›
From pint and long sleever, to pot, middy 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 ›
UNLIKE NSW, where barmaids were more plentiful than barmen in hotel public bars, women were as scarce as hens’ teeth in the pubs of South Australia and Victoria for many decades during last century. From 1908 until 1967 no woman… Read More ›
Historic South Australian landmarks The old Ral Ral Hotel, beyond Renmark, on the famous overlanding track from Morgan to Wentworth, a well-known public house in the early day of Murray settlement. The building is now used as an outhouse at… Read More ›
Federal Hotel, Petersburg, South Australia The above spacious and commodious hotel, which is situated on the western side of Dandaloo-street, facing the railway station, is a substantial building of brick It contains 55 rooms, with spacious vestibules and corridors. The ground floor… Read More ›