One consequence of this ill-conceived public policy was the proliferation of pubs and hotels. Fortunately, this occurred during one of the more pleasant periods in Australian architectural design, so that today, nearly every intersection in the city and in many suburbs is adorned with one to four beautiful art deco style buildings, with curved windows and ornately tiled exteriors. What I find amazing is that, given the small population of Australia in the early years of the 20th century, so many publicans could squeeze adequate profits out of one good hour to remain viable. This says something profound about Australia’s love affair with beer, which saves me from having to actually say it myself.
The legacy of the Six O’Clock Swill is a bountiful selection of conveniently spaced pubs most suitable for crawling across town in any direction. One is never more than a short city block from the next beer. Most of the old pubs have been renovated or “gentrified”. Swanky furniture and mood lighting have replaced wooden stools and rickety ceiling fans, but the exoskeletons sugges the grandeur of the bygone era.
Some of the pubs retain their original interiors, clinging to the hope that shabby will become chic, or more likely, for lack of funds in the face of impending destruction. This is especially true along a desolate stretch of Parramatta Road in front of the old Foster’s Group Brewery (earmarked for major re-development), where shabby has completely yielded to decrepit. If you ever want to get rid of a tattered old sofa, simply drop it in front of The Abercrombie or The Claire Hotel and they will give it a loving home within their dark and musty interiors.
However, these daggy pubs do have some of entertaining graffiti:
However, these daggy pubs do have some of entertaining graffiti:
3 comments:
A correction Audra: pubs in Australia were open all day and weekend. The "six o'clock" swill referred to the hour between most people's knock-off at work (5pm) and pub closing time (6pm). So if you were lucky enough to afford beer during the Great Depression you could happily drink until 6 all day. The early closing was actually introduced after a huge gang of drunken WWI service men went on a rampage through Surry Hills and Central station, trashing stuff and beating people up. An interesting fact: the bars of the pubs are tiled and guttered so men could simply use them as a urinal, thus not wasting precious drinking time.
I was pretty sure I didn't have the facts quite right, but I liked the way the narrative came together regardless. Sometimes the truth gets in the way of a good story (especially in pubs). Thanks for the clarifications.
One of my favorite bars in New Orleans also has a 'trough' beneath the bar - but the staff got VERY upset when I tried to use it for its intended purpose...
Well that would have been difficult if it is still the law or rule. I mean it's great to have a pint or two after a whole day at work and normally, I'd leave the office at 6 or 7 pm, if I wanted to drink at that time then I would have to do it at home? That oughta be difficult.
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