The Australian Pub

A fresh and dynamic journey through one of Australia’s most-loved institutions, this intoxicating history explores the pub from its colonial origins along the waterfronts and roadways used by travelers to the boutique bars of contemporary cosmopolitanism. This account traces the essential role of the pub as an enduring provider of drink, food, entertainment, accommodation, and illegal betting, as well as its relationship to sport and its battles with licensing laws. Topics also include patrons’ loyalty to the local, the friendship of the lounge, the work of kitchen staff and barmaids, and classic pub architecture and heritage. This beautiful book not only celebrates pubs, but proves that they are and always have been more than just a place to drink.