They are a key part of Australia's cultural identity and have been central to many great yarns and tall tales in Australian folklore.
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Now, a project from the Australian National University (ANU) Archives is offering a rare insight into the history of some of Australia's oldest pubs including many from Maitland.
At the centre of the project is Tooth and Company, a major beer producer in NSW for more than 150 years. At its peak Tooth & Co. Ltd owned more than 700 hotels across NSW.
ANU Archivist Catherine Ziegler said the project has something from very nearly every town in NSW including Maitland (which includes the little known Federal Hotel at Holmsville – Telarah), Newcastle and the Coalfields. Including the Federal Hotel at Homesville (Telarah).
"It gives an indication of what was going on in the town and even what the major industry was, whether it was mining or grain or sheep."
"Brewers, barmaids & boozers: a history of Tooth & Co. Ltd", highlights just how useful the records have been for researchers, helping with everything from piecing together family histories to re-creating old beer recipes.
The project involved digitising a series of hotel cards dating back to 1920. The cards were used by Tooth & Co to keep track of their hotels and offer a unique insight into the operations of early century pubs, including beer stocks and quantities, the local economy and hotel life.
"This is not just births, deaths and marriages, there are really great details about the lives of the people who were living and working there – and the cards are just the tip of the iceberg," Ms Ziegler said. "One of the most interesting stories we've uncovered is about Annie Furlong, who was barred from becoming the licensee of the Oaks Hotel in Sydney during the war because she was a spinster."
The cards are available online with a special interactive map and in addition, a Tooth & Co. exhibition is now open in the foyer of the Menzies Library at ANU.
Some of the Maitland hotels mentioned include those pictured as well as the Volunteer, Sportsmans Arms, Carrington, The Angel Inn, Doch-an-Doris (Commercial until 1950), Grand Central, Metropolitan, Family, Windsor Castle, George and Dragon, Currency Lass, Exchange, Caledonian, Bank, Club House, Grand Junction, Imperial and Queens Arms hotels just to name a few.
The exhibition is available online and includes an interactive map providing access to valuable historical information as well as incredible photographs. The exhibition runs until Friday 13 July.
Images from the collection of Noel Butlin Archives Centre, Australian National University.