Port road pub crawl

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Port Adelaide Lighthouse. Ales and sails is the pub on the left.
Port Adelaide Lighthouse. Ales and sails is the pub on the left.
Railway Hotel, Port Adelaide. State Heritage Place since 1980.
Railway Hotel, Port Adelaide. State Heritage Place since 1980.

Contents

[edit] Historical background

In 1836 Colonel William Light planned the city of Adelaide 7.5 miles northeast from its nearest shipping port. The port lacked a fresh drinking water supply and it was surrounded by a large mangrove swamp, making it difficult to transport goods to the city. It was nicknamed "Port Misery" until its official naming of "Port Adelaide" on May 23th, 1837. For the first 100 years of South Australia's European history, most people or goods arriving and departing from South Australia would do so via Port Adelaide. Before the establishment of a proper road and township in 1855, those with money could transport their goods by bullocks or wagon, whilst the poorer travelers and migrants would have to walk the long treacherous route carrying their goods on their backs or in a wheelbarrow. Many migrants were attacked and killed or would get lost in the swamplands. Eventually, due to its thriving trade of 300 ships per annum (to 1000 ships per annum by 1900) the Port Road was established and it was built wide enough to accommodate a canal, towpath and a railway line to run up the middle of it [1]. These were two methods of transport originally planned to help transport goods from the port into the state's capital. Neither were built, and today the centre of Port Adelaide road has become a linear park with a bicycle trail. Due to its thriving business public houses quickly sprung up on every street corner near the docks, supplying seamen and travelers with much needed refreshment, and a few satisfied their customers with the pleasures of the flesh. At one point drinking amongst sailors became a big problem, causing derelict of duty, rowdy behavior and many arrests. Following the vehement crusade against the evils of drink by Reverend R. Kirby, in 1909, fifteen of the forty-five pubs lost their license and were closed forever [2]. Fortunately, many of the pubs which survived the temperance crusade are still standing and continue to cater to thirsty and hungry travelers 160 years later.

Although migrants no longer arrive in numbers at Port Adelaide traveling up the Port Road has become a recreational journey as well as a heritage walk, and the pubs have become reminders of the harbour's early colonial history. Information about the historical significance of certain pubs are now available in a brochure [3].

[edit] The Route

The Port Adelaide Lighthouse, at one end of the Port Road is a good landmark at which to start. The Newmarket hotel in Adelaide is a landmark for the finishing point at the other end of the Port Road. The Largs Pier is a more ambitious starting point, and the Stag hotel is a more ambitious finishing point, having continued the crawl up Hindley Street and Rundle Street.

Adelaide Metro provides convenient public transport to the area via bus or train. The Outer Harbor Line trains can be caught from Adelaide Railway Station. Passengers disembarking at Ethelton will see the Cumberland Hotel across the road.

There are still more than 70 pubs in Port Adelaide, the City of Adelaide and along the adjoining Port Road. It is unlikely that a grand tour of all of them has ever been accomplished, nor is it recommended to attempt such a feat.

Non-alcoholic beverages and low alcohol beer are usually available at Australian pubs to avoid the risks of Alcoholism.

Hotel Lord Exmouth, Exeter
Hotel Lord Exmouth, Exeter
Alberton Hotel, Alberton
Alberton Hotel, Alberton

A partial list of pubs on the route to Adelaide follows:

[edit] Glass nomenclature

Main article: Australian Beer

South Australian beer glass sizes are termed, from smallest to largest, Pony, Butcher, Schooner, 'Pint'.

[edit] Trivia and Folklore

  • The Largs Hotel (built 1851) used a very tall flagpole to signal ships. The suburb of Semaphore acquired its name from this practice.
  • According to a plaque on the wall in the Land of Promise, a woman was willingly sold in the hotel at auction during the 1840s since the colony had not yet established divorce laws.
  • The Alberton Hotel, built 1848, is a South Australian landmark. It has strong associations with the local Port Power Australian Rules Football team.
  • The British Hotel is decorated with caricatures of famous Port Adelaide footballers.
  • The front bar at the Hotel Lord Exmouth is decorated with monkeys and nicknamed the monkey bar.
  • The Railway Hotel is opposite the site where the Port Adelaide railway terminus existed. It was once the registered office of the Painters and Dockers union. According to the heritage trail brochure, it has been alleged that there is a body buried in the cellar, which were also used as horse stables [3].
  • The Colac Hotel has always been a popular stomping ground for the Australian Labor Party. It's purchase by the South Australian branch of the Party was organised by Mick Young during the 1970s [5].
  • Ales and Sails, formerly the Lighthouse Inn, once accommodated prisoners from England in its cellars, and is today the preferred watering hole for visiting Seamen. A ghost, 'Hamish', reputedly makes appearances [3].
  • The Port Dock Brewery once operated as a brothel, and had a smugglers tunnel to the wharf. Tours of the haunted cellar can be arranged by appointment [3].
  • Most pubs serve West End Draught, which is actually brewed on the Port Road at Southwark.
  • The Port Adelaide Magpies Football club own the Prince of Wales Hotel at Queenstown [6].
  • When you get to the Halfway Hotel, you are halfway!

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Paragraph on Port Road at middle of page [1]
  2. ^ a b Port Dock Brewery history page [2].
  3. ^ a b c d Produced by the South Australian State Tourism and the City of Port Adelaide and Enfield and is available online [[3]]. The brochure lists addresses, opening times as well as the history and folklore of nine of the Port Adelaide pubs.
  4. ^ a b c South Australian Government, Department of Environment and Heritage Brochure on Port Adelaide State Heritage Area Hotels [4]
  5. ^ [Australian Labor Party] online article [5].
  6. ^ [Port Adelaide Magpies] Football Club page on Prince of Wales [6]

[edit] External Links

  • South Australian Postcards: Divett Street, Port Adelaide [7]
  • The Port Adelaide Historical Society published "Pubs of Port Adelaide" by Yvonne Reynolds that covers the historical significance of 19 pubs in the Port Adelaide area [8].
  • Mud map including pubs on the Port Adelaide Pubs Heritage Trail [9].
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