Old Adelaide pubs that have gone
THERE used to be so many hotels in the Square Mile that Adelaide was nearly called the City of Pubs. Take a look back at some of the watering holes we’ve lost over the years.
- The amazing Adelaide uni pranks of old
- When Glenelg had its own Luna Park
- How the Royal Adelaide Show used to look
- What school was like in the 50s and 60s
ADELAIDE is widely known as the City of Churches but according to some historians, it could quite easily have been named City of Pubs.
Though many hotels have disappeared over the past 50 years, at one time there were more than 100 watering holes in the city square.
The only reason we never wore the moniker of City of Pubs was that the founding fathers did not approve and the City of Churches sounded much more genteel and family-friendly.
Recently on our Adelaide Remember When Facebook page, we decided to go on a pub crawl of some of the much-loved, but now lost Adelaide “locals”. Here are just a few that made the page and stirred up most of the debate.
THE AURORA HOTEL, HINDMARSH SQUARE
The Aurora Hotel opened in 1859 on the corner of Hindmarsh Square and Pirie St in Adelaide as the Black Eagle. It was renamed the Aurora in 1894.
In the early 1980s, Adelaide City Council presented a plan for the redevelopment of the eastern side of Hindmarsh Square and approval was given for the demolition of the more than 100-year-old structure.
Because of the building’s valuable history and architectural contribution to the surroundings, what followed was probably the state’s most strenuous campaign to save a building.
The Aurora Heritage Action Group was formed and the skirmish that followed involved union bans, court injunctions and a month-long picket by an action committee.
Despite the group’s heroic efforts, the campaign failed, and the Aurora was flattened on December 1, 1983, to be replaced by yet another commercial tower block.
THE CRITERION HOTEL, KING WILLIAM ST
The Criterion Hotel was established in 1857 as the Family Hotel until 1867, when it was renamed the Criterion. It was demolished in about 2007 and remained a vacant block until last year, when the Elektra House Hotel development was established on the site.
This was a real favourite with GPO and then-Telecom (now Telstra) workers and journalists and staff at The Advertiser and Radio 5AD.
If only walls could talk, at the “Cri” they would tell many tales of missed deadlines, stories hatched over a pint and wild radio ratings celebrations.
The back entrance from the old Advertiser Lane led directly into the back bar and it was there that — rumour has it — a special phone line was installed, direct from the editor’s desk if a big story broke.
EARL OF ZETLAND, NORTHEAST CORNER OF FLINDERS ST/GAWLER PLACE
Established in 1869, the Earl of Zetland was demolished in the mid-1990s for an office and commercial complex. It was well known for having one of the largest collections of single-malt whiskies (more than 300) available for tasting anywhere in the world.
As part of the service for regulars, a personal record sheet for tastings was kept for future visits, with many patrons intent on sampling them all.
One reader recalls: “With its distinctive triangular black and yellow signs, it was such an interesting pub.
“ I always had a good look in as I walked down Gawler Place as you never knew just who you might see.
“And the whisky collection was a sight to behold and savour”.
The Earl was also a favourite meeting place for many organisations and groups and always crowded at lunch time with public servants from nearby government buildings.
GRESHAM HOTEL, CORNER OF KING WILLIAM ST/NORTH TERRACE
The Gresham was an Adelaide landmark due to its prominent site. Established in 1851 it was demolished in 1965 to make way for the AMP (now Origin) Building.
Most of our readers are possibly too young to have drunk at the Gresham but it was a favourite bar with travellers because of its proximity to the Adelaide Railway Station.
My own memories of the Gresham include catching the bus many times as a child on that corner with my mother and looking inside into the front bar which was packed with thirsty men. I also remember that one of the windows had a huge display of miniature bottles.
OLD QUEENS ARMS HOTEL, CORNER OF WRIGHT ST/COMPTON ST
The Old Queens Arms Hotel (until 2011), was opened in 1852 and is heritage-listed but sadly will be closing before the end of 2016 and will be demolished for (yet another) office block.
It is remembered as famous back in the 80s for its large Wiener schnitzels and a favourite spot for cheap counter meals.
One reader recalls “I worked there in the mid to late 70s as a barmaid or waitress for a second job on a Friday and Saturday nights. I remember the fabulous meals from the bar to the dining room. It used to be really packed on those evenings.
Another wrote; “Had many a drink with my mates in the Old Queens Arms, it was our favourite watering hole in the late 60s and early 70s. They had the best schnitzels in Adelaide in those days.”
It recently found new life as Hotel Wright St — but Advertiser.com.au recently reported it was set to close its doors for the last time.
Sad to say Adelaide has lost many of its favourite old pubs over the past half century and with the present trading conditions, some of the toughest seen over the past decade, it is possible we will lose even more.
The distressing thing is we lose a little bit more of our rich and colourful history every time another old hotel closes its doors.
Bob Byrne writes every day for the Adelaide Remember When blog on Facebook and at adelaiderememberwhen.com.au