In part one of our profile of the Royal Standard in Toora, we featured its history up until the 1950s. But it’s the latter half of the twentieth century that witnessed the biggest changes for Australian pubs with the demise of the “Six o’clock swill" and allowing women into public bars in, would you believe it, as late as 1974.
Once again, local historian Neil Everitt came up with the goods with this doozy of a tale.
“One story I remember well was one Friday night the Royal Standard was in full swing. It was about 6.30pm when the police "fling squad" from Melbourne walked in.
The bar was full of patrons and the officers proceeded to go about their duty by firstly pushing the pad bolts closed and then proceeding to book everyone present. One young drinker who had consumed his full quota was asked by an officer holding a book, “What’s your name?”.
The young fella (who shall remain anonymous) said, “Shit not another raffle, I've been in four already tonight".
The copper replied, “This one will cost you more than two bob, mate, what's your name?”.
All the while, pub regular Charlie Everitt had picked up a broom and begun sweeping towards the door. The coppers, thinking he was the cleaner, took no notice. When Charlie got to the door he unlatched the pad bolt and bolted out himself, followed by a dozen or so other patrons.”
Stories like that are what makes local legends in pubs up and down the land.
The end of the ‘swill’ came in 1966 when Toora's fortunes were on the rise with the establishment of the Esso/BHP Barry Beach Marine Terminal at the start of the decade. It brought prosperity to the town, but it wasn’t to last. By the end of the eighties, construction of the oil platforms had moved to maintenance and the work dwindled away, along with patrons utilising the pub.
Pubs of course, have taken a bashing in recent years, but the Standard has enjoyed some time in the limelight and a generous grant to make it more attractive to visitors utilising the rooms upstairs. And now the dining experience has been taken to the next level with the pub's kitchen staff winning awards, the future seems bright for Toora’s regal old drinking den.
If you have historical tales of shenanigans (printable ones please) at any of the other pubs on the PCN patch, please do get in touch (in all confidence if required) to editor@promcoast.news. David Barrett
