Inns and Outs of Fremantle
Having bought the first of our recent guest speaker Allen Graham's trilogy of books on the history of Fremantle, let me assure that it is a great read!
It certainly highlights the very real problems of grog and heavy drinking, and all the social ills of the time that went with it!
This book covers the period 1829 to 1929, and concentrates on the hotels and inns of the period, and the happenings around this early, heavy drinking culture.
Of the 1500 people who arrived in August '29 to April '30 and set up Fremantle, only 600 remained in what were appalling conditions. Wind and sand, no permanent structures, a poor harbourage, poor food supply and water quality ... living in tents and lean too's ..., and one 'hotel' to gather at and grizzle!
Other arrivals set off to find land for farming, but in 1831, with now 7 hotels and the Round House/gaol completed, the population fell to 400 in the lead up to 1833 .. one hotel per 40 drinking age locals, and the problems with grog and drunkenness became a social liability.
The population in 1833 was 500, with 120 ' houses' , and in 1840, it was one female for each 1.85 men!
Publicans came and went, and came back again, and the book traces the key players in this story. Public brawling, sniping, court cases, actual duelling all received publicity and condemnation from the 'better to do!'
Labour was expensive and always in short supply, and then, for many they could work just 3 days and have 2 off, with the grog sellers the big winners!
For the Government of the day, in 1835, the 'State Budget' was 93% dependant on the sale of wine, spirits and ale, and this certainly helped maintain the problems of heavy drinking.
The American Whalers were also a key source of income, and in 1839, Feb to April, 16 Whale boats stopped over in Fremantle, and whilst contributing an estimated 50 Pound per ship to the economy in purchase of fresh supplies etc, their hard drinking and brawling with the locals only exacerbated the social problems of the time.
Whilst there was strong support for the establishment of a local brewing industry, success was hard to find until the Swan Brewery set up in the second half of the 19th century.
About half way through a great read .. well done to Allen for the truly remarkable research that went into this book, and I look forward to his second speaking engagement later this year.
Kenn.