Ginger beer was a popular drink in Colonial Queensland. It was easy to manufacture and could be produced
in both non-alcoholic and alcoholic forms. The latter was
illegal if sold without a license. Ginger beer was often used as a popular mixer. A glass of brandy and ginger
beer was known as a "stone-fence". A favourite of the ladies, it could contribute to
some very unsociable behaviour.
At the Police-office, on Wednesday week, a
vixenish-looking woman, with a child in her arms, accompanied by another child,
about three or four years of age, appeared before the Magistrates, charged by
Mr. Andrew Graham, of the Harp of Erin Tavern, South Brisbane, with making use
of abusive language, and assaulting both him and his wife.
Mr. Graham stated that the Defendant came into his house
on the evening in question, and called for a stone-fence, alias brandy and
ginger beer. Having partook of what had been ordered, she was about leaving the
place, and the landlord asked for payment, when she abused him and struck his
wife, without the slightest provocation.
She then went outside, and in the true Lady Barrymore
style, commenced throwing stones, one of which passed through the window and
broke two panes of glass, damaging the counter of the bar; she was shortly
afterwards given into custody, and confined in the lock-up.[1]
The Races at Ipswich were the main social event and refreshments were
supplied on the course. Local publicans,
who sponsored many of the races, would set up tents by the course, which were
well patronised. At the Boxing Day Races in 1848, a local shoemaker running a
sideline in a beverage he called “gingerade” ran afoul of the licensing laws. The prisoner passed his product to the prosecuting
lawyer to sample, who in turned offered to the magistrates on the Bench.
On the summons list were three cases, all for "sly
grog selling", which were prosecuted on the part of the crown by Mr.
Ocock. Case the first was that of John Walton, a shoemaker, for selling
ginger-beer without a license on the race-course on Boxing Day.
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| Starting line of a race course |
In defence the prisoner produced two bottles which he
called "Gingerade" (a cordial not fermented) handed to Mr. Ocock,
who, tasting from the bottle, appeared to think it most palatable; after a good
"swig," he offered it to the presiding J.P.s to test its qualities;
the dignity of the Bench, however, requiring a tumbler, one was produced, but
their Worships' innocence in all such matters would have left the case undecided,
had it not been for the positive evidence of the attesting witness, who swore
that the liquor sold, a bottle of which he drank, was ginger beer, and that it
had been fermented.
As a coup-de-main[2],
the prisoner stated that the witness could not tell ginger beer from
buttermilk; but as the Magistrates would not coincide in such an opinion, they
mulcted Walton in the usual penalty of £30 and costs.[3]
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| Stoneware Ginger Beer Bottle ca. 1860 |
A man known to his circle of acquaintance by the
euphonious title of "Frank the Slasher" decamped on Tuesday last by
the Clarence steamer, having, it was discovered in his possession a quantity of
wearing apparel and a silver watch, the property of a person named Laurence,
proprietor of a vehicle with which be perambulates the town and retails
ginger-beer. It was discovered that the wife of Laurence was also missing,
having, it is presumed, eloped with the thief. Lawrence states that she took
away with her about sixty pounds in cash belonging to him. A warrant has been
issued for the apprehension of "the Slasher."[4]
Rivalry between vendors was keen and could sometimes lead to violence
especially in the market for ginger beer with that something extra, thus creating
a more marketable and profitable product.
In 1863, a certain Edward Sullivan, a ginger beer seller, appeared in
the Ipswich Circuit Court charged on breaking and entering and stealing
charges.
The prisoner was then indicted for that, on the 24th day
of December, 1862, he did feloniously break and enter the dwelling house of one
Bridget Larkin, and thence did steal one pocket-book, six bottles of rum, and
one blue bottle, the property of the said Bridget Larkin.
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| Over-proof Rum Label |
Be that as it may, the facts of the case showed that on
the day in question, Christmas Eve, about eight in the morning, the prisoner
and his wife raged round the house of the prosecutrix for some time, uttering
various threats against her. They did not affect an entrance at that time, and
departed in quest of an axe to burst the door open. Mrs. Larkin, in the
meantime, evacuated the premises, leaving in possession her little girl, Mary
Anne Larkin, who bolted the hut door.
The prisoner and his wife returned to the scene of
battle, and the former, seizing a camp oven, dashed it against the door, and
thereby affected an entry. Once in possession, the prisoner and his wife,
according to the evidence of the child, ran riot in the house. They sucked raw
eggs, broke bottles, emptied rum into soda water bottles, and carried it away;
and last, not least, the prisoner, seemingly incited by a whisper by his wife,
put his hand into a safe and took away tho pocket book which he was charged
with stealing. The pocket book was never recovered. He then departed, after
kicking the little girl into the telegraph rut, and remarking that he would
like to tear her mother's throat out and put her on the fire.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
If a woman of a certain reputation solicited a man on the street to “stand
her a ginger beer” it was clear what she was really about.
In Elizabeth Street, a ubiquitous ginger beer shop offered other
services in addition to the refreshing drinks, as one keen-eyed store keeper
observed. In 1868 he wrote to the Brisbane
Courier complaining that this business was allowed to operate so close to
his own premises.
Last week I was amazed to discover that in a line with
our business premises in Elizabeth Street, and only separated from them by
sixty-six feet of fencing, a low brothel had commenced operations. Exactly
opposite this was another, where ginger-beer was ostensibly sold. All
passengers could see at once what these places really were.
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| Elizabeth Street ca.1900 |
Behind the ginger-beer shop, are four cottages and from
the door of our stores is plainly visible all that goes on outside these
cottages, and a good deal of what goes on inside, as the doors are always open.
They are conveniently accessible from both Queen-street
and from Elizabeth Street; from Queen-street by the corner of Messrs. Dickson
and Duncan's auction mart; at this corner the wretched inmates solicit at
night. One of them was seen last Thursday morning to pass from the front door
of one of the cottages to the privy directly opposite, with nothing on her
person but a chemise and, indeed, this appears to be the only garment
considered necessary to wear until they dress at night to ply their filthy
occupation.[7]
And thus was the colonial ginger beer trade multifunctional.
