The Plough's Cocktales & Recipes

This week we take a look back at the inclement weather that Myrniong has always experienced, particularly after the deluge we have received over the past few days. During a thunderstorm in April 1907, William Hooton, who eventually took over the licence of the Myrniong Hotel before it was delicenced, had a horse killed by a lightning strike. A couple of years later, two thunderstorms, travelling from different directions, met over the Pentland Hills in March 1909. Almost 30mm of rain fell within 20 minutes, flooding the bare paddocks and filling the dams and creeks that had been bare for months. In January 1944 much-needed rain was delivered by way of heavy thunderstorms which replenished the local creeks, resulting in them running freely again. And what does all this have to do with this week's Cocktail: well, nothing other than today being the first day of Summer, which means Christmas is not far away. I offer you Santa's Hat. SANTA'S HAT 45mL  Citrus Vodka 15m...

Welcome to this week's Cocktail O'Clock, where we enjoy a sip of history with a tale to share. Today we look back at Black Friday, with a focus on the frequency of fires sparking my attention... 2 months before The Plough Hotel opened at this site in 1861, William Jenkin's Pentland Hotel, a weatherboard structure, was destroyed by fire due to the careless, yet accidental, use of a candle while preparing bedding for the night. Sadly, a lodger at the Hotel, ironically named Peter Burns, was burned to death, with several others escaping without harm. William Jenkins risked his own life and managed to save his children, but not all of his buildings. In July 1868 a large haystack belonging to Thomas Ryan, owner of The Plough Hotel caught fire. Enthusiastic neighbours quickly extinguished the flames before losing the entire stack. The fire was attributed to "frolicsome and mischievous children", who had access to lucifers while playing close to the stack. The Myrniong M...

Welcome to Cocktale O'Clock, where we blend a sip of history with a tale to share. Today we head back to the 1870s when, at one stage, John Tyson owned both of the hotels in Myrniong – The Plough Inn and the Myrniong Hotel. While he only owned the Plough Inn Hotel for around 12 years, the Myrniong Hotel was in his family for 46 years. After John's passing in 1887, his wife, Elizabeth, continued to own and operate the Myrniong Hotel, however, The Plough was promptly sold to Mr & Mrs Kerr for £1200. After Elizabeth died suddenly in September 1904, the licence was transferred to their youngest son, George and the Hotel was sold to Mr Mehrens, a carpenter from Ballan who happened to be married to George's sister, Fanny. 12 months on and the Hotel was again sold, this time to William Hooton, however, there was a glitch. Due to Mr Hooton's previous dismal conduct as a publican in Swanson Street, Melbourne, he received a stern lecture from the Superintendent granting the ...

Welcome to Cocktale O'Clock, where we blend a sip of history with a tale to share. This week we celebrate the crucial role that horses played in many aspects of daily life during the early days at Myrniong. The versatility of horses was elaborate. When they weren't being used in Agriculture, the Military, or all forms of Travel, they were being held up by brash bushrangers or posing as an artist's Muse! Today I want to celebrate the most famous stagecoach company, Cobb & Co., that connected rural settlements throughout Australia from the 1850s to 1920. During this period, horses were indispensable making them invaluable in every aspect of society and the economy. The introduction of motor vehicles, expanded railway networks and airmail rendered "horsepower" obsolete. Head Chef Mark approves! In 1861, with The Plough Hotel being established near Simmons' Store within the Myrniong township, it was a natural location for Cobb & Co.'s changing stabl...

Welcome to Cocktale O'Clock, where we blend a sip of history with a tale to share. This week we head back to the 1860s & 1880s and celebrate a regular event described as a "peculiar Victorian institution" with its success requiring the efforts compared to the care and time in preparation as to the growth of a crop of corn"! The Bruce Auction – a community fundraising initiative, named after its originator Mr J.V.A. Bruce, a contractor on the Sandhurst (Port Melbourne) railway line who arranged many Bruce Auctions at the MCG, raising funds for the Melbourne Hospital. Our region took up this trend to generate funds for a variety of causes including schools, hospitals & churches. In 1873 a Bruce Auction was held in aid of the Presbyterian Minister's Salary. The auctions were held in a "fair" or "festival" atmosphere and were often advertised as a "Bruce Auction & Bazaar." Often the refreshment tent collected a great prop...