Find tools and resources to help you research pubs and hotels in Victoria. Includes information on the history of Victorian liquor licensing laws.
Since the earliest days of European settlement, Victoria's pubs have been shaped by liquor licensing laws. (Source) The first liquor act was passed by colonial legislators in 1825, when Victoria was still part of New South Wales. By 1839, 20 licences had been issued in the Port Phillip District (now known as Victoria).
Below is a timeline featuring some of the highlights.
1792
First licence to sell liquor in Australia issued by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1792 to Captain and First Officer of the East Indiaman, the Royal Admiral.
1825
First liquor act passed by colonial legislators.
1838
Consolidating Act introduces four types of liquor licences:
Restrictions are placed on the opening hours of public houses for the first time.
1839
By 1839, twenty licences have been issued in the Port Phillip District.
1849
Number of liquor licence types reduced to three: Publicans’ General Licence, Packet Licence & Confectioners’ Licence.
1851
The Port Phillip District separates from New South Wales, officially becoming the colony of Victoria on 1 July.
1854
Sunday trading abolished in Victoria with exception of sales to lodgers and other inmates to have with their meals. Spirit merchants required to be registered.
1862
Introduction of licences for distillers, wine growers and brewers.
1864
All previous statutes replaced by Wine, Beer and Spirit Sale Statute 1864 (Vic). Nine different types of licence introduced, including a Grocer’s Licence which allowed for bottles containing less than a pint of liquor to be bought for consumption off premises.
Opening hours for pubs set at: 6am to 12pm.
1867
Report released by Royal Commission on the Operation of the Wine and Spirit Sale statute. Report recommends abolition of beer and grocers’ licence in favour of two new types of licences: one for "hotels", and one for "taverns" or "inns".
1876
Licensing Act 1876 restricts the granting of licences for new public houses. No new licences to be granted unless majority of ratepayers in a municipal district vote in favour of it (unless the hotel has 30 or more rooms).
1885
Reduction of hotel licences begins in Victoria. Licensing Act 1885 (Vic) prohibits the granting of licences where a statutory number (4 hotels for first 1000 of a district’s population and one for each subsequent 500 persons) is exceeded. Compensation to be paid to owners and licensees from closed hotels from a Licensing Fund. Exceptions to licence reduction laws include hotels with more than 30 rooms or those with a roadside licence.
1902
Residents of North Melbourne (Flemington division) vote resoundingly to reduce number of hotels in the district from 57 to 20. 37 hotels are subsequently closed.
Headline from The Herald, 11 November 1903, p 2
1906
New Act creates Licences Reduction Board, whose task is to oversee ongoing reduction of hotel licences in Victoria. Hotels convicted of breaching licensing laws in preceding three years will be prioritised for closure.
1916
Licensing Court of Victoria is formed to oversee administration of liquor licences. The new Court replaces old system in which administration of licences was overseen by 20 police magistrates and three County Court judges
Early closing laws prohibit the sale of alcohol after 6 pm, which herald the beginning of "the six o'clock swill".
1920
'Local option' polls begin.* Boroondara and Nunawading both vote to have no hotels in their districts.
1930
29 March: "No license" referendum is held to see if voters are in favour of the abolition of liquor licenses. The proposition is defeated, with only 43.1% in favour of abolition.
1938
8 October: "No license" referendum again held to establish whether liquor licences should be abolished. Referendum is won by the "wets" with just 33.8% voting in favour of abolition.
"Licensing Poll. All Must Vote", The Argus, 13 August 1938, p 19
1946
End of local option polls.
1954
Victorian Licensing Court is formed. Powers of Licences Reduction Board reduced.
1965
Phillips Royal Commission into the Sale, Supply and Consumption of Liquor recommends that hotel bars be allowed to
remain open until 10 pm and that liquor be able to be served until 11.30 pm when sold with 'substantial refreshments'
1966
Victorian hotel hours are extended to 10pm, marking the end of the 'six o'clock swill'.
1968
Liquor Control Commission established with introduction of Liquor Control Act 1968 (Vic), ending the system of Licensing Magistrates and Licensing Courts which had operated for over 100 years. (Source)
1984
Victorian government appoints economist Dr John Nieuwenhuysen to review Liquor Control Act 1968.
1986
Nieuwenhuysen Report concludes that Victoria's liquor laws are restrictive and outdated. Recommendations include deregulation of hotel trading hours, the removal of the obligation of hotels to provide meals and accommodation, a simplified licensing system and more liberal rules on liquor in restaurants.
1988
New Liquor Control Act 1987 (Vic) comes into force. Unlike previous acts which aimed to control alcohol misuse, the new act emphasises opportunities for the tourism industry afforded by alcohol distribution
1991
Gaming Machine Control Act 1991 provides that holders of certain types of liquor licences may hold a venue operator's licence. Up to 5 machines can be operated under a venue operator's licence in a public area eg a bar, whilst up to 100 machines can be operated by the licensee in a restricted area.
1993
Liquor Control (Amendment) Act 1993 continues development of new liberal policy towards liquor licensing that had been adopted by the government.
1999
Liquor Licensing Commission is dissolved and a new body is formed: Liquor Licensing Victoria. Number of licenses reduced from 17 to 9. There is nolonger a requirement to serve food with alcohol sales, but primary activity of restaurants must still be preparation and serving of food.
2008
Vic government trials 2am ‘lockout’ ** in Melbourne venues, but trial is abandoned after three months and police numbers are increased instead
2009
A new risk-based licence fee structure is introduced to Victoria, resulting in higher fees for large venues with late night trading.
2012
Demerit points system introduced for licensees who do not comply with liquor licensing laws. For the first time, live music must be taken into account as an objective of liquor laws. A licence for wine & beer producers is introduced
2008
Vic government trials 2am ‘lockout’ ** in Melbourne venues, but trial is abandoned after three months and police numbers are increased instead
2009
A new risk-based licence fee structure is introduced to Victoria, resulting in higher fees for large venues with late-night trading
2012
Demerit points system introduced for licensees who do not comply with liquor licensing laws. Live music must be taken into account as an objective of liquor laws. Licence for wine & beer producers introduced
2015
Late night liquor ban on inner city music venues & boutique bars (venues of 200 patrons or less) lifted
* A 'local option' poll was conducted in a local licensing district to allow ratepayers to decide how many licensed premises they would allow to operate in their area. Some voted to have a restricted number, while others voted to have none at all.
**A ‘lockout’ is when patrons are banned from entering a licensed venue after a certain hour, although people who are already inside can continue to purchase alcohol.
Sly grog shanty on road to Bendigo 1852. Watercolour painting by S.T. Gill, c.1872; H25975
Victoria's goldfields were declared "dry" in the 1850s, leading to the sale of liquor "on the sly" by enterprising diggers. In this image, you can see a man purchasing grog from a woman at the rear of a so-called "coffee tent".
Plan of inner portion, Fitzroy, ca 1935. From the F. Oswald Barnett Collection; H2001.291/221
This map of inner Fitzroy shows the number of hotels, licensed grocers, and wine shops in inner Fitzroy in the mid 1930s.
Men gathered at the opening of a new bar at Hotel London, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne for the "six o'clock swill". Photo by Laurie Richards Studio. Courtesy of Museums Victoria
A campaign badge from the Referendum Referendum produced by the Victorian Anti-Liquor League, Victoria, Australia, circa 1925. Photo by Taryn Ellis. Courtesy of Museums Victoria
Here lieth a temperance man, ca 1906; H97.248/217
Read about the temperance movement and the rise of coffee palaces as a substitute for hotels in Librarian Paul Dee's blog: Temperance and Melbourne's grand coffee palaces.
Castlemaine Brewery pale ale; H96.160/2420. Troedel & co lithographer ca 1880 - 1900
Empire Pale Ale. Brewed & Bottled by Carlton & United Breweries Pty Ltd Melbourne Australia; H2000.180/176. Troedel & Cooper lithographer ca 1881 - 1890
