Alcohol in Australia: the intertwining 
of social and personal histories
an interview with Milton Lewis

EXTRACT: 

Anglo-Celtic baggage
 It’s clear that heavy drinking was an established cultural norm transported to Australia along with other Anglo-Celtic cultural baggage. At the time of colonisation of Australia, it was the norm in Europe to drink heavily. It was the time of the gin epidemics which were devastating communities in Britain. Alcohol in Europe had long served as a food and source of nutrition as the diets of the time were very restricted and there wasn’t a lot else to choose from. In some 19th century cities alcohol was also seen as a real alternative to water, or to anything that was water-based, because of problems of pollution. All these different factors led to traditions of heavy drinking being brought to Australia on the first fleets. Once in Australia, these heavy drinking traditions contributed significantly to the destruction of Indigenous culture.

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2187084

The Sydney Gazette Wednesday 13 December 1826

Drunkenness.-There is scarcely any hope of a
drunkard reforming in a hot climate : It is reported
in Halts Columbia, that, of 3000 Europeans who
went to Columbia a few years since, not more than
300 survive ; and three parts out of five of this
mortality may be attributed to drinking.

The Sydney Gazette. Thursday 4 March 1

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2182693

A man that procured his livelihood by bird catching, named (we believe) Edward Maidman, for the last fortnight or three weeks gave himself up to intense drinking. One day last week he was in a Pitt-street public-house, apparently well in health, when suddenly he leaped towards the ceiling, fell prostrate, and instantly expired ! A Coroner’s Inquest returned a verdict of-Death by the visitation of God.’ Reader ! if thou art a drunkard, refrain in time; for eternity will be too late !

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2182693

The Sydney Gazette  Wednesday 26 July 1826

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2186252

Six persons, amongst whom was a female of notorious character as a drunkard, were severally fined 5s. each to the poor, for being found in a state of intoxication in the streets at late hours.

With Christmas approaching I present you with this January Poem.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2202164

The Sydney Gazette and… Saturday 9 January 1836,

ORIGINAL POETRY

THE DRUNKARD

”WHY Edward dids’t thou last night so late stay

While cold and comfortlesss time pass’d away
With me,poor me ! deserted and forgot ;
Cast like a noxious weed upon the spot

Where it had grown, to perish and to rot.

Tell me ! for of late, that ruddiness of health

is gone-that kindness too! which power or wealth
Of worlds could never purchase to my love-
Nor more than these I sought not, but above.
Why that dejected air, where all was gay ;
Why those dull eyes, that once with ray

Ethereal warm’d my young and happy heart,

With all that love and kindness could impart.”

Thus Mary spoke, and down her blanched cheek,
‘A tear-a trembling tear with tenderness replete,
Did slowly roll, then fell and kissed her foot.

The Drunkard spoke not ; conscious that his wife,

Thro’ him had thus dragged on a loathsome life ;
Her once gay heart, by rugged misery torn,

Bar’d by distress-and comfortless and lorn :
Her beauty stunted by the pinching hand

Of griping poverty-and the wretched band.
Oí ceaseless evils, which for o’er attend

Upon the wretch who wants in vain a friend ;

There Edward sat, haggard and worn his look.

And his whole frame in wild convulsions shook ;
A hectic blush spread redness in his cheek,

.And then anon a dreary white would creep ;

And he looked ghastlier than the dead, or they

Who spectral glide in midnight’s gloomy way. _ |
The damning draught of false and dear bought joy,

The opiates that but for awhile alloy,
Sorrows begotten o’er the cursed bowl,
That bring despair and darkness to the soul,

Lie on the table – she the wretched wife

Gently reproves him for his vicious life
He hears her not, but with unsteady hand

He grasps the bottle-she with voice so bland

Chides, but to him how useless,-now a sip,
Another, and,another, till the cup
Is empty ; again he fills-again he drinks it up, !

So on till maddened with infernal fire-

Fierce frenzy in his soul and wild desire-

He raves-he swears-he knows not of his doom,
Before his eyes the things within the room

Seem whizzing round and round his burning brain ;

He shouts-he shrieks, his madness all in vain,
His reason comes not, nor shall come again.
With him ’tis night, a long eternal night,

Where sun, nor moon, nor star, shall give their light ;
His soul is flying to the world unknown,
‘The grave is his, and scarce one dying groan!
Proclaim’d that Death had got him for his own.

W.T.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2202164