Billiards hall 7th street12/7/2023 ![]() In addition, crowded bars in pubs were cleared of their billiard tables to make space for valuable drinking space. With pubs forced to close at 6pm, halls sprang-up all over the district as an alternative evening recreational venues. Purposely built billiard halls grew in popularity with legislation forcing the early closing of hotels in 1916. Although publicans had billiard and bagatelle tables as early as the 1860s, the first purpose built billiard saloon in the northern part of the Illawarra was opened by John Pritchard, just north of the old Denmark Hotel at Bulli in 1886. In an effort to keep the saloons in check the government introduced the licensing of public billiard tables. Publicans built billiard halls near their hotels to attract working class men, who drank and gambled heavily on the results of individual games. The popularity of billiards increased with the manufacturing of tables in the colony during the 1850s. Like most working class areas in Australia, the Illawarra region, south of Sydney, had its fair share of billiard rooms, frequented by coal miners, with at least a couple of them trading in the larger towns. ![]() Generally in stones throw of a pub, they were more than often a front for illegal activities, such as gambling and sly-grog. Most of the men were not playing billiards, buying tobacco, or even having a haircut, they were making their way to a tin shed out the back of the saloon, where the resident ‘starting price bookmaker’ (SP bookie) was waiting to take wagers on horse races, broadcasted from an old radiogram.īlue collar workers devotedly visited their local bookie at the billiard saloon for a punt on the races from the 1920s through to their demise in the late 1960s and early 1970s.Īlthough billiard saloons or halls were a social institution and meeting place within many Australian communities, they were often looked down upon by the law, and by those who considered themselves “respectable”. RELIGIOUSLY, during most of the first half of last century, a steady stream of men could be seen crossing the road, backwards and forwards, from Bulli’s Family Hotel to the billiard and hairdressing saloon, on Saturdays. To check out photos and read more about the old Racks, go here and here.Tom Richards (right) of Thirroul playing billiards in the Thirroul saloon about 1925. In keeping with Racks tradition, there are no door people, you just walk right in. Just like the original, there was a diverse crowd including models, DJs, scenesters, and even some startup nerds. In addition to billiards, two dart machines are set up in a corner, near the back side of the bar.Īs expected, word traveled fast about the soft-opening, and a host of important figures in Hong Kong’s nightlife scene stopped by to have a look and congratulate the owners. ![]() There are currently three pool tables in the space, and a fourth may be added if necessary. ![]() The black-on-black color scheme retains the same grittiness as the previous spot, yet padded walls and other details give it a bit more class. The new bar is nearly four times the size, and can accommodate numerous customers easily. The old Racks was limited by a tiny bar that got slammed during big nights. (Typically, as the night wore on, the old Racks transformed into a place where people danced.)Īnother big improvement is the large bar. There’s a much larger set of tables and seating for those not playing, as well as a good-sized dancefloor, which allows the place to be more multi-functional. The new, more open layout lets you feel like part of the room, which is due to the square, rather than rectangular orientation. After a quick look around, the new space is actually an improvement over the original. The billiards club that gave birth to Hong Kong’s pool table and beer pong trend, has taken over a second floor venue above Wyndham Street. The same unpretentious vibe, good music, and international crowd that made the original Racks a success, can now be found in the new location. Stepping into the new Racks MDB was like seeing an old friend again.
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