This months Nosh and Natter sees us back at The Australia, 31, The High Street, Porthmadog LL49 9LR, from 7pm to 9pm or when the last person leaves.
How did a pub in Porthmadog get to being called The Australia? Nobody knows. The first known written reference to “Austrilia House” is dated 1857. In the census of 1861 the occupant was a David Jones and his occupation was listed as a “victualler” (a person who is licensed to sell alcohol). Contrary to popular belief, Porthmadog ships didn’t carry slates to Australia. Slates destined for distant continents went to Liverpool or London, for loading onto larger ships. One Porthmadog-built barque*, the Anne Melhuish of 1849, did reach Australia. It sailed around Australian and New Zealand waters for many years but never returned to Britain. The only other Porthmadog-built ship which sailed for Australia, the North Wales, left in August 1852 carrying emigrants who hoped to benefit from the gold rush. What became of the ship after it set sail for Australia, isn’t recorded.
*barque is a sailing ship, typically with three masts, in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged and the mizzenmast is rigged fore and aft.
A log book will be available for those that wish to sign. No purchases have to be made to attend this event.
Mae Sgwrs a Sgoff mis yma yn Yr Awstralia 31 Stryd Fawr, Porthmadog. LL49 9LR 7yh tan 9yh neu tan i'r person olaf i adael.
Sut ddoth y tarfan yma ym Mhorthmadog i gael ei alw yn Awstralia? Does neb i weld yn gwybod! Mae'n cael ei alw yn "Australia House" am y tro cyntaf ar bapur yn 1857. Yn sensws 1861 David Jones oedd yn byw yna, a'i swydd "Victualler" (rhywun sydd â thrwydded i werthu cwrw). Yn wahanol i'r stori boblogaeth, roedd cychod Porthmadog ddim yn mynd a llechi i Awstralia a Seland Newydd. Roedd llechi a oedd i lefydd pellach yn mynd i Lerpwl neu Llundain i fynd ar gychod mwy. Fe wnaeth un barque* a adeiladwyd ym Mhorthmadog, yr Anne Melhuish gyrraedd Awstralia yn 1849. Fe hwyliodd o gwmpas Awstralia a Seland Newydd am flynyddoedd a ddychwelodd byth i Brydain. Yr unig gwch arall a adeiladwyd ym Mhorthmadog a aeth tuag at Awstralia oedd North Wales a gadodd ym mis Awst 1852 gan gario allfudwyr a oedd wedi gobeithio gwneud ei ffortiwn yn y ras am aur. Nid oes unrhyw record o'r cwch ar ôl iddo adael am Awstralia.
*barque Cwch hwylio, sydd fel arfer gyda thri mast, lle mae'r brig a'r pridd yn cael eu gosod ar y sgwâr ac mae'r mizzenmast wedi'i osod ar y cefn ac ar y blaen.
Mi fydd yna lyfr log ar gyfer rhai sydd yn dymuno arwyddo. Nid oes rhaid prynu dim i fynychu'r digwyddiad