Getting Aussie at Young and Jackson
January 30, 2008 · Written by Amanda Southall · Print This Article
“How do you get down from a kangaroo? You don’t get down from a kangaroo; you get down from a goose,” Kevin smiled nervously in front of his silent audience and futilely tapped the microphone in front of him. Yep, it was on, but the crowd wasn’t amused. By the end of the night Team USA finished the weekly joke Contest right where we started: last. Though Australian and American humor may be oceans apart, the most famous pub in the land down under will make any traveler feel right at home.
Young & Jackson Hotel has been a landmark in Melbourne, Australia for over 140 years. The establishment is as notorious as it is famous, but since its humble and controversial beginnings it is now one of Melbourne’s historical icons.
Melbourne is Australia’s second most-populous city, and known as the cultural capital of Australia. A refreshing mix of big-city bustle and small-town charm, Melbourne’s streets are lined with cozy coffee shops, gleaming skyscrapers and unique boutiques. I was in Melbourne from May to August – Australia’s winter – and I was so enthralled by the city, I barely even minded enduring snow flurries in July.
The best place to experience Australia’s culture is in the city’s bars, which the Aussies call “hotels.” And the premier hotel in Australia is Young & Jackson’s. Located just a block from our hostel, Young & Jackson’s became our favorite spot to experience Melbourne history, culture, and try our hand at fitting in with the Aussies.
Young & Jackson’s is located on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, one of the busiest intersections in Melbourne. It’s perched on the banks of the Yarra River and across the street from the train station, which makes the pub accessible by foot, car, train, tram or boat. The steps of the Young & Jackson Hotel offer a 360-degree view of some of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks: Flinders Street Station, Australia’s first railway station, built in 1854; Federation Square, the city’s cultural precinct that contains art galleries, a museum, cinema, and restaurants; and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, an 1850s cathedral built in Gothic Revival style.
Young & Jackson’s interior underwent a $6 million renovation in the late 1990s to restore its stained glass windows, intricate plaster ceilings and wooden bars to their original 19th century charm. The split-level bar has several different rooms including a long bar for sports fans, a café that serves breakfast and lunch, and Chloe’s bar, where enjoying fine wine and good beer is an art.
John Batman purchased the site where Young & Jackson now stands in 1837 at Melbourne’s first Crown land sale. Batman, whose reputation was marked by participation in killing expeditions against the Tasmanian aboriginals, built a home for his children. After Batman’s death at age 38 in 1839 the building became Melbourne’s first schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was razed in 1853 and the Princess Bridge Hotel opened in 1861 on the site where Young & Jackson now stands. Known for stale beer and unsavory language, and convenient to the train station, docks and markets, the Princess Bridge Hotel quickly rose in popularity.
From Flanders Station by Amanda Southall on In The Know TravelerThe Princess Bridge Hotel became the Young & Jackson Hotel during the Gold Rush when two successful Irish gold diggers, Henry Young and Thomas Jackson, purchased and renamed the hotel. The name outlasted the partnership, which ended after 15 years.
Young was the sole owner of the hotel until 1914. During his sole ownership he built an art collection that featured Chloe, a 19th century French academic nude painting by Jules Lefebvre that features a doe-faced young girl standing by a rock, gracefully looking over her shoulder. Her brunette hair swept up to ensure that no part of her body is hidden from admirers. The iconic image has inspired poems, graced magazine covers, and kept soldiers company since 1909. These days, Chloe’s fame earned her very own salon in Young & Jackson’s.
For the tourist that wants to feel and experience a city like a local, Young & Jackson’s is a hot spot. Prepare to leave tourism behind and drink real Australian draft, be stumped in a game of Aussie trivia (yeah, we lost that one too) and leer at Chloe, Young & Jackson’s mascot.
The ambience, the draft and Chloe’s captivating aura will make you want to be a regular at Young & Jackson’s, especially if you don’t mind a few boos during the weekly Joke Contest.
Written and photographed by Amanda Southall
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Hi Re “Getting Aussie at Young and Jacksons”
A few points to make. its FLINDERS STREET STATION not Flanders Station and its Young and JacksonS not Young and Jackson.
I live in Melbourne and take issue with your description of this “pub” ( hotel is very formal here in Australia) as AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER Hotel- have you been to Sydney yet?? The pub culture there is much older, more prolific and far more colourful than even Young and Jacksons.
Anyway glad you had a great time here- Melbourne is a lovely city. Not surprised that a kangaroo joke went down like a lead balloon- kangaroos aren’t considered humour unless you are making clicking noises and talking about Skippy or Skip the bush Kangaroo.
Take care
Judy
Hi Judy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write us with some astute observations. You are right about Flinders Street Station, and we will be making this correction.
However, according their website, Young and Jackson and their logo there is no “s” at the end of Jackson. This can be confusing as there are a few references with the “s” including “Young and Jackson’s Naked Ale.”
The reference to “hotel” was checked through a couple of Australian friends who confirmed what Amanda wrote in this one. So I went with the benefit of any doubt, but I am glad you let us know that not all Australians agree.
I am glad that you agree with us that Melbourne is a nice destination and that the joke from the Americans was terrible.
-Editor ITKT-
I am a Melbournian and it is a PUB not a Hotel. Hotel is a more formal word for pub, but Young & Jacksons is a PUB…maybe trying to be a Hotel..it used to be as rough as nails but since the reno maybe they are trying to be more upmarket but no matter what its a PUB.
Thank you
Thanks Haley,
I will look into this one more deeply. I appreciate the help.
-Editor ITKT-
Hi Haley and Judy,
Thanks so much for reading, and for your feedback! I appreciate it, and even though I try to be an observant traveler, it’s tough to get the intricacies of the culture and local vernacular right.
As far as the pub/hotel confusion, neither appellation is really common here in the states (we mostly call everything a bar) but since Young & Jackson calls itself a hotel, that’s what I relied on when writing this article.
Judy - when I was in Australia I spent three months in Melbourne and two weeks in Sydney, not enough time to really experience the pub culture in the latter.
We also made a joke that referenced an American rapper, that one was even worse!
Thanks again for reading, and happy travels!
Amanda