By Jed Lanyon
Legend has it, English prospector Sam Knott arrived in Australia in the 1880s and found himself mining in the Upper Yarra, but it was a different kind of gold Sam found, a Carlton Ale beer, that led him to coin a popular drinking slogan and an iconic photograph.
Sam Knott’s story differs depending on who you ask, but one version says he was a regular at McVeigh’s Hotel, which later burnt down in 1936. The former site of the pub now sits under the waters of the Upper Yarra Reservoir.
A photographer, believed to be from Carlton United Breweries (CUB) entered the pub one morning and took the iconic photograph of Sam standing drinking his beer. He uttered the famous words “I allus has wan at eleven” to the photographer who saw him enjoying his beer.
In 1907, those words accompanied his image on a poster that would be displayed in pubs and hotels across Victoria for years to come. Some say Knott’s words were: “I allus has wan at eleven, it’s a habit that’s got to be done. Cos if I don’t have wan at eleven, I allus has eleven at one.”
It is said Knott may have even worked for the hotel and was paid wages of one pound a week by Mr McVeigh and would exchange the same note back and forth across the bar to the publican each week.
The National Archives of Australia features the original poster of Sam Knott and notes, “Knott came to Australia from England in the 1880s to try his luck in the gold fields; there is some evidence to suggest that he was working at McVeigh’s Hotel when this photograph was taken; he died soon after, and never received any royalties from CUB.
“McVeigh’s Hotel was built in the 1850s after the discovery of gold near Warburton and included a wide verandah where this photograph may have been taken; the oil lantern hanging behind Knott’s head indicates that the photograph predates the introduction of electricity.”
For years The Warburton Hotel, formerly named the Sam Knott Hotel, paid tribute to the Warburton legend with a wood carving sculpture of the historical image outside the pub.
The hotel’s current co-owner Andrew Borer shared what he knew about Sam Knott from the local pub goers of Warburton.
“The story goes that he spent his last days on Earth at a pub, now submerged in the dam… There’s many takes on this one and it’s a bit of a furphy,” he said.
Mr Borer has been the owner of The Warburton Hotel for about three years now and said it’s the oldest surviving licensed pub in the Upper Yarra dating back to 1863.
When previous owners parted with the hotel, they wished to keep the rights to the Sam Knott Hotel name, leading to the pub reverting back to its original name of The Warburton Hotel.
“It was The Warburton Hotel right through history from 1863. The name was changed in the late 90s and ran as the Sam Knott Hotel for about 18 years as a marketing gimmick.”
Mr Borer said as the venue changed hands (prior to his ownership) all memorabilia and signage relating to Sam Knott had been stolen. Keen thieves even used a chainsaw to chop down Knott’s wood carving sculpture and load it onto the back of a truck.
“The same locals who argue it should still be called the Sam Knott are the same ones that came in and stole everything.
“I was informed by police that on five occasions the pub was broken into and they were called here for theft when it was shut down.”
Mr Borer said he previously opened a letter addressed to the hotel’s owner only for it to be for previous owners. The letter contained the renewal for the license of the naming rights to the Sam Knott Hotel.
“The previous owner at the time stated that they (those who owned the pub earlier) wouldn’t release the name.”
Mr Borer believes CUB (who did not respond to Star Mail’s request for comment) try to distance the poster’s connection to the Warburton area.
“They like the idea of it not being linked to one establishment but as a brand name and a marketing tool.
“There’s some locals here that get pretty passionate about it. There’s a family out in Reefton that say it all happened out there… To be a good publican you have to be neutral.”
Star Mail contacted Upper Yarra Cemetery, who said they believe Sam Knott is buried within their grounds, but don’t have much further information.
The story was recently covered by a Melbourne daily newspaper, leading to Mr Borer to receive contact from those who had their own takes on what they believed to be true.
“One fella sent me in the article, he lives on the other side of Melbourne, that’s how much attention people actually pay to this one.”
