The region’s blue collar workers devotedly visited their local billiard saloon for a bet on the races from the 1920s through to their demise in the 1960s.

Although billiard saloons or halls were an important social institution and meeting place within northern Illawarra communities they were often looked down on by the law and by those who considered themselves “respectable”.

Generally in stones throw of a pub they were more then often fronts for illegal activities such as gambling and drinking.

The north had their fair share of billiard rooms frequented by shady, but likeable characters, with at least a couple trading in the larger towns.

The popularity of billiards increased with the manufacturing of tables in the colony during the 1850s.

Publicans built billiard halls near their hotels that attracted male working class adherents, who drank and gambled heavily on the results of individual games.

In an effort to keep the saloons in check the government introduced the licensing of public billiard tables.

Although publicans had billiard and bagatelle tables as early as the 1860s the region’s first purpose built billiard saloon was opened by John Pritchard just north of the old Denmark Hotel at Bulli in 1886.

Thirty six year old Quilkey ran the saloon until he was elected onto the Bulli Shire Council as an alderman in 1932. Quilkey likely thought the respectability of a civic leader did not sit easy with hosting a billiard saloon.

The Bulli billiard saloon was home to a resident SP bookie with ‘pencils’ kept busy out the back in a tin shed on Saturdays.

Punters, between beers, were said to have worn off the highway line markings from their constant crossing between the pub and the saloon to place bets.

The Bulli saloon had a timber veneer radio gram continuously tuned to the races, as well as a small illegal bar, supplied by a local hotel, and even a poker machine concealed in a cupboard during the 1940s.

Although billiard saloons blatantly thumbed their noses at the law they were occasionally raided by police.

The South Coast Times reported in 1930 that an undercover constable made several bets with SP Bookie George Kay at the Thirroul Billiard Saloon. Sixteen men listening to the “wireless set” at the time and the bookie were all charged by the constable.

Although Kay’s first offence, he was given a hefty fine of 20 pounds at the Bulli Court House. The 16 punters were fined five shillings each.

The demise of the billiard saloon came with government taking control of illegal betting in the 1960s. The introduction of government controlled TABs eventually sounded the death knell for the colourful institutions.

The Bulli Billiard and Hairdressing Saloon today is occupied by the “Bulli Hardware Man” and punters at the Bulli hotel can safely and legally place their bets over the bar.