Not to reopen old wounds, but if it were still in production, the Darwin Stubby would have just celebrated its 60th birthday. Brewer Carlton and United was the toast of the Territory when it launched the jumbo 2.25 litre stubby in 1958. Arguably the stubby's biggest fan was Norman the Brahman bull, who in 1988 was reported to have downed a stubby in a record 47 seconds at the annual Darwin stubby drinking contest at the Humpty Doo Hotel. The stubby outlived Norm and quenched the thirst of beer lovers until 2015, when the iconic product was discontinued, although there's a fair few still operational as doorstoppers around the traps.

Picture: Library & Archives NT. Larrimah Wayside Inn, 1983, PictureNT, Northern Territory Government Photographer Collection, PH0136/0072

Published: 20 May 2018