Primo family’s celebrated champagne bucket comes home to Narrabri Museum

The Narrabri and District Historical Society was delighted to receive the champagne bucket, which was awarded to the Primo family for their contribution to the Narrabri community during the 1955 flood era.

Historical Society researcher Gillian Kahl said items such as the awarded champagne bucket were rare to come by.

“We don’t see a lot of pub memorabilia from the time so it’s exciting for us to receive the cup.”

Jack and Irene Primo took over ownership of the Commercial Hotel, now the Crossroads Hotel, after moving from Sydney in 1953.

The institution has survived multiple fires since it was built in 1861 but in 1955 it was a haven for over 50 Narrabri community members and their pets who sought refuge in the hotel’s higher levels.

The cup was sent by the daughter of Jack and Irene, Sandra O’Brien from Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

With it Mrs O’Brien included a letter in which she recounted her first experience of the flood.

“On February 28, 1955, at 6 am I was standing in ankle-deep water at the front door and by lunchtime it was up to my waist,” she wrote.

Among those who retreated to the Commercial Hotel to escape the flood waters was Beverley Schatz from the historical society who was five years old at the time.

“We were at the movies when we were told to get home,” said Mrs Schatz.

“My mum grabbed a handful of clothes and joked that we should ‘throw them in the river and follow them and we’ll see where we end up’ which happened to be the Commercial Hotel.

“The waters were up to about five to six feet, and kept rising, so families just slept on the verandah.

“After two weeks, once they cleaned it out, Jack got some kegs in and threw a huge party for the town.”

Mrs Schatz’s cousin Sue Gleeson, researcher for the historical society, was also in town, but headed up to the village instead of the pub when the flood occurred.

Garry Burr, president of the historical society said that Sandra’s phone call brought up many memories of the family and the Commercial Hotel.

“I remember when I was a boy of eight years old, I would sneak into the pub and plant behind the door when my dad was there. The Primos knew I was back there, but they would let me sit in,” said Mr Burr.

Mr Burr also recalls that while the adults stayed in town during the floods, he was sent with most of the kids to the Melbourne’s property.

“I was nine then, and because of the mud and everything, they were frightened that some sort of disease would break out, so they moved us all out of town,” he said.

The silver-plated champagne bucket features distinguishing grape vines around the lip, and lion heads grabbing two side rings.

The inscription reads: To Mr & Mrs Primo in appreciation for their assistance given to the public during the Narrabri flood. February 1955.

It is now standing tall and proud, but a little less full of champagne at the Narrabri Museum.