Nearly 40 years ago and just by chance, Sydney silk Brian Dooley decided to purchase the freehold of Newtown pub The Courthouse Hotel, more affectionately known as The Courty by locals, for around $530,000.
Then in his 30s, the budding barrister would work until 6pm or 7pm and then head over to the Australia Street venue to pull kegs or pay bills late into the night. Two decades ago, Dooley enlisted long-time publicans Bruce Solomon of hospitality business Solotel and David Milton to lease and operate the venue.
