Locals of an iconic Australian pub have rallied behind a much-loved cockatoo after she faced being cruelly evicted after bringing joy to patrons for 16 years.
The Friend In Hand was established in 1857 in Glebe in Sydney‘s inner-west and has earned fame around the world for its resident native, 16-year-old Georgie.
However, the bird’s fate was left hanging in the balance after Momento Hospitality sold the pub to the Reilly Group leaving locals questioning whether the new owners would allow the bird to remain at her perch.
Glebe local Toby Lee warned the domesticated cockatoo would ‘not survive being rehomed’ in an impassioned call to arms on Wednesday.
‘This is Georgie from the Friend in Hand, the pub has been bought and the new owner wants to get rid of her!’ Mr Lee wrote on a community Facebook page.
‘She has lived at the friend for 16 years and would not survive being rehomed. I think a petition to the new owner may help. Any thoughts?’
Dozens rallied for the much-loved cockatoo in the comments.
‘A terrible day for Glebe… this bird is Glebe!!! And so was the cockatoo that lived in the pub before her I think her name was Josie,’ another wrote.
Georgie the cockatoo (pictured) has been the much-loved feathered mascot of the Friend in Hand hotel in Glebe, in Sydney’s inner-west, for almost 20 years
Locals feared the native would be left homeless after the pub recently changed hands
‘Georgie is an Australian legend. Many go to the Friend in Hand just to enjoy a beer in Georgie’s company,’ a second commented.
‘Can’t the old owners take [the bird] with them? These birds live a long time. If new owner is not interested in it, this bird deserves more,’ a third said.
In a stunning twist, Momento Hospitality confirmed the new owners had agreed to allow Georgie to continue her residency at the Friend in Hand.
‘Momento Hospitality would like to let you know we have sold the Friend in Hand Hotel. We have enjoyed our time here and want to sincerely thank the community for all the good times and support,’ it said on Thursday night.
‘It seems there is concern about what will happen to Georgie. Georgie is well loved and looked after and will always be a part of Friend in Hand Hotel.
‘The incoming owners, Reilly Group, operate some fantastic pubs through the inner west.
‘They have kindly offered to take Georgie to the White Cockatoo Hotel in Petersham until such time the Friend in Hand reopens.
‘Georgie will be back but if anyone would like to see her, please pay her a visit there. She will be well cared for and look after. Cheers FIH team.’
Publican and CEO of Reilly Group Ray Reilly, confirmed the pub group would officially own the Friend in Hand hotel by next Easter.
Georgie features prominently in signage around the hotel and on social media
The Friend In Hand is an historic hotel established in 1857 in Glebe in Sydney’s inner west and is famous around the world for its resident cockatoo, 16-year-old Georgie
Mr Reilly added that it hadn’t been his company’s decision to close the pub.
‘Georgie is loving her new home (at The White Cockatoo Hotel in Petersham) as too are our staff and customers,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘She has only been with us for a few hours and already she has achieved a 5-star Google review.’
Reilly Group currently has seven hotels in its portfolio across Sydney and NSW – The White Cockatoo Hotel, The Henson Hotel in Marrickville, The Sydney Park Hotel in Newtown, The Sutton Forest in the NSW Southern Highlands, The London Hotel and The Cricketers in Balmain and the New Ivanhoe Hotel in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.
Georgie enjoyed her own perch behind the bar at the Friend in Hand and at night roosted in the upstairs master bedroom.
A sulphur-crested cockatoo is part of the fabric of the historic pub with a cockatoo included in the hotel logo and on external signage and its social media.
In 2014, ‘George’ the cockatoo had been cruelly stolen but returned unharmed just hours later after a radio appeal and a desperate search.
In 2017, it was revealed George the cockatoo was in fact female after an egg was discovered with the pub’s then-owner Michael Byrne renaming the bird ‘Georgie’.
Mr Byrne said it wasn’t the first time he had had to rename one of the pub’s feathered mascots after discovering ‘Joe’ the cockatoo was pregnant.
The bird was renamed ‘Josephine’ with many locals affectionately calling her Josie.
When the Friend in Hand sold in 2019, the resident cockatoo was reportedly written into the hotel’s official sales inventory.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Friend in Hand and Momento Hospitality for comment.
