Stunning twist after Georgie the cockatoo faced being cruelly evicted from a Sydney pub after 16 years of bringing joy to Aussies

Regulars at a famous pub in Australia have come together to support a well-liked cockatoo who was at risk of being kicked out despite bringing happiness to customers for 16 years.

The Friend In Hand pub, located in Glebe in Sydney’s inner-west, has been in operation since 1857 and is renowned worldwide for its 16-year-old native bird, Georgie.

The future of the bird became uncertain when Momento Hospitality sold the pub to the Reilly Group, prompting concerns among the community about whether the new owners would allow Georgie to continue residing in her familiar spot.

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

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

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

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

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. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Ukraine’s Use of Armed Drones against Russian Troops Marks a Significant Milestone

A DRONE equipped with a machine gun has been used for the…

Prince of Wales and President-elect Donald Trump meet at Notre Dame, exchanging warm handshake and embrace at reconstructed Paris cathedral

Prince William and US President-elect Donald Trump shared a warm and firm…

Test Your Vision and IQ: Can You Spot 11 Hidden Bugs in 17 Seconds Along with the Moth?

Test your observation skills with this challenging task involving insects and other…

Investigating John Lennon’s Alleged Illegitimate Child with Utilization of Late Beatles Star’s $25,000 Tooth, Four Decades After Assassination

A DENTIST who bought John Lennon’s tooth for £20,000 is on the…

Insiders from the police share discoveries in assassin’s backpack as search area is expanded.

A backpack found by officers in the hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian…

Unusual element spotted in picture of Trump welcoming French president Macron during his Paris visit for the reopening of Notre-Dame.

Donald Trump awkwardly shook hands with the leader of France during a visit to…

Brian Thompson, a killer, utilized a scarce firearm from World War II to murder a CEO, adding to the mystery of his disappearance like a ghost.

BRIAN Thompson could have been assassinated with a rare WW2-inspired spy gun…

Did the police find out who killed the CEO of the health insurance company?

With investigators believing the man who shot an insurance company CEO to…

“Syrian people loot abandoned palace rooms of Assad, taking large Louis Vuitton boxes and accessing his garage full of supercars. Meanwhile, some steal cash from the central bank as it is reported that the dictator has escaped the country.”

Gleeful Syrians ransacked Bashar al-Assad’s presidential palace in Damascus today of Louis…

Prince William happily greets Donald Trump at British Embassy in Paris, receiving praise as a ‘good one’ by the incoming US President.

Prince William was praised by Donald Trump as a ‘good man’ and…

Parents who let their 3-year-old starve to death believed in conspiracies, banned western medicine, and danced with meat cleavers

A COUPLE who starved their three-year-old son to death danced with meat…

Prince William greets Donald Trump warmly during the unveiling of £1bn Notre Dame restoration project

PRINCE William  met US President-elect Donald Trump at the unveiling of  the…