Furphy celebrates pubs and the great Australian art of storytelling

Nintey-five per cent of all Australians believe storytelling has always been part of our nation’s pub history, with six in seven believing that telling a furphy is a unique part of Aussie culture.

The results are just one of the findings from the Furphy Storytelling Research Report, commissioned by its namesake and conducted by Lonergan Research in March 2021. The study interviewed 1,037 Australian adults over 18.

From spinning a yarn to sharing a tall tale, a furphy shared at the pub means more than a pint of beer. 

Research suggests that 66 per cent of Australians believe a great story has humour, while 44 per cent say that a good story must be relatable. A quarter of Aussies claim they are pretty good at spinning a yarn. As Aussies we are unpretentious and happy to have a laugh at ourselves, and that is the true art of telling a furphy. 

A year on from pubs shutting their doors, punters are back at the bar sharing beers and banter, with socialising and storytelling making up for lost face time in 2020.   

Coined in World War 1 as Aussie troops would gather around the Furphy-created watercart, a unique Aussie storytelling tradition was born – telling a furphy.

“The art of storytelling is at the heart of human existence. It has been fundamental to people and their communities across all cultures. Stories inspire, comfort, convince and entertain”, said Adam and Sam Furphy. 

“Storytelling is a powerful way of bringing people together to celebrate life in all its diversity. And there is no better place to listen to and share a Furphy than at your favourite local.”

Today, not only is the family surname an icon of Australian manufacturing as well as a term entrenched in Aussie culture, but also now the name of one of Australia’s top growing beer brands. After successfully becoming a favourite with Furphy Ale, Furphy Crisp Lager was Victoria’s most successful new beer launch in 2020.

With pubs the social cornerstone of many communities, one in five Australians love chatting with their publican and other pub punters, with a quarter of Australians wishing their relationship with other locals at their pub was better.

To reignite the banter at the pub and to celebrate the taps again flowing, Furphy are on a mission to uncover the nation’s best furphies from publican to punter, calling on Aussies to keep the art of storytelling alive.

Throughout May, Aussies everywhere have their chance to share their most unbelievable tall tale in exchange for a Refreshing Ale or Crisp Lager at their local. A Furphy for a furphy - participating venues HERE.

To get the stories flowing, Furphy is kicking off a national pub tour ‘Unearthing Unbelievable’ – a space where furphies will be fuelled and found. Comedian Matt Okine and AFL legend Robert “Dipper" DiPierdomenico are among the talent hosting. 

With almost all Australians believing storytelling is important and with 60 per cent seeing it as a form of socialising, the unique term furphy remains much more than a beer in our pubs.