A pleasing example of old integrated into new is the Port Melbourne redevelopment of the original Joshua Brothers Distillery building. The old distillery has been converted into a trendy apartment block, but the origins of the building have been retained through a liquor-inspired façade. There are also plaques located near the building entrances detailing the building’s history.
Info plaque and painted façade of Joshua Bros Distilly building today
From 1863, “Victoria became the centre for Australian whisky attracting a number of large distilleries around Ballarat, Port Melbourne and the Yarra River” says Chris Middleton from Victoria Valley Distillery. Pot still malt whisky was produced in volume by Victorian distilleries and sold to liquor retailers and hotels. It was not until after the Great War that whisky was bottled, branded and marketed. Joshua Brother’s Boomerang became one of the first largest brands, with 1.5 million litres being produced from the Federal Distillery in Port Melbourne each year.
Whisky was held under Government bond, which assured quality for local distilleries and consumers and increased the positive reputation of Victorian whisky. “Southern Victoria was an attractive region to make whisky as barley cultivation favoured the colder climate in winter. The water quality was very good, with a limestone platform running from Melbourne across to South Australia and the volatility of the seasonal temperatures made ideal conditions for maturation” says Middleton.
The legacy of the lively whisky industry lives on through precious buildings like the Joshua Brother’s distillery. The building’s purpose may have changed, but its history has been distilled and preserved for future generations.
For more info, read Word from the Valley, from Victoria Valley Distillery, Aug 2009:
http://victoriavalley.com.au/docs/VicValleyNews-Ed8.pdf
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