The nineteenth century saw tremendous and unparalleled growth in the number of breweries and pubs across Australia. Such growth and expansion in the Australian brewing market would never be seen again.

For example, by 1871 there were 126 breweries in Victoria which only had a population of 800,000 at the time. In 1883 The Age newspaper reported that there were 20 breweries and 1120 pubs in Melbourne (population of 284, 474). The oversupply of pubs seemed to create a shortage of original names; there were 21 Railyways Hotels, 20 Victoria Hotels, 13 Commerical Hotels, 12 Albion Hotels and 9 Bayview Hotels. We are not sure how many Imperial Hotels there were but no doubt there were quite a few. One of the contributors to AustralianBeers.com has made it her aim to visit all Imperial Hotels in Australia. Read about her Imperial Quest here.

The numbers of breweries and pubs began to dwindle towards the end of the century as the 1890s depression struck home. In addition the capital intensive lager gained in popularity and the small traditional ale brewers could not compete. The advent of the railway also enabled beer from the larger breweries to transported all over the colonies.

The present custom of drinking alcohol to excess .. will continue.

Marcus Clarke, The Future Australian Race, 1878

It was during the nineteenth century that most of the breweries which make the Australian beers that we know and love today were established and began to grow.  Their fascinating and unique stories are to be found elsewhere on AustralianBeers.com.  But here’s a quick summary:

 

1822	Peter Degraves starts up the Cascade Brewery in Hobart. It will become the longest operating brewery in Australia.
1835	Tooth’s Brewery is established in Sydney.
1836	John Warren starts South Australia’s first brewery.
1837	James Stokes establishes the first brewery in Western Australia (it will later become the Emu Brewery).
1838	Moss establishes the first brewery in Melbourne.
1862	Thomas Cooper, a Yorkshireman, begins brewing ale and stout in South Australia. Coopers is still owned and operated by his family.
1864	Carlton Brewery opens in Melbourne.
1885	Gambrinus Brewery, the first lager brewery, is established in Melbourne.
1887	The Fosters brothers arrive from New York with refrigeration equipment and establish a lager brewery.
1889	Lager is first brewed in Queensland at the Castlemaine and Quinlan Brewery.