Henry Brind and Co.

Poster. Courtesy Federation University Historical Collection [Cat.No.8281].

Background

1864 - Brind's Distillery was established at Warrenheip 1864 by Robert Dunn, who gave his name to Dunnstown.

1870 - The company was in trouble and Henry Brind and others purchased the ailing company.

1894 - The distillery was the only place in Victoria making pot-still whisky.

c1919 - Distilling ceased shortly after World War One when it was purchased by United Distilleries, with production moved to the Corio Distillery at Geelong.

1924 - Amalgamation

MERGER ARRANGED.

DISTILLERY COMPANIES.

MELBOURNE, Thursday.— Arrangements for merging the Federal (Joshua's) Distillery Co., Brinds Pty., Ltd., Breheny Bros., Kenna's Proprietary Limited, and the Australian Distillery Co.Ltd. were agreed to by the shareholders of the companies concerned, at an extraordinary meeting to-day. The new company will be known as the Federal Distilleries Proprietary Limited, with a paid up capital of £565.000.

1927 = Closure of Brind's Distillery

BRIND'S DISTILLERY CLOSED .

BALLARAT, Saturday. — The com pany controlling Brind's Distillery, Dunnstown, near Ballarat, has decid-ed to close down the distilling branch and to retain the malting branch. The decision follows complaints from the Buninyong Shire Council that the effluent from the distillery contaminated the water in the creek near by. The distillery was established 70 years ago by the late Mr Henry Brind, and was controlled in recent years by Brind's Pty. Ltd., until it merged into the Federal Distilleries Ltd.

History

In it's heyday the distillery employed over 500 people, and included accommodation for workers.

Brinds were distillers and maltsters. The distillery at one time was operated by Fosters and produces bottled water from an active spring.

Reference for William Robertson from Brinds Propriety Limited,, 1924. Federation University Historical Collection (Cat.No.4791.13 )

DISTILLERY AMALGAMATION.- A meeting of the Australian Distillery Co is announced for January 10 to consider the amalgamation proposals lately mentioned. After negotiations between the representatives of the Federal Distillery Co , Brinds Pty Ltd, Brehney Bros, and Kennas Pty Ltd and the Australian Distillery Co approval has been given to an agreement by which each of these companies is to transfer its assets as and from May 1 last (subject to the retention by the Australian Distillery Co Ltd. of £7327, due to its sundry debtors) to a new company, to be known as the Federal Distilleries Pty Ltd and as consideration for the transfer of such assets each of these companies is to receive certain ordinary shares of £1 each in the capital of the new company Of the bank overdraft amounting to £36,645 the Australian Distillery Company Limited is to transfer to the new company £31,645 and retain all other liabilities, amounting approximately to £20,085 including the remaining £5000 due to this companies bankers. Of the new companies issued capital of 505 000 shares of £1 each the Australian Distillery Co is to receive 162,325 shares of £1 each.

AUSTRALIAN WHISKY.

Its Rise to Popularity.

HANDICAPS OVERCOME.

Victorian Consumption 39.8 Per Cent.

The history of whisky distillation in Australia dates back to 1859, when, the late Mr. Henry Brind established a distillery at Dunnstown, near Ballarat, Vic toria. From this beginning may be traced the postwar amalgamation of interests, whose progress has resulted in the popularising of the Australian spirit to such an extent that in the State of Victoria to-day a proportion of 39.8 per cent, of the total consumption has been achieved. In other States, and specifically New South Wales, progress with the Australian product has not been so strongly marked, and the percentages of the total consumption vary from 39.8 to 10 in the following order:— Victoria, Tasmania, West Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. Towards the end of 1868 it was found that the water from a spring at the foot of Mount Warrenheip contained proper ties which made it ideal for distilling purposes. This discovery led to the transfer to that site (now known as Dunnstown) of Myer's Ballarat Distil lery, which, had been established on. Lake Wendouree two years previously. In 1870 Henry Brind, an English chemist, was secretary of this firm. He acquired a controlling interest, and subsequently became head of the business, which was carried on under the title of Henry Brind and Company. It was in 1884 that Joshua Brothers established their distillery at Port Melbourne, known as the "Federal Distillery," and this plant, with its gradual improvement and en largement, is to-day claimed to be the largest pure malt distillery in the world. ...

Site

Dunnstown

In 1924 Brinds Pty Ltd had offices at 5 Camp Street, Ballarat and 14 Queen Street, Melbourne.

Works Produced

Reference for William Robertson from Federal Distilleries Pty Ltd, 1927. Federation University Historical Collection (Cat.No.4791.18)

The People

The first directors were Henry Brind, Dr James Stewart, James Coglan, Dr Wallace, and others.

George S. Anderson

Henry Brind

Lloyd Brind was the Manager of Brinds Pty Ltd in 1924.

John B. Duthie, Secretary

Kenna was the proprietor in 1988.

William Robertson was employed as an enginedriver and stillman by Brinds from 1916 to 1924.

See also

Henry Brind

LLoyd Brind

Distilleries

External Links

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--Beth Kicinski 12:11, 10 June 2012 (EST); --C.K.Gervasoni 18:08, 20 May 2014 (EST)