Work nears on Kidd Retail Group’ $3 million microbrewery in former Tonsley boiler house

Work will start in July on a $3 million plan to turn Tonsley’s former boiler house to a new microbrewery.

Work to turn the former boiler House at Tonsley into a new microbrewery will start around July. Picture: Supplied

• $265m Tonsley housing development is taking shape
• Plans to turn old Boiler House at Tonsley into brewery and restaurant
• Marion Council to supply recycled water to Tonsley Village
• New suburb Tonsley is born on old Mitsubishi site

Work will start in July on a $3 million plan to turn Tonsley’s former boiler house to a new microbrewery.

Kidd Retail Group, behind Lady Burra Brewhouse Bar & Kitchen in the CBD, will employ about 50 people to work at the Tonsley Innovation District’s new venue.

Co-owner Steven Kidd hoped the venue, also featuring food, a large alfresco area and barber, would open by the end of the year, capitalising on the 850-home housing development under construction next door and businesses in the Tonsley Innovation District.

“It’s very exciting — we really want to be part of the culture down there and part of the family,” Mr Kidd said.

“The weekends are about functions and excitement — there’s plenty of room for acoustic live music, DJs and entertainment.

“We (also) want to make sure that we look after the 2000 people that work at Tonsley, with a really nice lunch offering and also breakfast and coffee.”

The company is also behind the 80s-themed Two Suns bar planned for 41 Currie St, in the same building as wine bar The Noble Gentleman, and planned new cafe, Frequency.

It hopes to replicate elements of its city-based venues at the 800sq m Tonsley site, previously used to generate steam for the Mitsubishi and Chrysler manufacturing plants.

“We’re trying to take all these venues into Tonsley,” Mr Kidd said.

“There will be a cellar door-type offering within the boiler house, a microbrewery and beer hall, Portuguese-inspired food … and a bit of excitement in summer with the outdoor alfresco area, a bit like Two Suns.

“Frequency is about a barber and a coffee shop and upbeat music so we’re going to have a zone within the boiler house for coffees and a barber booth area.

“Because it’s a big zone we need to be really smart about how we use this space.”

The new microbrewery would include canning and packaging facilities, while Lady Burra would be used for experimental beer, he said.

“The space is also big enough to be putting down some whisky and gin — we’d love to have our own label.”

Kidd Retail Group is leasing the 1960s building from State Government land agency Renewal SA, and had originally hoped the microbrewery would be open early this year.

Mr Kidd said work had been delayed due to changes in the boiler house fit-out’s design and the need to ensure his development complemented plans for a new building next door, featuring apartments above specialty shops and a small supermarket.

“We’ve been working to make sure everything flows well between their development and ours,” Mr Kidd said.

“It’s a very old building so there’s been a series of tests on the building itself and understanding how to tackle the works.”

Mr Kidd’s building company Pinnacle will complete the boiler house’s fit-out, which will cost between $2.5 million and $3 million.

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