St Andrews Beach Brewery unveils new outpost at Melbourne Park

A popular Mornington Peninsula brewery is launching its first city outpost at Melbourne Park— just in time for the AFL finals.

St Andrews Beach Brewery is opening at Melbourne Park in time for the AFL Finals. Picture: David Crosling

A new brewery will next week open in the heart of Melbourne’s iconic sporting precinct. Mornington Peninsula’s award-winning St Andrews Beach Brewery will on Monday unveil its first city outpost — at Melbourne Park.

The Saturday Herald Sun got a sneak peek at the 350 seat venue with indoor and outdoor dining spaces steps from Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena.

The new venue — open in time for the AFL finals — has been built in the Centrepiece function space at Garden Square.

The first all-day hospitality venue for the precinct, the brewery will be open on match days, for concerts and be a popular part of major events such as the Australian Open.

But it will also be open during the week, in a move hoped to attract people to a prime site close to Richmond and the CBD that has traditionally been a ghost town on non event days.

The brewery will enhance the precinct, which has traditionally been a ghost town on non-event days. Picture: Open House Melbourne

Melbourne and Olympic Parks chief executive John Harnden said the brewery would enhance the precinct’s status as a world class destination.

“We are thrilled to partner with St Andrews Beach Brewery and continue our commitment to

providing exceptional food and drink experiences, giving people more reason to visit the

precinct on any day of the week,” he said.

Almost 3.9 million visitors attended about 500 events at Melbourne Park last year.

“Melbourne Park is Victoria’s home for live events and this partnership further delivers on our promise to create a thriving destination which all Victorians can enjoy,’’ Mr Harnden said.

St Andrews Beach Brewery co-founder Andrew Purchase said it would also function as a working brewery, producing beer usually made at St Andrews’ Fingal’s headquarters.

“We can’t wait to bring the best of the Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne’s most iconic

sports and entertainment precinct,’’ he said.

“This venue will pay homage to our beautiful 92-acre home in Fingal, with our same ethos of

striving to brew great beer, serve delicious food and provide experiences to remember.”

Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos said it would serve “another ace for the millions of visitors and sports fans that flock to this precinct in the sporting capital of Australia.”

“There are two things Victoria does better than anywhere else in Australia – major sporting events and food and drink,’’ he said.

“And this new venue at Melbourne Park provides a place to enjoy both.”

The brewery will open from Tuesday–Sunday for lunch and dinner and on Monday’s when events are on in the precinct.