Ex-porn baron’s Brisbane gin distillery folds

A popular Australian distillery, led by former porn merchant Jon Atherton, has plunged into liquidation while owing more than $1.3 million.

Ex-porn baron’s gin distillery folds

A Brisbane Distillery company, led by former porn baron Jon Atherton, has plunged into liquidation, leaving creditors owed more than $1.3 million.

The news follows a recent court case that resulted in the eviction of the business from its West End premises due to unpaid rent.

Established in 2019, Brisbane Distillery hailed itself as the city’s first gin distillery, with a clear mission to craft premium local spirits infused with Australian botanicals.

However, The Australian Business Network on Thursday reported the company’s ambitious vision now lies shattered as documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) by liquidator Daniel Moore reveal debts of over $420,000 owed to the Australian Taxation Office, as well as outstanding amounts due to the landlord and suppliers.

Brisbane Distillery in West End Brisbane has gone into liquidation. Picture: Facebook

The Supreme Court ruling in May mandated the company’s departure from its West End location, with allegations surfacing that Mr Atherton had “forcibly regained possession of the property” following a lock change.

According to the ABN report, Mr Atherton vehemently denied involvement in illegal activities and emphasised that no criminal charges were brought against him.

He attributed the company’s downfall to a “challenging year” of hardships, including the detrimental impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and substantial losses resulting from a flooding incident that damaged stock and equipment.

In a strategic manoeuvre to salvage the sinking business, Brisbane Distillery put its unique trademark double-decker event bus up for sale in April.

Jon Atherton, owner of Brisbane Distillery in West End Brisbane – Photo Supplied Facebook

The decision was made to concentrate efforts on distribution and the growth of other business sectors.

The decked-out bus was kitted out with a fully equipped bar and spacious seating on the upper level, accommodating up to 30 guests.

After graduating from the Royal Military College, Mr Atherton transitioned from a seven-year stint in the Australian Army to a career in web software development.

Mr Atherton’s risque claim to fame stems from his ownership of Spotwire Pty Ltd in the 1990s, lucratively sold memberships to online porn websites.

Spotwire once boasted a substantial customer base, numbering 92,983 individuals in 2003 who were each billed at $US21 ($AU30.8).

Brisbane Distillery in West End Brisbane Picture: Facebook

Mr Atherton later ventured into app development, including the controversial iPhone app “Wobble,” which gained notoriety for allowing users to manipulate images and specifically wobble body parts in their iPhone camera rolls.

In 2009, Wobble hit top spot on the App charts in Japan, with over 20,000 downloads over ten days.

Apple later asked Wobble to remove the reference to “Boobs” and “Booty”, a request Mr Atherton disputed.

“Doing a search for “Boobs” in iTunes returns 143 results – many of them marked explicit. A search for “Booty” returns 150 items,” he said at the time,” he said.