Colonial Brewing Co targeted by cancel culture movement

Family-owned Colonial Brewing targeted by activists who demand ban for ‘creating nostalgia’ over a time when indigenous people ‘were killed en masse’.

‘Look, we get it’: Colonial Brewing Co’s Lawrence Dowd says the company has been consulting over its name, given concerns over its connotations. Picture: Aaron Francis

Australian-owned independent craft brewer Colonial Brewing Co has become the latest victim of a spiralling cancel culture, with anti-racism activists calling for the brand to be removed from shelves for “creating nostalgia” for a time when indigenous people “were killed en masse”.

The family-owned business, which has breweries in WA and Victoria, has been forced to consider a costly rebranding after receiving “significant” feedback about its name and the potential for racist connotations.

 

It has already been dumped from Melbourne liquor chain Blackhearts & Sparrows, which has pledged to donate profits from remaining stock to Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance.

“We’ve had discussions in the past both with Colonial about their name,” owner Paul Ghaie said on Tuesday.

“In light of recent events both within Australia and around the world, alongside conversations with customers who have reached out with concerns, we have decided to stop stocking their brand in our stores.”

Journalist Shaad D'Souza. Picture: Instagram

Freelance journalist Shaad D’Souza, who writes for The Guardian and The Saturday Paper, claimed to have been campaigning on the issue for three years.

In social media postings defending his actions, Mr D’Souza said he believed trying to bring about corporate change was “stupid” and a “distraction” but that he had felt a “very deep, personal upset … when I see people drinking” the beer.

“My concern with a brand name like ‘Colonial Brewing’ is that it glorifies and glamorises the colonial process that destroyed cultures and countries across the globe,” he told The Australian.

“It is perverse for companies to gain profit by creating nostalgia for a time when First Nations people were killed en masse.””

A tweet posted by an Australian writer, Shaad D'Souza.

Paul Ghaie and his sister Jess Ghaie, founders of the Blackhearts and Sparrows wine store. Picture: Aaron Francis

Colonial Brewing Co managing director Lawrence Dowd said he was disappointed by the backlash given the company was named by the previous owners after setting up in Margaret River, WA, and was a reference to “colonising the wine region with one of the first craft breweries”.

It had not been chosen to celebrate colonisation of Australia, he said.

Nevertheless, Mr Dowd acknowledged there was significant concern within the Black Lives Matter community.

“Look, we get it,” he said.

“Over the past six months Colonial Brewing Co have undertaken a process to review and understand the options we have to approach the name considering the historical meaning.

“The process includes consultations with the appropriate parties to ensure a considered outcome is reached.”

Mr Dowd said the company, which is owned by the Morris Family and chaired by Computershare founder Chris Morris, supported several philanthropic ventures, including projects working with First Nations people in regional areas.

Colonial is the latest business to fall foul of activists worldwide, who have also targeted statues, films and television shows and newspaper editors for perceived historical or racial insensitivities.

Bella d’Abrera, director of the Institute of Public Affairs’ western civilisation program, said cancel culture was part of a “nihilist movement” that would have “zero-to-no impact” on racism in the community.

“The Colonial Brewing company should not be apologising for its name,” D d’Abrera said. “Mainstream Australians do not want an activist minority telling them what they can and can’t watch, what they can and can’t read and especially what beer they can and can’t drink.”