Toowoomba’s Pechey Distilling Co plans expansion of operations to council

To keep pace with demand for product, a boutique micro-distillery just outside Toowoomba has laid out plans for a significant expansion of operations.

A burgeoning artisanal gin distillery just north of Toowoomba has put forward plans to expand its operations, in a bid to keep up with demand for its product.

The Pechey Distilling Co, which was opened by the O’Brien family at the Pechey Homestead three years ago, submitted a proposal to the Toowoomba Regional Council last week to build a new 96sq m shed next to the current facilities.

It marks a big step for the local company, which has become a key tourism operator in the high country hamlets area in the northern Toowoomba region.

In a letter to the council, founder John O’Brien said the new shed would house the still and associated “tanks and receivers”.

John O'Brien from Pechey Distilling Co launches new gin with artworks for Hampton Food Festival. Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“It will permit the activities for storage of bottles and consumables, and a bottling line adjacent to the still,” he wrote.

“It will provide an efficiency boost to the distilling operations — the distillery currently produces around 1500 litres of spirit per year but in time with this larger shed, the production grow to the approved 3000 litres.

“The construction of the shed is not expected to significantly increase the number of visitors to the Pechey Homestead as growth in sales has been offsite at bottle shops, markets, festivals and promotional events.

“The distillery has now been in operation for nearly three years and has proved to be a great destination for the northern part of the Toowoomba (region) promoting tourism.”

Speaking to The Chronicle in 2021, Mr O’Brien said he wanted to see his distillery and the area it resides in become a destination for visitors.

“We will be able to invest in our business and in time that will provide more jobs and opportunities for the region,” he said.

“At the end of the day, producers in the north Darling Downs would like to see the High Country become a world-class tourist destination.”

Pechey is not the only alcoholic artisan based north of Toowoomba, with Crows Nest home to Valknut Meadery and Highfields the location for the Monty Brewing Co.