Western Downs Regional Council approves new brewery for old Chinchilla News building

A group of schoolteachers with a keen interest in beer are set to bring a Chinchilla landmark back to life while helping to cement the regional town as a destination for craft beer.

A regional Queensland town is on its way to becoming an unexpected microbrewery destination in southwest Queensland after the approval of a second venue thanks to a group of schoolteachers with a passion for beer.

Chinchilla will soon be some to two microbreweries, with the second venture coming about after five keen brewers, who are also local school teachers, purchased the building that was formerly home of the Chinchilla News.

The group just received approval from Western Downs Regional Council for the microbrewery, which will be developed over three stages beginning with a membership-based club to generate start-up funds.

The Chinchilla News building -The Chinchilla news-job printing-Thomas Birkett, proprietor. Left to right: W.O. Brie, Sydney Blanchard, D. Hoare, O Mackay (later Mrs Frank Mann) 1915. The historic building will soon be home to a new brewery.

Chinchilla is set to welcome its first microbrewery in June at Clover Hill Accommodation and Camping and with approval for a second brewery to open, the town is well on its way to becoming a destination for craft beer enthusiasts.

Council’s Tourism, Events and Regional Promotion spokeswoman Kylie Bourne said the project had the potential to be a unique attraction for both tourists and locals.

“This is the kind of project that fits perfectly with council’s ongoing commitment to advance the region as a tourism destination,” she said.

“Visitors to our towns want to find different experiences and a destination with two bespoke microbreweries certainly ticks that box.”

The new brewery will open in the old Chinchilla News building at 12 Mayne St, with the building’s history planned to be a core theme of the brewery’s branding and design.

Council spokesman for Planning and Environment Andrew Smith said it was fantastic to see this acknowledgment of our region’s history incorporated into the plans, and that the development demonstrated confidence in the local economy as well as underscoring Chinchilla’s reputation as a vibrant character-filled town.

Stages 2 and 3 will focus on equipment upgrades to expand capacity, and the addition of a

function room, commercial kitchen, outdoor decking and amenities.

The group hopes to eventually increase production to 60,000 litres per year and offer beer

sales, but without a formal bottle shop.

Originally published as Western Downs Regional Council approves new brewery for old Chinchilla News building