Plan brewing for old Red Shed at Macquarie Point

A FORMER vehicle repair shed in Hobart’s industrial heartland could be transformed into a craft brewery.

L-R Brendan Parnell co-founder and Scott Overdorf co-founder and head brewer. The Hobart Brewing Company have submitted a proposal to council to temporarily use the 'red shed' that is the former Toll shed at Mac Point. Picture Nikki Davis-Jones

A FORMER vehicle repair shed in Hobart’s industrial heartland could soon be transformed into a craft brewery and bar.

Brendan Parnell and Scott Overdorf, of the Hobart Brewing Company, have lodged a development application with the city council to temporarily use part of the vacant Macquarie Point site for a microbrewery and bar.

The 100-year-old Red Shed was last used as a Toll heavy vehicle repair depot.

Mr Parnell said the pair had been scouring the city for the right location to expand.

“Craft brewing in a number of other cities around the world has often started in regeneration zones,” he said.

The project is intended as interim use of the site while the Macquarie Point Development Corporation’s masterplan is developed.

Mr Parnell said the brewery hoped to open before Christmas, pending planning approvals, and expected to be on the site for the next two-and-a-half years.

“We’ll speak with the developers who are looking at the site and look to integrate our future plans with whoever does end up developing it,” he said.

“We have no plans to be leaving here, but we’ll work with others to make that happen.”

MPDC chief executive officer Elizabeth Jack said it was premature to comment on the potential use of the Red Shed as the corporation was still in the process of finalising the lease.