Tin Mountain Derby: Dorset Council approves microbrewery

The transformation of an interpretive centre on a “failed” northeastern Tasmania tourist trail has hit another milestone, as the owners share exclusive details about their plans.

A key milestone in the transformation of an attraction on a northeastern Tasmania tourist trail that never got off the ground has been reached, with the council approving plans for a new small-batch brewery, distillery and bar, with an existing cafe also to be refurbished.

Under the plans, lodged by Tim Kemsley and Kate Brown, owners of the Tin Mine Centre at 55 Main St, Derby, the brewery and distillery would be located in the existing building’s basement.

Meanwhile, work is currently under way for stage one of the couple’s plans to renovate the back of the building to create a bar area which would open out on to a deck overlooking the Ringarooma River.

Stage two of the development would see the former Crank It Cafe renovated and relaunched.

“Space has been created as a multi-function/use area located between the bar and cafe that may be used to extend the cafe space during busy months and be used for events, community meetings, information and private functions,” the couple said.

Once completed, the centre will be known as LOT40, the name of the original mining lease where the building sits.

Kate Brown and Tim Kemsley, owners of Derby's Tin Mine Centre, which will be relaunched as LOT40. Picture: Supplied

The duo has been engrossing themselves in brewing and distilling the past few years, with Mr Kemsley already having developed “a core range of beers that we will initially sell at LOT40 along with other Tasmanian craft beer”.

“Our vision is to have the largest selection of locally made draught beer on tap in the north of Tasmania,” they said.

“The long-term plan is to build a larger brewery and distillery 3km outside of Derby.”

Meanwhile, the gin distilled on-site will be known as Blue Trail and will be sold locally and marketed Australia-wide.

The pair hope to launch the new bar and refurbished cafe at the end of this year, while production of the beer and gin will ideally begin from April, with a “limited opening” slated for a few months’ time.

“We have a major landscaping plan that will transform the surrounds of the centre and open up the site to create a greater street presence in the centre of Derby,” they said.

“Our ambition is for the LOT40 to be the first stop for visitors to Derby.”

The former Crank It Cafe at Derby will be renovated and relaunched as part of the Tin Mine Centre’s redevelopment as LOT40. Picture: Supplied

Since purchasing the centre in 2017, Mr Kemsley and Ms Brown have already made upgrades, most notably launching the Tin Mountain on-site accommodation in mid-2019, consisting of three units capable of housing up to eight guests in each.

Dorset Mayor Greg Howard said council was “impressed” by the couple’s plans for the site, which is why they sold the centre to the duo despite competing bids.

“It’s a little bit different to what’s already there (in Derby) – you need variety,” Mayor Howard said.

“Mountain bikers are into boutique beer.

“Intrastate bikers are staying for three or four nights – some mainlanders come for up to a week.”

Mr Howard described the centre as one of the “big failures” prior to the site’s sale to Mr Kemsley and Ms Brown.

“It was part of the so-called Trail of the Tin Dragon, starting with the Joss House and museum at Launceston, there was supposed to be a bridge and monument at Branxholm, the Tin Mine Centre at Derby and another memorial at St Helens,” he said.

“But apart from the Joss House and museum, nothing else got built, so the Tin Mine Centre sat out on its own.”

Breaking News Breaking News Accommodation at Derby's Tin Mountain. Picture: Supplied

Mayor Howard said punters found the $16 asking price for the centre, which was built in 2008–09, prohibitive and it was expensive for the council to maintain the interactive screens.

“They predicted there would be up to 60,000 visitors per annum, but there ended up being only 8–10,000,” he said.

“It was losing $200,000 a year at one stage.”

The continued development of Derby, centred on the famed Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails, has seen property prices skyrocket in the area, with a Main St shack, the ‘Crack House’, notoriously selling for $1.31m in August last year.

Local realtor Justin Wiggins said he was in the process of drawing up another contract which would see the residential market again crest the $1m mark in the coming weeks.