Queensland Brewery Ltd
Brisbane brewer known for Bulimba Cup and Gold Top beer.
Queensland Brewery Ltd was a brewing company that operated a brewery in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Originally based at Bulimba (now known as Teneriffe) on the Brisbane River, it was known as the Eagle Brewery before being sold in 1883. The company later relocated to Fortitude Valley and became a notable local brewer, producing draught and bottled beers such as 'Silver top' and 'Gold top'.
- Founded
- 1888 (based on 25th annual report in 1913)
- Location
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Original site
- Bulimba (now Teneriffe), known as Eagle Brewery
- Relocation
- 1906 to Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
- Notable beers
- Draught beer, Silver top, Gold top
- Taken over
- 1961 by Carlton & United Breweries
- Brewery relocated
- 1993 to Yatala
Lore & Background
The brewery began as the Eagle Brewery at Bulimba on the western bank of the Bulimba Reach of the Brisbane River. In May 1883, Messrs Tooth and Company sold the Eagle Brewery and Sugar Refinery to Mr Huesman and partners for £15,500. The Queensland Brewing Company Limited won prizes at the Brisbane Exhibition in August 1884 for its draught malt ale, draught XXX ale, draught porter, bottled malt ale and bottled porter. The company appeared to be established in 1888, with its 25th annual report released in 1913. By 1901, it was producing draught beer and two bottled beers called 'Silver top' and 'Gold top'. In 1906, the brewery relocated to Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, a landmark observed by motorists entering the Story Bridge from the northside (the bridge opened in 1940). In the early 1940s, the company built a new headquarters and wine and spirit store at 501 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, designed in the Functionalist style with Art Deco motifs; this building is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. In 1961, the company was taken over by Carlton & United Breweries, and the brewery was relocated to Yatala in 1993.
Reader's Guide
Queensland Brewery Ltd played a significant role in Queensland's brewing history, operating for over seven decades before being absorbed by a larger national brewer. Its beers, particularly the bottled 'Gold top' and 'Silver top', were well-known in the early 20th century. The company's legacy includes the Bulimba Brewery Challenge Cup, first awarded in 1904 for rugby union in Ipswich and West Moreton, and later the Bulimba Cup for rugby league from 1925. The company's former headquarters at 501 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, remains a heritage-listed building, reflecting the Functionalist and Art Deco architectural style of the early 1940s. The brewery's relocation to Yatala in 1993 marked the end of its long association with the Fortitude Valley site. The company's history is tied to notable figures such as Thomas Welsby, who served as chairman of the board of directors in 1907.
Did You Know?
- The brewery was originally known as the Eagle Brewery at Bulimba (now Teneriffe).
- In 1904, the Bulimba Brewery Challenge Cup was a silver trophy with staghorn handles.
- The company's new headquarters at 501 Ann Street, built in the early 1940s, is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Queensland Brewery Ltd?
Queensland Brewery Ltd was a Brisbane-based brewing company founded in 1888 that became one of Queensland's most recognizable local producers. It operated independently for over seven decades before being absorbed into a larger national brewing group in 1961.
Where was Queensland Brewery Ltd originally based?
The brewery first ran out of a riverside site at Bulimba on the Brisbane River, an area now called Teneriffe. That location had previously been known as the Eagle Brewery before the 1883 sale that set the stage for the new company's formation.
What beers did Queensland Brewery Ltd produce?
The company brewed draught beer for local pubs and also produced bottled lines most famously branded Silver Top and Gold Top. Those two names became household staples in Queensland households and bars throughout the early and mid-twentieth century.
What happened to Queensland Brewery Ltd in 1961?
Carlton & United Breweries acquired the company in 1961, ending its era as an independent Queensland brewer. The Brisbane operation was folded into the larger national group, and the old Queensland Brewery identity gradually faded from the market.
When did Queensland Brewery Ltd move to Fortitude Valley?
In 1906 the brewery shifted its operations to Brunswick Street in the Fortitude Valley precinct, leaving the original Bulimba/Teneriffe riverside ground behind. The new urban site allowed the company to keep churning out its draught and bottled ranges closer to Brisbane's growing population.
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