Tooheys Brewery
Australian brewery with a history since 1869.
Tooheys Brewery sits in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe, Australia, and operates as a beer brand and production site. It makes beers under the Tooheys and Hahn Brewery names, and belongs to the Lion beverages group—which itself became part of Japan’s Kirin Company in 2009. The brewery’s roots stretch back to 1869, when Irish immigrant John Thomas Toohey got his brewing license. He and his brother James Matthew ran pubs in Melbourne before moving to Sydney in the 1860s. They first brewed Tooheys Black Old Ale in a brewery where Darling Harbour now stands. By 1875, demand had grown so much that they built The Standard Brewery in inner-city Surry Hills. In 1902, the business went public as Tooheys Limited, and in 1930 it started brewing lager—what’s now Tooheys New. The brewery shifted west to Lidcombe in 1955. Tooheys bought competitor Miller’s Brewers in Taverner’s Hill in 1967, shutting that site in 1975. In March 1980, Tooheys merged with Castlemaine Perkins to form Castlemaine Tooheys. Bond Corporation bought that company in 1985. Castlemaine Tooheys appeared as the appellant in the 1990 High Court case Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia. Because the brewery operated outside South Australia but sold beer there, a South Australian law that forced a high refund value on non-refillable bottles from other states was ruled inconsistent with section 92 of the Australian Constitution. The discriminatory and protectionist financial hit led Castlemaine Tooheys to successfully overturn the law. Lion Nathan bought a 50% stake in Bond’s Natbrew Holdings in 1990, and took full ownership in 1992. Hahn-branded beers moved from the Camperdown Hahn Brewery to Tooheys sometime between Lion’s 1993 acquisition of Hahn and 1999, when the Hahn Brewery was renamed Malt Shovel Brewery. Beers sold under the Tooheys trademark are brewed at Tooheys Brewery. Home-brew kits come from Lion and are made at Canterbury Brewery.
Tooheys is a big sponsor of rugby league, the most popular sport in New South Wales. Tooheys New backs the New South Wales rugby league team in the annual State of Origin series—the state’s biggest sporting event. The Tooheys New logo sits on the Blues’ sleeves. The team was once known as the Tooheys Blues. Tooheys New also sponsors many Country Rugby League competitions across the state and is available at nearly every rugby league venue there.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Owner
- Lion / (Kirin)
- Founded
- 1869
- Products
- Beer, cider
- Production
- 3 e6hl
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The foundation of Tooheys dates back to 1869, when Irish immigrant John Thomas Toohey obtained his brewing licence. He and his brother James Matthew ran pubs in Melbourne before moving to Sydney in the 1860s. They began brewing Tooheys Black Old Ale in a brewery near present-day Darling Harbour. By 1875, demand had soared, and they established The Standard Brewery in inner-city Surry Hills. In 1902, the company went public as Tooheys Limited, and began brewing lager (the present-day Tooheys New) in 1930. The brewery moved west to Lidcombe in 1955. In 1967, Tooheys bought competitor Miller's Brewers in Taverner's Hill, closing that brewery in 1975. In March 1980, Tooheys merged with Castlemaine Perkins to form Castlemaine Tooheys, which was purchased by Bond Corporation in 1985. Castlemaine Tooheys were the appellants in the 1990 case Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia, successfully invalidating a South Australian law that imposed a substantial refund value for non-refillable bottles from other states, as it was ruled inconsistent with section 92 of the Constitution of Australia. Lion Nathan acquired a 50% stake in Bond's Natbrew Holdings in 1990 and took total ownership in 1992. Production of Hahn-branded beers moved from the Camperdown Hahn Brewery to Tooheys at some point between 1993 and 1999.
Reader's Guide
Tooheys Brewery holds a significant place in Australian brewing and legal history. Its origins in the 19th century reflect the growth of colonial brewing, and its move to Lidcombe marked a shift to larger-scale production. The merger with Castlemaine Perkins created a major brewing entity, and the 1990 High Court case established an important precedent regarding interstate trade and constitutional law under section 92. The brewery's sponsorship of rugby league, particularly the New South Wales State of Origin team, has made it a cultural fixture in the state. The Tooheys brand has also sponsored rugby union and major events like the Bathurst 1000 and the Melbourne Cup. Its product range includes the long-standing Tooheys New and Tooheys Old, as well as a variety of lagers under the Hahn trademark, and a line of ciders launched in 2009. The brewery continues to operate as part of the Lion beverages group under Japanese ownership.
Did You Know?
- Tooheys was founded in 1869 by Irish immigrant John Thomas Toohey.
- Tooheys New, first brewed in 1930, is an Australian lager with 4.6% ABV.
- Tooheys is a major sponsor of the New South Wales rugby league team in the State of Origin series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tooheys Brewery?
Tooheys is an Australian beer brand and production facility based in Lidcombe, Sydney. It was established in 1869 by Irish immigrant John Thomas Toohey, who received his brewing license that year after he and his brother James Matthew had run pubs in Melbourne.
What are Tooheys Brewery's powers/role?
The brewery produces beers under both the Tooheys and Hahn Brewery names, with its flagship being Tooheys New, first brewed in 1930 at 4.6% ABV. It operates as a production site within the Lion beverages group, which was acquired by Japan's Kirin Company in 2009.
Why is Tooheys Brewery important?
As one of Australia's oldest continuously operating breweries dating to 1869, it represents a major chapter in the country's brewing heritage. It also featured in the landmark 1990 legal case Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia, which shaped Australian trade-law discourse.
Where was Tooheys originally brewed before Lidcombe?
The Toohey brothers first produced their Black Old Ale at a brewery located on the site where Darling Harbour now stands in Sydney. Demand grew so rapidly by 1875 that they expanded operations, eventually establishing the long-standing Lidcombe facility.
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