OUR HISTORY
Explore the journey of our company, from humble beginnings to a global beverage leader
1800 - 1899
CHEERS TO THE FUTURE
AUSTRALIA
1888
Three become one in the south
The South Australian Brewing Company is formed through a merger of the West End Brewery, the Kent Town Brewery and wine and spirits merchant Rounsevell & Simms.
ANZ
1878
New brews on both shores
The Castlemaine Milton Brewery in Brisbane produced its first brew, marking the start of a proud brewing tradition. Around the same time, the Ehrenfried brothers purchased the Albert Brewery in Auckland, expanding their footprint in New Zealand’s beer industry.
AUSTRALIA
1877
Brewing ambitions in Brisbane
The Fitzgerald brothers partnered with Kate Quinlan, George Gray, and Robert Prendergast to establish a brewery in Brisbane. Their vision began with the purchase of the struggling Milton Distillery and much of the surrounding land.
NEW ZEALAND
1876
Speight’s opens its doors
Speight’s Brewery begins its journey in Dunedin, marking the start of a brewing tradition that would become a New Zealand icon.
AUSTRALIA
1872
Brothers brew a classic
John Thomas Toohey and his younger brother, James Matthew, joined forces to purchase the Darling Brewery in Sydney, New South Wales. Trading as JT & J Toohey, the brothers introduced Australia to its first taste of Tooheys Old.
NEW ZEALAND
1861
A crest becomes a legacy
Pioneer brewer Richard Seccombe founded the Great Northern Brewery at Khyber Pass in Auckland, New Zealand, choosing the lion from his family crest as its emblem.
AUSTRALIA
1859
West End’s first brew
William Clark established the West End Brewery on Hindley Street in Adelaide, South Australia, giving rise to the much-loved West End Draught.
AUSTRALIA
1857
A Swan is takes flight
Early Western Australian settler Frederick Sherwood establishes the original Swan Brewery, in what is now the suburb of Sherwood Court in Perth. From this humble beginning, the iconic Swan Draught was born.
NEW ZEALAND
1840
Foundations in New Zealand
LION’s predecessor company LD Nathan begins as a trading company in Russell, New Zealand, before relocating to Auckland shortly after. This move lays the groundwork for what would become a lasting presence in the nation’s business landscape.