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A brief history of brewing in Goolwa
At the height of river transport, paddle steamer traffic along rivers was two way. Agricultural produce gathered from the inland areas was transported to the coast then on their return up-river, the paddle steamers delivered other much needed supplies. In the midst of this, Goolwa’s important but often forgotten history of brewing was linked with the paddle steamer trade.
Goolwa’s brewing history began in 1865 when Edward Dutton commenced his brewing operation in Richard Street. Dutton’s Brewery soon gained a reputation of producing quality beer. Paddle steamers transported large amounts of Goolwa beer along the Murray, Darling, and Murrumbidgee Rivers. Through the exposure of the river trade, Edward Dutton’s Brewery gained enormous success. The brewery had three holding tanks made from Willunga slate, and just one of these tanks alone could hold 38 thousand gallons of beer (172,750 litres). After 30 years the brewery closed in 1895. Much like the river trade, it fell victim to the advent of new technology.
Today in Australia, regional microbreweries are part of a historical revival of many towns that played an important role in the expansion of rural Australia during the pioneering days. While the Steam Exchange Brewery utilises some of the latest brewing technology its has distinct historic connections to the original Industrial and manufacturing nature of the Wharf Precinct’s colonial paddle steamer era.
Edward Dutton’s original brewery, now a private residence.
Reference:
Robinson, M 1975, Historical higlights Encounter Bay and Goolwa, Lutheran Publishing House, Adelaide, SA.