“The establishment of a new brewery in Burra at this time (1873) was a little surprising, as the population of the town had decreased markedly over the decade from its high point in the early 1860s. However, the financial backers of Banks realised the potential as there remained nine hotels in the township that made up Burra and with more of the northern areas being settled there was opportunity for the expansion of trade.”
There is history along our trails, but how much do we know about it.
One of the joys of walking the trails in South Australia is watching the change in the environment as each kilometre goes past. The same can be said of the historical towns and sites dotted throughout our State. Every turn may uncover a story displaying the development of our State by our forefathers.
Burra is a town steeped in history with the success of the Monster Mine being one of the major contributors to the financial success of South Australia, dragging the State from a dire financial position in the mid 1800s.
One of the joys of walking the trails in South Australia is watching the change in the environment as each kilometre goes past. The same can be said of the historical towns and sites dotted throughout our State. Every turn may uncover a story displaying the development of our State by our forefathers.
The Heysen Trail travels along the eastern bank of the Burra Creek, with the Paxton Cottages situated in Kooringa. As you travel north, opposite the caravan park there are the remains of several old buildings with an intriguing history.
The Unicorn Brewery appears on Heysen Trail, Northern Guide Map 6.1. Part 2 in this series tells the story of this grand site, which is now only a small reflection of its past.
Information and extracts from: “Beer Barons or Bankrupts? Early Brewers in South Australia” by Alison Painter
“In Burra, Charles Ware and Edgar Chapman were proprietors of the Burra Brewery (established by Birrell) from 1855 and Ware was licensee of the first Burra Hotel from 1857. In 1862 they expanded their interests when they purchased the lease of the World’s End run, to the south-east of Burra, fully stocked with 7500 sheep. The drought years that followed soon after their purchase made them decide to leave the district and they relinquished the lease; this northern area was later regarded as marginal sheep country. Late in 1864 they under-leased the brewery to William H. Williams for ten years at £15 per year; he was the elder son of John Williams of the Angas Park Brewery in Nuriootpa. At the time they disposed of their interest in the Clare Brewery and returned to Adelaide. Chapman joined Simms at West End in 1866 and Ware became licensee of the Exchange Hotel, Hindley Street, in 1868.
Two years after Williams became the lessee of the Burra Brewery a fire on 25 January 1867 destroyed the malt house and its contents, while the brewery, a wooden building, just across a narrow roadway barely escaped the flames. As in most cases of this kind, the evidence given at the inquest was inconclusive. Fortunately Williams was able to continue brewing; the 1868 report of the Register claimed he produced ‘very superior ales’ and was capable of doing forty-eight hogsheads per week. But business was dull in Burra as the effects of drought coupled with a slowdown in mining meant despite the acceptance of Williams’ ales the beer trade was poor. Although the arrival of the railway in 1870 made the transporting of goods easier – both materials for brewing to Burra and beer conveyed to places on the line – it was construction of another brewery in 1873 which led to the demise of Williams’ business and by 1875 the brewery had closed.
Designed by Adelaide architect James Cummings, the Unicorn Brewery in Paxton Terrace was bigger and had better equipment than the old Burra Brewery. The Unicorn’s tall brewing tower was built to utilise the gravitational system and steam power eliminated the use of horses for many onerous tasks. William Banks, the proprietor of the brewery, came from Kapunda with his new wife in 1870 and for a short time was licensee of the Courthouse Hotel in Redruth. He then acquired the lease of the Miners’ Arms (Burra) which he held until 1876.
The establishment of a new brewery in Burra at this time was a little surprising, as the population of the town had decreased markedly over the decade from its high point in the early 1860s. However, the financial backers of Banks realised the potential as there remained nine hotels in the township that made up Burra and with more of the northern areas being settled there was opportunity for the expansion of trade. The closure of the Burra mine in 1877 was a blow to the town and a further shock came in September 1878 when the popular Banks died of pneumonia at the young age of 32 years.
The following year Banks’ widow sold the brewery to George H. Catchlove, who retired from the management of Haussens Brewery at Hindmarsh, and his partners, Vinrace Lawrence, W.H. Rosman (both Adelaide businessmen) and his nephew, Edward Catchlove Lockyer. Lockyer became manager and his brother, Henry Lockyer, the head brewer. Edward Lockyer, like his uncle, was a publican and had been licensee of the Criterion Hotel in Adelaide from 1871-78. Lawrence and Rosman retired from the business in 1887 and George Catchlove died in 1892. The Lockyers continued to operate the Unicorn successfully for further ten years.
Other country breweries trading successfully in the mid-1880s were the Jackas at Melrose and the Unicorn at Burra. There was a family connection between the Melrose and Burra breweries in 1889 when William J. Jacka became the manager and superintendent at Catchlove & Co.’s Unicorn Brewery; this was after he had spent three years in Sydney as brewer at the Pyrmont Brewery having sold his interest in the Melrose brewery to his brother Joseph.
The Unicorn was a well equipped brewery with the brewing tower and other building built of stone, all enclosed by a stone wall. An engine room housed a five horsepower vertical steam engine operating force pumps and next to it was a wood-fired steam boiler. There were seven underground cellars, built of stone and brick, which could hold 500 hogsheads. The ale and stout had a good reputation largely attributed to the quality of the water and skill of the brewer; in 1880 a new well was sunk supplying the brewery with up to 2000 gallons a day. By 1889 there were three brews per week and the Unicorn supplied all the hotels in Burra and surrounding districts as well as sending beer by rail to towns further north and to Broken Hill.
Having made the decision to continue brewing at West End…….the directors also embarked on an ambitious plan to enlarge the company’s interests by acquiring other breweries and more particularly their hotels, therefore tying more houses to the company. During the first year (1889)… they also contemplated making an offer for the Unicorn in Burra. None of these propositions came to fruition at this time. The economic depression which was severely affecting South Australia made companies cautious about their trading future so it is rather surprising the smaller breweries declined the offer made……
Beaglehole & Johnston announced the incorporation of the Lion Brewing & Malting Company (North Adelaide) in April 1888. In the years prior to the formation of the company, Beaglehole & Johnston had enlarged and improved the malting. During the 1888-89 season Beaglehole declined to buy some locally produced barley as it was poor quality and was importing barley from New Zealand and California to supplement requirements. Some brewers – Catchlove & Co. at Burra was one – continued to use imported English malt which at 11s a bushel (import duty was 2s 6d/bushel) was much dearer than Lion’s which ranged from 6s 6d and 7s 6d a bushel, and Beaglehole tried to persuade him to try Lion’s malt assuring him it was as good as English. In this instance he was successful and Unicorn ale was made with Lion malt.
With the dire economic problems continuing in South Australia in the 1890’s the government was forced to look for ways to increase revenue. …in 1894 when the government introduced the Beer Duty Act that imposed a duty of 2d per gallon on locally produced beer….
One part of the Act related to the registration of brewers and they were required to provide a declaration of the previous twelve months production figures – to September 1894…the Unicorn in Burra brewed 73,200 gallons….
Some ten years after the major brewing companies in Adelaide decided to incorporate and become listed on the Stock Exchange, Jacka Bros of Melrose announced their intention of incorporating ‘for the Amalgamation of Melrose, Kooringa (Burra) and Clare Breweries” The prospectus in January 1898 indicated together the three breweries had a capital of £75,000 and offered 37,500 shares of £2, with vendors taking 10,000 shares paid to £1. The directors were to be John Christison (of Clare) as managing director, Fred W. Jacka, director and head brewer, and one other proposed appointment. However, the proposed merger, to be known as Jacka Bros Ltd, did not happen as the shares were not taken up, and the three breweries continued as separate entities.
Walkerville (brewery) gained more trade in 1903 when the Unicorn Brewery in Burra closed. On December 1902 the Burra Record reported on the “Death of the Unicorn”: For many years the Unicorn brewery has been existence and was run with success by the late Mr Banks and Mr E.C. Lockyer, but for certain reasons the present owners of the brewery have decided to amalgamate with the Walkerville brewery so that there is a treat in store for those who partake of the beverage, for, we understand the local hotels will be ‘served up’ from Walkerville.
This was vehemently refuted the following week when the Lockyers said negotiations were ‘pending’. Henry Lockyer was negotiating a contract with Walkerville to supply their hotels as had Chambers & Blades and Fotheringham.
Edward Catchlove Lockyer died in June 1900; he had been in Burra for twenty years and served as Mayor from 1881-83 and Chairman of the District council in 1895. His brother, Henry, and two of his sons who were involved in the brewery continued to operate until they signed a contract with Walkerville and brewing ceased. In April 1905 the city and local papers advertised the sale by tender of the brewery and all fifteen hotels owned by the Lockyers-these include five hotels still trading in Burra. However, the brewery remained closed and deserted until November 1905 when the land, buildings and plant were offered at auction; although some of the equipment and materials were sold, the brewery premises did not attract a buyer. Over the years the buildings were gradually dismantled and the materials used for other purposes until only one building and the cellars remained.
The front wall, one building and the cellars of the Unicorn are preserved as a tourist attraction in Burra. The cellar was extensive as can be seen by the number of vents on the site. After brewing ceased in 1902, the stone from the brewing tower, built in 1873, was used to build nearby houses.”
Access can be obtained by visiting the Burra Information Centre and “purchasing” keys which give access to historical buildings in Burra, including the cellar of the Unicorn Brewery.
Acknowledgements:
Alison Painter for granting permission to use quotations from her book:
‘Beer Barons or Bankrupts? Early Brewers in South Australia.’
and:
State Library of South Australia for granting permission to reproduce the photograph of Unicorn Brewery.