For beer lovers in Victoria, the choice is getting even better.

The popularity of craft beers in Australia can only be a good thing if you’re in the business of brewing. But when Lion’s White Rabbit Brewery in the leafy surrounds of Healesville reached capacity, it was time to move to the big city. Craft brewing operations could be consolidated in one place, and the brewers could ignite their imagination to experiment and create new favourites.

Moving an entire brewery and fitting it into Lion’s existing Little Creatures site in Geelong was no easy task. Lion wanted to use this opportunity to transform the 2,000m2 1920s building (Old Valley Worsted Mills) into a complete experience for beer lovers, with visitor centre, café, shop and hands-on barrel room.

We collaborated with Lion to find the ideal use of the brewery footprint and on how best to make it happen. We designed and project managed the relocation, brought the Geelong site up to current standards for the new facilities, relocated existing equipment and integrated it with new, commissioned the new site and decommissioned the old.

The makeover was a huge success. Fans of the White Rabbit range are relieved to see the familiar sight of the original fermenters and the craft brewery ethos of “Fermentation with Imagination” looks set to continue.

4

Craft beers produced

20+

Tanks and equipment relocated

1920s

Listed heritage building

Our client says

Beca provided excellent end to end project management support and this greatly assisted delivery of the project to schedule and within our budget. This was particularly pleasing given the nature of the building refurbishment at Geelong and the tight timelines required, which ensured the start-up of the brewery prior to our peak production period.

Matthew Anderson

Lion's Operations Director Craft, Supply Chain

Our People

Steve Thomas

Technical Director - Project Management

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