Industrial Awakening. A Geography of Australian Manufacturing 1788-1890

Ebb and flow: Structural and spatial change in Victoria's brewing industry, 1870–1900

“…The brewing industry in Australia (Argent, 2018; Linge, 1979; Merrett, 1998; Sammartino, 2018; Stubbs, 1999, 2000) and internationally (Hawkins & Pass, 1979; McLaughlin et al, 2014; Vaizey, 1960) has undergone profound structural and spatial change over the last 150 years. From its origins as an atomistic and localised industry prior to the late 19th century, it has since consolidated and globalised.…”

“…In Australia, the formation of the brewing industry started with British colonisation in the late 18th century. The production of beer was supported by the colonial government in an effort to curb the consumption of spirits and to encourage the formation of local industry (Hughes, 1998; Linge, 1979). Small‐scale brewing industries quickly proliferated across different colonies through the 19th century, including Melbourne and surrounding ‘regional’ Victorian settlements by the mid‐1800s (Hughes, 1998; Linge, 1979; Merrett, 1998; Stubbs, 1999, 2000).…”

“…The production of beer was supported by the colonial government in an effort to curb the consumption of spirits and to encourage the formation of local industry (Hughes, 1998; Linge, 1979). Small‐scale brewing industries quickly proliferated across different colonies through the 19th century, including Melbourne and surrounding ‘regional’ Victorian settlements by the mid‐1800s (Hughes, 1998; Linge, 1979; Merrett, 1998; Stubbs, 1999, 2000). While small‐scale brewers rarely supplied beyond colonial borders prior to Federation in 1901, by the 1980s the industry was dominated by two major producers serving a national market (Merrett, 1998).…”

“…Although Victoria's economy diversified, economic growth proved to be highly uneven with serious consequences for the brewing industry. While brewers in goldfield settlements perished, those in major metropolitan and regional cities generally benefitted from a growing market and labour force (Davison, 2004; Linge, 1979).…”

“…As others have shown, optimal firm size increased during the late 19th because larger batch sizes enabled more efficient use of existing plant and equipment, while new technologies such as bottling plants only became feasible at larger scales of production (Deutsher, 2012, p. 83; Hawkins & Pass, 1979, Chapter 2; Merrett, 1998, p. 206; Muris et al, 1992; Stubbs, 1999, p. 87). The expansion of the rail network was a critical factor as it provided an efficient mode of transportation between cities and previously remote settlements (Blainey, 2001; Linge, 1979; Stubbs, 2000; Wotherspoon, 1979). This made it easier for large, metropolitan breweries to export beyond saturated local markets and increase the returns to scale on plant and equipment.…”