Tooheys Victoria – Since 1841 ‘Having a beer with neighbours’ Poster

In 1869, John Thomas Toohey, son of an Irish immigrant and Melbourne hotelier, obtained his brewer’s licence in Sydney. In 1872, he and his brother James Matthew bought the Darling Brewery in Dixon Street. The brothers began trading as J.T. & J. Toohey. In 1874 they purchased the old Albion Brewery site, re-named the Standard Brewery, in Elizabeth Street.

James Matthew Toohey died while travelling in Italy on 25 September 1895. His eldest son, also named John Thomas, joined his uncle in running the brewery. In 1902 the firm went public, trading as Tooheys Limited. John Thomas Toohey senior died abroad in 1903.

In 1930 the brewery produced its first lager beer. During the 1950s the company sought to expand its operations. Building of a new brewery commenced at Lidcombe, in the Municipality of Auburn, in May 1956. Production was cut back at the Standard Brewery and the new Auburn Brewery opened in May 1957. In May 1961 Tooheys succeeded in taking over the Grafton Brewing Company Limited.

Tooheys ran the Miller Brewery on Taverners Hill, Petersham from 1967 to 1975. The company opened the Hunter Brewery at Cardiff in Newcastle in February 1971. In the same year, Tooheys began to package its draught beer in cans. The company then joined Allied Breweries of the United Kingdom to form Allied Vinters Pty Limited which later acquired Seaview Winery, south of Adelaide

In November 1979 the company merged with Castlemaine Perkins Limited of Queensland to form Castlemaine Tooheys Limited in a $215 million union. In 1985, Castlemaine Tooheys Limited and Swan Brewery were bought by the Bond Corporation. In 1992 Tooheys became an independent brewery under the Lion Nathan umbrella, together with Castlemaine Perkins and Swan. In the same year a Tooheys brewery was established in Victoria. Under the Lion Nathan umbrella Tooheys NSW and Tooheys Victoria were run as two separate companies with each company having its own managing director.

This poster was an attempt to tell the story of the Toohey brothers who started their empire in Melbourne by running pubs.

Tooheys purchased the Hahn Brewery in February 1993 and Chuck Hahn continued to operate the brewery, in addition to his new role as Chief Brewer for Lion Nathan. Products sold under the Tooheys trademark are brewed at Tooheys Brewery, at the Lidcombe site, and Tooheys continues to be a major sponsor of Rugby League.