Simpson’s Road Brewery, Thomas Graham, Collingwood

Brewing was one of Collingwood’s first and fastest-growing industries, and by 1865 there were at least six breweries operating in the district. One of these belonged to Thomas Graham, who began brewing in new premises at the corner of Simpson’s Road (now Victoria Street) and Walmer Street, East Col­lingwood (now Abbotsford). Within a few months Thomas Graham leased his brewery to Robert Murcutt, who traded as Murcutt’s Brewery. This was in 1866, and by April that year the entire plant and equipment, together with the unexpired term of the lease, were put up for auction. Since there were no buyers, Thomas Graham, the owner, resumed control, and continued running the business as Simpson’s Road Brewery until his death in 1871.

Henry Boyd and Francis Head had sold their Crown Brewery in Fitzroy, and in 1874 they took over Graham’s Brewery and changed the name to the Shamrock Brewery. For thirteen years Boyd & Head ran a very successful business, and when Francis Head retired in 1887 the business was floated as the Shamrock Brewing & Malting Co. Ltd with a capital of £10,000. This brewery became one of the breweries that amalgamated into CUB in 1907.