Toohey’s built a new brewery at Cardiff, Newcastle. It was called the Hunter Brewery, and was officially opened in February 1971. During that decade the company purchased both Seaview Wines and Wynn’s Wines, with further diversification into the tea and coffee industry with the purchase of Robert Timms.
The year 1978 saw the transfer of all brewing operations to the company’s brewery at Auburn in the western suburbs. It had been officially opened in May 1957, and was first used for the bottling of beer, which was sent across by tanker from their Standard Brewery.
Miller’s Brewery was closed in 1975, and on 23 March 1978 the Standard Brewery closed its doors for the last time. The buildings were subsequently demolished with the exception of some facades under heritage classification. The names of Albion Street and Terry Street are reminders of the precincts of the old Albion Brewery that Sam Terry had started all those years ago.
In March 1980 Toohey’s Ltd merged with the Castlemaine Perkins Brewery of Brisbane to become Castlemaine Toohey’s Ltd, and in August 1985 ownership changed to Bond Corporation Holdings Ltd.
The Toohey’s Brewery, together with the Swan Brewery in Perth and the Castlemaine Perkins Brewery in Brisbane, were all taken over from Bond Corporation in October 1990 by the New Zealand-based Lion Nathan Group. The three Australian breweries were then controlled by the new company, National Brewing Holdings Ltd.
Early in 1993 Toohey’s bought the Hahn Brewing Co., which had been established in January 1988. The acquisition was a positive and successful move, and gave Toohey’s an entry into the growing premium and specialty beer market.
On 21 October 2009, Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd of Japan took over all the Australian assets of Lion Nathan, with the company still continuing to trade as the Toohey’s Brewery.
In spite of the temporary destabilising effects of the changes in ownership, the Toohey’s Brewery today is a progressive and innovative company producing a range of popular beers that are marketed nationally and exported to many countries. It is one of Australia’s great breweries with a long and proud heritage — John Toohey and his brother, James, would be proud to know that the symbol of a stag, head held high, which they had used to promote their ale in 1869, is still used today by the company they founded.
For their flagship brand Draught they sponsored NSW Cricket and this poster was used to promote that.
NSW Cricket team 1977 – Back Row – Peter Toohey, David Colley, Ian Davis, Len Pascoe, Rick McCosker
Middle Row – Steve Rixon, Doug Walters, Gary Gilmour
Seated – Graeme Hughes, Kerry O’Keeffe
Front obscured by bottle and glass– Alan Turner
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