W. K. Simms & Co West End Brewery Adelaide

The West End Brewery was built in 1859 by William Henry Clark, a brewing entrepreneur who had started several other breweries that had failed to prosper. Once again, his attempt at Hindley Street was a disaster, and within a year he was declared bankrupt. He had no way of knowing at that time that his failed brewery would ultimately grow and flourish over the next 124 years. 

The brewery was taken over by William K. Simms, a man of substance and brewing experience, who later became a member of the Adelaide City Council. In 1866 a partnership was formed between William Simms and Edgar Chapman. They produced three types of beer — XX, XXX and Pale Ale — most of which was sold in bottles. A less-than-favourable report in the South Australian Register of June 1868 said that the quality of the beer lacked uniformity. This was a common complaint of most of the beer put out by the breweries of the day.

From 1862 Simms & Chapman used some of the buildings of the disused Hindmarsh Brewery, and from 1871 to 1873 those of the Anchor Brewery premises as a bottling plant. They employed sixteen men and two boys, and the West End Brewery was a profitable and well-run business. Edgar Chapman died in 1886.

Two years later it was decided to sell the brewery. Alfred Simms took over his father’s interest in the business, and in 1888 both the West End Brewery and the Kent Town Brewery were acquired by the South Australian Brewing, Malting & Wine & Spirit Co. Ltd.

The West End Brewery was a major beer-producer for the South Australian Brewery until 1980, when brewing ceased.