Beenleigh Rum Distillery

The Beenleigh Rum Distillery was once a highly visible landmark on the banks of the Albert River near Beenleigh. Its location at the end of Distillery Road is a bit harder to find, but the red timber buildings are easily identified if you approach from the old highway, now called Henry Hester Drive. Established in 1884, this is the oldest operating distillery in Queensland. The still came from the infamous 'Walrus', a floating distillery on an old boat which plied its trade up the Albert, Logan and Brisbane Rivers from 1869. Local sugar farmers Francis Gooding and John Davy established their plantation in Beenleigh in 1865. They built their own sugar mill in 1870 and when the 'Walrus' was beached on the banks of the Albert River in 1884, Davy purchased the still and started making rum. By the early 1890s local sugar farmers were rationalising their activities and many discontinued sugar production. However the rum distillery provided a regular market for local sugar. By 1899, Beenleigh Rum won a gold medal at the Greater Britain Exhibition. Production continues on site, and the Dark Rum won a Gold medal at the 2014 Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards.