‘Our shabby little warehouse': Popular brewery faces demolition to make way for six-storey building

West Australian

a day ago

A popular brewery in Sydney's inner west could be demolished to make way for a new six-storey complex.
Young Henrys has been in the heart of Newtown since 2012.
It rose in popularity thanks to its Newtowner pale ale and Natural Lager.
It was also where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and now fiancee Jodie Haydon had their first date.
Under a proposal made by Loucas Architects in May, who lodged a development application with the Inner West Council, the warehouse would be demolished and replaced with a new six storey building as well as ground-level retail and commercial spaces.
The planned site would cost just short of $21m, adding 40 new residential apartments, with seven reserved for low income housing.
In late May Loucas Architects lodged the developments, which has yet to be approved by the Inner West Council.
Young Henrys co-founder Oscar McMahon told NewsWire the brewery would find a new home elsewhere but they are unsure where at this stage.
He said the move was something that was a long time coming.
'This warehouse was built around 1979 and is the last little industrial complex in Newtown,' he said.
'Newtown is now a high density living area that attracts pretty high rent and house prices.'
'We've always had a good relationship with the owner and it has always been a down the track thing but now it makes the most sense as a way forward for the owners and we were open to it as we ran out of space,' he said.
Despite the move Mr McMahon said Young Henry's made its name in Newtown and would look to try and find a solution that can keep them local.
'Young Henrys was born and bred in Newtown and we will do everything we can to always have a Newtown presence,' he said.
'The way we are looking at it, there are some great opportunities although there is sadness.
'We built a brand and business on this little patch of dirt and there'll always be something special and wonderful about this place.
'It's a shabby old warehouse complex, but it's our shabby old warehouse complex that we made our home.'
Mr McMahon said due to the growing business demands, the brand has had to expand to productive facilities in Goulburn and Victoria, meaning there won't be any production hiccups.
While the plans have not gone through the council just yet, Young Henrys will be looking to say goodbye to the place in a fitting way.
'We've got such a great relationship with many of our customers, so we look forward to many farewell beers that will be had over the coming 6 to 12 months,' Mr McMahon said.
'I also really look forward to taking people on a bit of a journey into the next integration of Young Henrys.'
The proposal is open to community submissions until June 26.
According to planning alerts, the project received mixed reviews.
One said 'I support this application.
'Sydney is in the grip of a housing crisis, and medium-density housing near existing infrastructure is one of the fastest and most effective ways to address it. This proposal ticks all the right boxes, it's close to Newtown Station and within easy walking distance of shops along Enmore Road and King Street.'
'The Inner West needs more well-considered developments like this one.'