Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was a special guest at the unveiling of Bundaberg’s multi-million-dollar Mastery Brewery.
The new 22,000 sqm brewery, which is located at Kay McDuff Drive in Bundaberg’s south, cost over $120 million, including a $19 million grant from the Australian Government.
John McLean, CEO of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, said the brewery means production of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks will remain in the town where its journey began and continue to benefit local suppliers, farmers, and other direct and indirect partners.
“This is just phase one of the development, with multiple further phases to be rolled out as needed, reinforcing our commitment to investing in global infrastructure to meet customer demand long into the future.
“From humble beginnings in 1968, we have built an iconic Australian brand that now exports to more than 60 countries and the opening of our new Master Brewery means the business is future-proofed for the next generations.”
The brewery has a bottling line speed of 850 bottles per minute and 51,000 bottles per hour and can produce 33,000 cases each day on a single bottling line and hold 48,000 litres of brew in a single tank, double the processing capacity of the current Ginger Beer Brewhouse.
The facility is more than triple the footprint of the company’s existing brewery and has been designed to enable future expansion without impacting operations. The existing Bargara Road brewery will continue to operate and remain home to popular Bundaberg Barrel, which hosts tastings and tours.
The brewery supported almost 900 jobs during delivery and will further benefit local employment by helping keep production in Bundaberg.
“Bundaberg Brewed Drinks is always adapting, and this project is no different. Across more than five decades, we have developed a unique brewing process that delivers a product that is loved by our customers and our new Master Brewery adds another layer to that rich history,” said McLean.
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