It started with a spring
In 1872, George and Isabella Billson began building their tower brewery on Last Street in Beechworth.
They chose the site for one remarkable reason, a natural alpine spring flowing beneath the property.
That spring became the foundation of everything that followed.
Using its crystal-clear water, the brewery produced award winning beer, cordials, mineral waters and health tonics that earned a reputation for quality throughout the region and beyond. Over the decades, generations of local families worked within its walls, helping shape a business that became part of the fabric of Beechworth itself.
More than 150 years later, that same spring continues to flow beneath our feet.
Beneath the dust and decay, we could see what this place once was, and what it could be again.
Restoring a Beechworth Icon
In 2017, we arrived in Beechworth and stumbled across a place that immediately captured our hearts and imagination. The historic brewery had seen better days. Buildings were tired. Equipment was ageing. Hundreds of pigeons had made themselves at home throughout the site.
But beneath the dust and decay, we could see something special.
The original red brick well was still drawing pristine alpine water. The historic buildings were still standing. Stories, traditions and a rich history remained hidden within the walls.
What many saw as an old brewery, we saw as an opportunity to help preserve and breathe new life into an important piece of Australian manufacturing history.
One detail stood out in particular.
Despite its rich brewing heritage, no beer had been brewed on the site for more than 85 years, and the brewery no longer held a liquor licence. The brewing equipment had long disappeared and much of the site's former purpose had been forgotten.
Before long, we knew we wanted to become part of its story.
Stories, traditions and a rich history remained hidden within the walls.
Retail
Bringing the Brewery Back to Life
What followed was years of hard work, restoration and plenty of learning along the way.
Together with an incredible team, we restored historic buildings, invested in new production facilities, revived traditional recipes and welcomed a new generation of visitors to the brewery.
To our amazement, the business grew from a small regional operation into one of Australia's best-known beverage brands and tourism destinations.
Along the way, we launched hundreds of products, welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors and shared a little piece of Beechworth with people across Australia and beyond.
The brewery's revival also allowed us to restore and reopen other historic properties throughout Beechworth, including The Brewers House - the former Ovens Brewery & Malthouse established in 1856 - and The Last Supper Club, located within the historic Ovens Register building.
While awards were never the goal, it has been incredibly humbling to see the efforts of our team recognised along the way. Together, we have been honoured with multiple Gold Medals at the Victorian Tourism Awards, national beverage industry awards, Endeavour Group Supplier of the Year and many other recognitions that reflect the passion and dedication of the people who helped bring this place back to life.
Most importantly, we helped ensure that a brewery which had stood for generations would continue to have a future.
Turning the Page
The journey was not without its immense challenges.
Like many businesses, we experienced periods of rapid growth, unexpected setbacks and some incredibly difficult decisions along the way.
In 2024, after one of the most challenging chapters of our lives, the Billson's brand name and ready-to-drink portfolio were acquired by The Coca-Cola Company.
For a time, it felt as though the story we had spent years building might be coming to an end.
But while one chapter closed, another was waiting to begin.
The historic brewery remained in our hands.
The spring still flowed. The buildings still stood.
And our passion for this remarkable place remained as strong as ever.
So we rolled up our sleeves and started again.
The historic Brewery remained in our hands. The spring still flowed. The buildings still stood.
Welcome to Last St
Today, Last St is proudly Australian family owned and operated.
From our historic brewery in Beechworth, we craft beer, spirits, liqueurs and spring water using the same alpine water source that has flowed beneath the site for more than 150 years.
Alongside Last St, we introduced Isabella's - named in honour of Isabella Billson - celebrating a range of traditional cordials, syrups, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages inspired by the heritage of the brewery and the pioneering woman whose name helped shape its early story.
We've also continued our commitment to creating memorable experiences, welcoming visitors to taste, dine, stay, explore and discover the stories hidden within these historic walls.
Every bottle filled, every beer poured and every guest welcomed helps continue a tradition that began generations ago.
We're incredibly grateful to be part of that story.
The Next Chapter
For a brief moment in its long history, we have the privilege of caring for this remarkable place.
Many people came before us. Many more will come after us.
Our role is simply to honour its past, protect what makes it special and help ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come.
The story of this brewery has already spanned more than 150 years, surviving wars, depressions, changing industries, changing owners and changing times.
Through it all, one thing has remained constant: the spring beneath the brewery and the people who believe this place is worth preserving.
We're incredibly grateful to be part of that story.
Thank you for visiting, supporting us and helping write the next chapter.
