By JESSE GRAHAM
MAIL EXCLUSIVE
THE future of Healesville’s White Rabbit brewery is in limbo, with its owners deciding whether to leave the tourist town and move to Geelong.
Rumours are rife that the brewery will be forced to close, as Lion investigates the economics of moving all operations to their new recently built Little Creatures brewery based in Geelong.
Lion is the leading beverage and food company in Australia and New Zealand and boasts a portfolio that includes Little Creatures, White Rabbit and a number of other alcoholic beverage brands.
It is believed by many that the odds are stacked against the Healesville site when compared to the brand new state-of-the-art brewery in Geelong.
For now, there is speculation about when marching orders will come, but it is believed the announcement could come in late October.
The brewery has become a hub for the community, and a place where events can be run, from music nights to fund-raisers.
The Save Healesville Hospital Action Group (SHHAG) ran a fund-raiser at the brewery last month, raising over $10,000 from a packed room of community members.
The recent launch of White Rabbit’s Belgian-style Pale Ale also drew strong crowds, and on weekends, seats are often scarce at the venue.
Lion spokesperson Elise Gare confirmed the company was undertaking the review, but that it was “business as usual” for both breweries until a decision was made.
Ms Gare said the review had begun as the Geelong site had facilitated the company’s other craft beers, and that the new site had the potential to house all of their products under one roof.
“To ensure that we remain a leading producer of craft beer, it’s important that we continually assess our brewing operations and our brand growth plans to ensure we are best set up for success now and in the future,” she said.
“As such, we have decided to undertake a review of the White Rabbit Healesville site to determine if this brewery or the new state-of-the-art Geelong brewery offers greater growth opportunities for the brand.”
