Australia: Nation’s oldest malt-maker celebrates 150th birthday

Australia’s oldest malt manufacturer, Joe White Maltings, today celebrates its sesquicentenary in the city of its birth, Ballarat, according to ABB’s press release, April 1.

The nation’s largest maltster first began producing malt in the goldfields town in 1858 in response to complaints about “crook beer” made from imported English malt, which suffered the rigours of six-month voyages in damp holds of leaky sailing ships.

Joe White’s general manager operations, Gary Hughes, said that since its Ballarat beginnings the home-grown maltster had matured to be part of the ABB Grain group; it was now the nation’s biggest malt producer and among the top 12 worldwide.

“In the commemorative history released today, Joe White Maltings 1858-2008, we toast the vision of Alexander White, a trained maltster who arrived in Victoria in 1856 and his eldest son Joe who provided the foundation and name to the business,” Mr Hughes said.

“Tonight, in malting and brewing tradition, we’ll toast Joe White’s legacy with a beer or two at a special ceremonial party in Ballarat Town Hall. It’s not everyday you have a 150th birthday!

“But although we’ll be recognising Joe White’s heritage, we’re not living in the past. The White family’s vision for the future lives on. Later this month work will begin on a $2.2m water recycling plant at Ballarat’s Lake Gardens malt house.

“In Adelaide, work has just started in preparation for the installation of a 100-tonne circular kiln for drying malt. Of course, ABB Grain also recently announced plans to build a 110,000 tonne capacity malt house at Minto, in Sydney’s outer south-west by 2010.

“When Alexander White first joined forces with Henry Cane to produce malt in Ballarat they couldn’t in their wildest dreams have imagined how far the business would progress.

“Joe White’s now has eight malt houses around Australia and produces more than 500,000 tonnes of malt a year – 80% of which is shipped to more than a dozen countries to brewers or confectioners. Joe White’s Australian customers include Lion Nathan (James Boags), Coopers and Nestle.

“I’m sure Alexander and Joe White would have approved of how their business has developed and the international recognition of the quality of its product. Importantly, I think they would have approved of the innovation that continues within the business.”

02 April, 2008