The Sandstone Brewery – photo courtesy of Peter Green from Leanne Coyle,
The Black Range Brewery, or the Breakaway Brewery as it was also known, began trading in August of 1907 with the proprietor as Joseph Vincent Kearney, an Irishman born in 1873 at Ballymoon, Co Carlow Ireland. The manager was Michael ‘Mick’ Dempsey. It was located on the Maninga Marley Road, 4.8 kilometers from Sandstone. What was unusual about the location was that it was built on the top of a 12 meter high breakaway (a sandstone outcrop).
Two men who had previously worked in breweries, were brought out from Ireland to help. These were the Cummins brothers, John and Tom (Tom was later to become a storekeeper in Sandstone). Its possible that they may have been relatives of Joseph, as his mothers maiden name was Cummins.
Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer – 23 August 1907, page 2
Local News – The Black Range Brewery
During the past six months the completion of the Oroya-Black Range GM crushing and winding plants has made a vast difference in the outlook from all sides, and whereas formerly many people were frequently lost for many hours within call of the mining camps, it would be difficult to find a spot within, a dozen miles from which the latest addition to the architectural embellishments of Sandstone and its surroundings cannot be seen.
This is the establishment known as the Black Range Brewery, just completed by the enterprising Mr Joseph Vincent Kearney, so long and favorably known on the Murchison.
Brewery Cellar Entrance – Photo Sally Senior – From Gold to Wool and Back Again.
The brewery can be seen from every elevated piece of country for 10 or 12 miles around, and the view from the upper portion of the building is a magnificent one. Mr Kearney made a happy selection so far as site is concerned. The brewery is built on top of a breakaway, close to where the cliff drops some 30 or 40 feet to a sloping spur leading to the extensive mineral belt to the north and east. From the topmost storey where water is pumped from a well sunk on the flat east of the brewery, the product of the establishment finds its way by gravitation to the coolers (which are to be provided with fans in the hot weather) and thence to two large vats on the main floor.
From thence to the cellar, which is an immense tunnel driven into the face of the breakaway, pipes convey the beer to the receptacles provided, and in the commodious cellar, which by means of a connecting rise or winze can be kept remarkably cool even in the hottest weather. The manager and his staff complete the work required before dispatching the liquor to the surrounding hotels. Mr, Kearney was very fortunate in striking a good supply of excellent water so close to the brewery. An oil engine (2.5 h.p.) does the pumping without difficulty, and all the other machinery and plant has been carefully chosen, no difficulty will be experienced in supplying local requirements unless there is an extraordinarily large increase of population.
Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer – 4 Aug 1907
The first brew was ready on Saturday, and many residents were present by invitation (and otherwise) on Sunday and Monday to sample the beer, which was pronounced first class by all who tasted it. Already a big demand has set in for the local product, and Mr. Kearney is making arrangements for prompt delivery at all hotels throughout the district. Mr. M. Dempsey is the manager of the brewery, while a capable brewer, in Mr. Wacher, has been secured.. The brewery-is well worth visiting, even by those who do not indulge in the
“glass that cheers”
Black Range Courier and Sandstone Observer – 7 February 1908, page 2
The extensive plant at the Sandstone Brewery is being further added to by the installation of an up-to-date bottling machine, which should be in thorough working order in the course of two or three weeks. Mr. J. V. Kearney, the proprietor, is sparing no expense to make the brewery all that it should be, while Mr. Wacher, the brewer, having overcome the water difficulty, is turning out a high-grade beer. The bottled ale promises to meet the popular taste. Mr Wacher took over the business in 1908.
Wacher & Co – Black Range Brewery 1908-1909
The only really successful year the Black Range Brewery had was to be 1908 when they produced 182,000 litres of bulk and bottled beer. The decline after this time, was mainly due to the advent of the rail line which brought regular deliveries from elsewhere, and so production dropped away.
The success of the brewery was based on the idea that the brewery itself was a treat to visit on a hot day, with the promise of new and cold beer. The beer produced seemed to be of good quality when newly brewed, but it wouldn’t keep or travel. Breakaway Stout was also produced. Each would give a man a ‘dose of salts’. It was said you could get used to it but probably by that time, your wouldn’t care what you drank and would be ‘in the horrors’ or dead. The motto was
bad beer was better than no beer.
The final owner of the brewery was Allan Thomas JELLY, he applied for the licence in December of 1910 but production ceased in January 1911 after brewing only 1150 liters.
Allan Thomas Jelly
Mick Dempsey left Sandstone in 1911 and took up his former trade as a tailor/draper in both day Dawn and Meekatharra, where he was to die a wealthy man in 1936.
1937 – the old Brewery site became a popular site for campers and can still be seen today.
In the Western Mail, Perth on the 26th Nov 1936 there was an article entitled: The Breakaway Brewery – A Memory of Sandstone. This was written by ‘Suter Abis’ which was the pen name for George James Cameron McDonald. He was a policeman who was stationed at Sandstone and Youanmi who retired as an inspector in Perth. The full ‘Rippling Yarn’ can be read HERE
Moya Sharp
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