The Andrews Labor Government is delivering regional jobs growth and more tourism drawcards, with the upgrade and expansion of Victoria’s distilleries attracting visitors to regions across the state.
Further proof of Victoria’s growing distillery industry – Kilderkin Distillery in Ballarat has begun welcoming locals and tourists alike, after cellar doors opened showcasing the expansion of the distillery’s operations to cater for increasing visitor numbers.
The refurbishment of the site was undertaken with a focus on production which restarted in April 2021, supported in part by a Government grant – enabling the distillery to meet ongoing demand, expand production and begin exporting to the world.
Following refurbishment, Kilderkin Distillery has since undergone a major redevelopment, including the creation of their Distillery Door which showcases a range of gins under the Larrikin Gin brand.
The gins have attracted a number of national and international awards, including the Buccaneer Navy Strength Gin which was judged as the top Victorian gin at the 2020 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards.
Kilderkin Distillery’s redevelopment will make a significant contribution to the region and more broadly to the Victorian economy, creating job opportunities and becoming a key contributor in attracting visitors to Ballarat.
Through the Distillery Door Grants program, the Labor Government is providing the Victorian distillery industry with $10 million over two years, supporting jobs growth, skills development, domestic and international market expansion and creating more regional tourism destinations.
In supporting Victoria’s distilleries, the Labor Government is backing the small businesses that define our regional communities while delivering more visitors to the regions.
In this year’s 2022-23 Victorian Budget the Labor Government provided $30 million for regional tourism projects, and $193 million for regional development and agriculture.
Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas
”Distilleries are a valued part of Victoria’s economy, which is why we’ve created the Distillery Door Grants program which supports small businesses development across the state and attracts more visitors to Victoria.”
“We’ve invested more than $700 million in the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund since 2015, with another $30 million allocated to the fund this year to support more community projects and help businesses create more jobs.”
Quotes attributable to Kilderkin Distillery Owners Chris Pratt and Rebecca Mathews
“We are very thankful for the Government’s financial support during the pandemic but also its ongoing support to our industry and promotional campaigns that help to expose our industry to a broader audience and attract more visitors to distillery doors.”
Reviewed 30 June 2022