Tasmanian Government Considers Buying Historic Brewery Facing Closure

James Boag’s brewery in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia on June 29, 2025. AAP Image/Ethan JamesThe more than a century-old “culturally significant” James Boag’s Brewery could be purchased by a state government after time is called on its beer production.Parent company Lion in June announced it would shut the brewery in Launceston in northern Tasmania, first opened in 1881, in November.Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has met with beverage company Kirin, which owns Lion, and said they had agreed to provide in-principle support to explore the state’s proposal to purchase the site.“The Boag’s site is part of Tasmania’s industrial and cultural heritage,” he said on July 15.“Any transition must be managed responsibly and with a focus on future economic opportunities.”A union campaign to convince Lion to sell the brewery to another beer maker has collected more than 3,500 signatures but hasn’t shifted the company’s decision to wind-up production.Lion has blamed nationwide declining beer sales for the decision to shut, but will continue to make Boag’s beer on mainland Australia.In 2024, it moved some of its production out of Launceston and said the brewery was currently operating at one-fifth of capacity.The closure will leave some 40 workers without jobs.The government has not provided any details on what it would cost to buy the site, or what it could potentially be used for in the future.Kirin and Lion said they would work collaboratively with the government and council in relation to the site’s future use, Rockliff said.Kirin is also considering further requests in relation to worker support and has committed to “explore small batch opportunities with Tasmanian brewers”, he added.The state government and Kirin have agreed to pursue enabling legislation to support future redevelopment opportunities across the precinct.Any future development must strike the right balance between preserving heritage and unlocking investment, Rockliff said.“We want to see a sustainable future for this site, support for workers and new opportunities that strengthen Launceston and northern Tasmania for decades to come,” he said.By Ethan James in Hobart