Developers Birchmore Group are seeking expressions of interest for a brewing opportunity at a development in Kinglake, characterised by its proximity to both Melbourne CBD (only 45kms), the Yarra Valley, and with a key product strength in natural attractions and associated experiences.

Kinglake Village is a new retail and commercial precinct at 1 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake, located in the heart of the township with significant frontage to the main street which will include as part of the project a new centrally-located town square for people to meet and greet.

“It sits in the ‘sweet spot’ of being within 60 minute’s drive from the Melbourne CBD, rivalling locations like the Yarra Valley, Mornington and Bellarine Peninsula’s as the perfect daytrip for Melbournians with family or friends,” explained Andrew Peters from Birchmore Group.

Within the site, a signature food and beverage tenancy has been designed for use by a high-quality brewery and hospitality operator to cater to the large growing tourism and events market as well as servicing the local community in the Kinglake Ranges. Birchmore is seeking hospitality operators and brewers to register their interest in this opportunity.

The development also consists of a flagship supermarket, Atelier Studio’s dedicated to local artists and producers as well other retail including a café tenancy, and is intended to be a convenient ‘town centre’ to support the local community of more than 7,000 people, as well as a destination offering for visitors.

Kinglake itself is a tourism destination located as part of the Great Dividing Range overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline, and is a popular destination for Melbournians, Victorians and interstaters, attracting amongst others, families, bushwalkers, campers, cyclists, as well as car & motorbike enthusiasts daily resulting in nearly a quarter of a million-day trippers in 2019.

According to Tourism Research Australia data, the number 1 day trip activity people are looking for to regional Victoria is to eat out and dine in. Kinglake is a desired destination, however it lacks high quality hospitality venues like cafes, restaurants, breweries and pubs according to Birchmore. This new development will allow exciting and vibrant businesses to fill that gap.

Birchmore knows that a brewery is the perfect fit for not only the development but for the township. It will be strongly supported not only by the local community but a strong tourism visitor market keen for a high-quality hospitality establishment. “Similar breweries in the Yarra Valley, Mornington and Bellarine Peninsula’s have proven to be extremely successful over the past few years and we know a brewery in Kinglake will be no different,” said Andrew Peters from Birchmore.

The Birchmore team is open minded about their preferred operator, and want to develop a close working relationship with the incoming brewery.

Birchmore and the project architect’s Genton envision the fitout to be of high standard, and can provide benchmarks to assist, but the brewery will have full say over design, brewkit and other equipment.

The venue itself has an internal area of 1,180m2, with a potential capacity for up to 450 people with nearly 200 car parks on site.

Construction on the site is due to commence in 2022 with Maben Group being the appointed builder. Birchmore anticipates that the centre will be completed and fully operational in 2023.

High-level expressions of interest are welcome, and Birchmore will be able to provide candidates with a proposal to move forward should they be successful.

Hospitality operators and brewers should send their expressions of interest to info@birchmoregroup.com.au