Cascade Brewery

About this venue

Peter Degraves, accompanied by his wife Sophia and their eight children, as well as Hugh Macintosh and other settlers, embarked for Van Dieman's Land. Their arrival in Hobart Town on April 10, 1824, marked the beginning of a new chapter. Prior to their journey, Peter had arranged for 500 acres to be surveyed in anticipation of their settlement. Following their arrival, construction of a sawmill swiftly commenced, signaling the start of their enterprise. Degraves faces legal action from English creditors for outstanding debts, leading to his imprisonment for a period of five years. The debts amount to nearly 150,000 pounds, equivalent to approximately AU $45 million in today's currency. During Degraves' absence, Hugh McIntosh takes charge of managing the sawmill operations from 1826 to 1832. While in prison, Peter devises the concept of a brewery, inspired by the polluted water in the rivulet, caused by companies and individuals dumping waste into it. Recognizing that the sawmill, as the initial water user, would have access to the purest water, he sees an opportunity to capitalize on it. Hugh Macintosh takes the lead in implementing the brewery on-site while Peter is incarcerated. Upon his release in 1832, Peter takes over and manages the brewery. In 1852, Peter Degraves passes away due to old age. His eldest son, Henry, assumes control of the business but sadly passes away just two years later. Following this, Peter's sons Charles and John take the reins, and the business is rebranded as C & J Degraves - Cascade.

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Why planners choose this venue

• ✓ Australia's oldest brewery
• ✓ Heritage gardens
• ✓ Mt Wellington backdrop
• ✓ garden
• ✓ heritage

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