More jobs are being delivered in Gippsland to boost a local brewer’s capacity to make one million litres of beer per year, thanks to the Allan Labor Government.

Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh today represented Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney to announce the completion of construction at Sailors Grave Brewing’s new brewery near Marlo. The project is backed by a more than $2 million investment from the Local Economic Recovery program.

The brewery is located at Dunetown Farm, a beverage and hospitality hub between Cape Conran and Marlo that is set to draw in more local businesses and visitors to the region. It will increase Sailors Grave’s beer capacity from 250,000 litres at their old Orbost site to up to one million litres per year at the new location.

The completed works feature a new cellar door/barrel room, tap room beer garden and a pilot malthouse, creating a unique experience that will bring more tourism to the region.

The project has backed 12 new jobs at the brewery and will support up to 15 more positions when the cellar door opens later this year. Visitors will be treated to a barrel room, beer garden and pilot malthouse to relax, enjoy and learn about the local Gippsland brewer.

From lagers to IPAs and ales, Sailors Grave Brewing offers a wide range of artisanal beers with ingredients that put East Gippsland’s agricultural and maritime history on show. This includes the ‘Apples Will Make Pyes’ apple pie beer and the ‘Sea Shandy’ citrus beer that’s made with local grapefruit and lemon.

The Dunetown brewery builds on Sailors Grave’s four ’tapshacks’ that are dotted across Gippsland, including locations in Orbost and Meeniyan where visitors can try Sailors Grave’s long list of beers.

Sailors Grave has also managed a pop-up location at the Old Slipway in Lakes Entrance, which was given a new lease of life as a prime waterfront location with the support of $562,000 from the Allan and Albanese Labor Government’s Local Economic Recovery program.

The funds supported the development of new public spaces to redevelop the Old Slipway with more places for people to come together to enjoy outdoor dining, live music and art gallery spaces.

Both projects are part of the Labor Government’s record $45 billion investment since 2014 to support regional and rural Victorian cities and towns to be even better places to live, work, stay and play.

For more information, go to rdv.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney

“We’re supporting more jobs in Gippsland through local businesses like Sailors Grave Brewing, while helping bolster future tourism opportunities in the region.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh

“Sailors Grave Brewing’s new facility will help drive up visitation and employment in East Gippsland and I’m proud to see how we’re supporting that.”