An artisan food, retail and commercial precinct is one step closer to reality with a development application for the Brewhouse Village lodged with the Clarence Valley Council.

The submission covers over 2,000 sqm and includes a brewery and restaurant, retail space, distillery, a coffee roastery and café upgrade, all within the historic Grafton Brewery site.

Brewhouse Group CEO, Rick Firth, said the concept would be similar to other well-known rehabilitated industrial sites in Australia and overseas and attract people for its range of creative, cultural and food offerings.

“We’ve been working on a masterplan for quite a while as we want to get the overall design right and pay due respect to the old buildings in the precinct,” Mr Firth said.

“Council have been supportive of the concept, and we’ve even utilised some of the same consultants they use to ensure it ticks all the right boxes.

“Once complete it will provide something new and exciting for Grafton, create over 40 new jobs, and act as a tourist destination for people to shop and enjoy a drink or meal.”

The Brewhouse Village is already home to a café and 70 other tenants and over 230 people calling the complex their working home, and recently added the Kidz Zone jungle gym and a carwash to its mix.

The submission outlines almost 1,200 sqm for the brewery, restaurant and retail area, a 380 sqm distillery, and 430 sqm for a coffee roastery and café.

Mr Firth says plans are well underway for the infrastructure and operators to be able to commence work once the development application is approved.

“We have already started testing a number of new beers and have appointed a head brewer, Marcello ‘Muz’ Mastrantonio, who has worked with breweries including Hairyman Brewery and Young Henrys in Sydney and Sanctus Brewing in Maclean,” he said.

“We’ve also locked in a distillery operator who will offer a range of locally distilled spirits and liqueurs featuring the Clarence Valley’s finest botanicals and ingredients.

“The plans include reconfiguring some space to allow for a range of commercial uses from offices to service-based industries who can take advantage of the unique building.

“We hope it will provide a place where like-minded businesses can set up, creating opportunities and jobs for the people of Grafton.

“I believe the region has huge potential which is why we’re investing in the precinct to bring something special to the town.”