About Pike's Historic Brewery

  HENRY PIKE

Henry Pike immigrated to Australia from Dorset England in 1878 aboard the HMS Oakland and settled here in Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills. Henry was a carpenter and builder by trade and for several years the Johnston family of Oakbank employed him to work on their homes, hotels and brewery.

Henry purchased land in Oakbank from the Johnstons in 1884 and built his home (Dorset Cottage) and workshop (he was also the local undertaker).

LEARNING TO BREW BEER

As a young man Henry learnt about brewing from his mother, and decided to brew ale for the family, his first brew of ten gallons of ale in February 1885 he described as ‘splendid ale’. From then on, he was brewing once a month for family consumption, while still working for the Johnstons and doing general carpentry work for other people. Working in the Johnstons’ brewery was good experience and gave Henry an insight into the plant required to brew commercially.

When working in the building trade slowed during 1886-87 Henry and his son Walter established the family brewing business called H. Pike & Co and the Brewery he named Dorset Brewery. Henry’s first move was to acquire a brew boiler of one hogshead (54 gallons) capacity and buy a few casks of different sizes, bottle and corks. His efforts were encouraging, and his ales were well accepted by local friends and customers.

BUILDING THE BREWERY

By 1888 it became apparent they needed to increase brewing capacity and started to construct a brewing tower. By late 1889 the 5 hogs-head plant was ready, enabling them to produce about 16,000 gallons per year.

The competition from Johnsons, Coopers and other city brewers meant Pikes had to provide good quality ale and good service.

Although the Dorset Brewery lost it Patriarch Henry in 1904 at the age of 68 years, the brewery continued operating successfully under the management of his sons Walter and Edwin and son-in-law Ernest Beasley. Beasley died in 1910 and in due course four of Henry and Emma’s five sons came into the brewery. Henry’s wife Emma held the licence of the Colonel Light Hotel from 1891-97 and Pikes used this hotel to supply other free hotels in the city. Pike’s Dorset Brewery has the distinction of receiving a special appointment to provide ale to two governors – Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton and Lord Tennyson. Pikes expanded to buy hotels, the first being Eagle on the Hill in 1904 and another being the Duke of York in Currie Street.

The Pikes were always generous with their beer and locals were known to drop in for a friendly drink in the brewery at the end of the day. As other brewers did at the time, Pikes made Tonic Ale to which they added orange and lemon peel, ginger and coriander, making it a popular drink labelled as a ‘healthy non-intoxicating drink’ which according to local stories was often over the legal limit of 2% alcohol and likely somewhere between 2 and 8%.

LOCAL RIVALRY

There are many stories of rivalry between the men who worked at Pikes and those at Johnstons, even of them playing in opposing football teams and walking on opposite sides of the main street.

The last of the country breweries close in 1938 when Pike’s at Oakbank ceased brewing after developing fox, a virus in the brewing yeast and brewing was banned for 8 years.

THE OAKBANK WEAVERS

The Dorset Brewery continued to make soft drinks and cordials until the premises were sold in the 1971 when the property was bought by Mary Cassini, who along with Peter Stapleton founded the Oakbank Weavers, makers of fine fabrics. The Weaver’s studio was set up in the workshop area of Brewery.

MARY CASSINI

Mary Cassini, born in Canterbury in the UK, was a child actor before becoming a cadet newspaper reporter, then training in fine art. Immigrating to Melbourne with her family in 1958, Mary continued acting in theatre and films, becoming professional in 1973. 

In the 1970s, Mary began weaving tapestries in the studio she shared with her husband Peter Stapleton, also a weaver. Mary travelled the world as a peace ambassador.

More about Mary can be found in her book ‘Doing the Impossible – 3 Minutes World Silence’ the peace movement she is known for founding. 

CURRENT OWNERS

 Cindy and Greg Turner bought the Heritage listed site in 2022. The site includes Henry and Emma’s original house ‘Dorset Cottage’ built in 1886, the shop that was added about 10 years later, Henry Pike’s workshop which was also the weaver’s studio and the Brew Tower.

Cindy and Greg have started their journey of restoration by refurbishing level 2 of the brew tower as their residence while they undertake an extensive restoration project. They have commenced this journey with Dorset Cottage and the attached shop, by this time both had been empty for over 5 years and were in desperate need of work before they deteriorated beyond saving. 

The attached shop is remembered by the locals when it was the Oakbank Post Office and has now been renamed Post Office Cottage 

The attached shop is remembered by the locals when it was the Oakbank Post Office and has now been renamed Post Office Cottage.

Dorset Cottage and Post Office Cottage have been lovingly restored by Cindy and Greg and renovated to a high standard as short-term holiday accommodation in the heart of Adelaide Hills wine region, within easy reach of Adelaide.

The cottages provide accommodation ideal for visitors attending weddings and events, visiting local wineries or simply a weekend away within easy reach to activities in Adelaide.