One of the Adelaide Hills’ oldest landmark properties might return to its commercial brew house origins.
The vernacular early Federation Dorset Brewery and Villa, with Dorset Cottage and outbuildings at Oakbank is for sale for $1.5 million asking price.
A family home since the 1970s, Pike’s Historic Brewery, at 230 Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Oakbank, has been listed for sale with Raine & Horne Adelaide Hills.
It’s the first time the property has been offered to the market since ceasing operations as a commercial enterprise, with the building once housing not only a brewery but also the Bank of South Australia, a post office, and antique shop.
Selling agent Chris Weston said it was the community’s hope to see the property return to its commercial roots.
“The community wouldn’t be against enterprise, soft commercial, so something like a cafe or retail brew outlet,” he said.
“Something that’s for the community but could also attract more tourists.
“It’s a very adaptable building you could do a lot with. The current owners live in the tower and used to run a professional weaving business downstairs and leased out the cottage.”
Today the four-storey building, which is attached to a villa and separate cottage, is a significant and noble reminder of earlier 19th-century architecture. It retains many of its original features, including Henry Pike’s workshop and syrup-mixing room.
In the former cellar, the beer runs, which hold the kegs in place, are still there, as is the hot tub for brewing beer.
Pike's Brewery - Two Stories
1. Pike's Brewery. Clare
Henry Pike left Dorset, England in 1878 and sailed into Port Adelaide aboard the HMS Oaklands.
In 1886 he founded Pikes Oakbank Brewery, producing a range of fine ales, stout and tonic water for nearly 90 years. Henry Pike's commercial undertaking ran until 1973.
In 1973 the brewery was sold at auction and promptly went out of business.
By then the Pikes name had found its way into the wine industry through fourth generation Australian Edgar Pike, who had established himself as a vineyard manager and private grape grower.
Together with his two sons Neil and Andrew, and Andrew's wife Cathy, he launched Pike’s Wines in 1984 in the Polish Hill River region of the Clare Valley.
In 1996, the Pikes label was re-introduced by the fifth generation descendants of Henry Pike, brothers Andrew and Neil Pike of Pikes Wines in the Clare Valley of South Australia.
The Pike family owned and operated micro-brewery is now in South Australia’s Clare Valley.
Read more about Pike's Brewery, Clare Valley
More of the Detailed History of Oakbank's brewery
2. Dorset Brewery, Oakbank
Early History
In 1878 Henry Pike (1837-1904), son of a Dorset butcher, arrived in South Australia with his parents.
A carpenter, joiner, undertaker and builder, he first worked in Mount Barker, and then came to Oakbank, where he worked for Johnston's as a carpenter and cooper.
His mother taught him the art of brewing, and as a hobby he made a few gallons of ale which was so popular with his friends that they persuaded him to make some more.
That was the start of the Dorset Brewery, in 1885.
The Dorset Brewery
Henry Pike owned lots 38 and 39. In 1886 be built the brew house, the different roofs suggest it was built in stages before the 4-storey brick and stone brew house building in 1889. The Dorset cottage and shop, the former Pike residence was built in two parts, the original 4 rooms built of double solid brick construction on stone foundations, circa 1890.
Later circa 1900 4 more rooms were added with a connection hallway. The lofty pitched roof and high front gable both compliment the overall architectural presence.
1885-1975
Operated as a brew house with Henry Pike and his wife Emma, they had two sons, Walter Henry and Edwin Francis, and three daughters, Louise (Way), Eugenie (Donavan) and Virginia (Love) lived in the residence on the front, to be the home also for later of Pike family members/generations.
The Dorset Brewery in 1886 had three principals, "Pike, Son and Beasley".
The son was Walter Henry and Ernest Albert Beasley was Henry's son in-law. This was later changed to H Pike and Co Ltd.
1975 to the Present Day
The front residence offers 8 rooms, two rooms of which have been used commercially, Dorset Cottage and shop.
In the early days two rooms leased to the Bank of Adelaide and Bank of South Australia, later the Oakbank Post Office, then for many years as an Antique Shop.
Architectural Notations - Brew house
Today the 4-storey building is a significant and noble reminder of earlier 19th Century Architecture, built in bluestone and sandstone with brick string and quoins with a louvered crested lantern and weathervane above a hip roof.
The beams, joists and upright posts are oregon, the floors are wide and thick wood, tonged and grooved.
In the former cellar, the beer runs, which hold the kegs in place, are still there. The hot tub for brewing beer by the gravity feed process is still in place, supported by heavy beams on the second floor and reaching the third floor.
The original wooden louvered shutters protect the top storey which once held the settling tank. The lower set of curved double wooden doors lead to the syrup-mixing room.
The ground floor with its stone walls reaches a height of 67cms, the walls being 48cms thick, above which the walls are iron clad, and timber lined, packed with sawdust for insulation. The timber ceiling is also lined with sawdust.
Interestingly enough Henry Pike's original workshop is still located at the end of the building, the syrup-mixing room is parallel to the workshop, and approximately the same width.
The original mixing stand is at the northern end. Between the exterior south wall of the room and the boundary is a 30ft deep bricked well, with spring water, used in the brewing process and later one of the wells used in their soft drink manufacturing business.
Buildings today
All the structures have been re-roofed, most of which has been quite recent. The buildings are connected to one sewer point and there is also one mains water meter. Three phase power is also connected to the property.
The buildings certainly appear to be structurally sound. There is also a garage and a peaceful private garden.
Summary
In essence this notable property has had only two dedicated ownerships in the last 135 years.
The views from the top storey of the brick and stone brew house are absolutely stunning and extend right across the vast Onkaparinga Valley through to the Mt Lofty Towers.
The Dorset Brewery still with the Pike weathervane sitting atop of the main louvered crested lantern, a patent symbol of its significant heritage and is very much part of South Australia's earliest history.
This cannot be overstated. A property offering a truly once in a lifetime opportunity, timeless in appeal together with a deep sense of belonging.
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