By Angie Raphael, Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette
AUSTRALIAN Leisure and Hospitality Group will close the brewery at the Sail and Anchor Hotel in Fremantle, ending a long history of brewing in the port city.
ALH spokesman David Curry said it was a “commercial decision” to close the brewery.
“We will still offer a wide range of local and imported beers, and we will continue to brew Sail and Anchor beers,” he said.
“The building itself will remain as it is. It's business as usual.”
ALH operates more than 270 licensed venues and more 450 retail liquor outlets across Australia.
Its parent company Woolworths last year acquired a 25 per cent share of WA brewer Gage Roads.
Sail and Anchor opened in 1984 and is currently the oldest operating Australian pub-brewery.
Fremantle Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Peter Nolin, who was the head brewer at the Sail and Anchor for seven years until 2002, said it was sad news for business and tourism in Fremantle.
“From a Chamber of Commerce perspective and from a personal point of view, I think it's a very unfortunate decision,” he said.
“It is an icon of Fremantle and was one of the first breweries in Australia. It has a lot of history.
“It will have an impact on Fremantle because it's a tourist destination.”