Future Unclear for Young Henrys Brewery Amid Redevelopment Plans
Image: younghenrys / Instagram
Beloved Newtown brewery Young Henrys could soon be demolished to make way for a six-storey residential development on its current site.
In May this year, developer Loucas Architects submitted a development application to Inner West Council. The proposal plans to construct a mixed-use residential and commercial building on the original site on Wilford Street.
The $20.9 million project is set to include 40 residential units, ground-floor retail and commercial space, two levels of underground parking, and approximately 600 square metres of public open space, with seven units designated as affordable housing.
The planned height of the proposed 21.14-metre building exceeds the 17-metre planning limit for the Newtown area. Inner West Council has stated that the height must be reduced to comply with regulations.
Young Henrys brewery sits within the proposed development site and is one of several existing industrial buildings slated for demolition.
“Don’t stress” says Young Henrys owner
The brewery was founded in 2012 by Oscar McMahon and Richard Adamson, originally operating out of a backstreet warehouse in Newtown. It has now been in operation for 13 years.
Its flagship product, Newtowner Pale Ale, has proven highly popular, ranking fourth in the GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Awards for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.
Guided by its brand ethos of “Serve the People”, Young Henrys has long championed local arts, music events, and queer culture.
Earlier this year, the brand re-released its special edition QUEER AS FCK (QAF) Lager to celebrate the Mardi Gras season. It also hosted a live event last month, headlined by drag legends Jackie Daniels, Cassandra The Queen and Amyl.
In response to the news of its potential demolition, Young Henrys posted a video on its official Instagram account last night.
Co-founder Oscar McMahon reassured fans: “Don’t stress, we’ve been chatting to the landlord about this for a long time. we’ve been here for 13 years. we’ve had a bloody ball.”
View this post on Instagram
Regarding the brewery’s future, he said plans are still underway: “There is a lot more to tell you but we haven’t locked everything in yet. we’re going to be letting people know as and when the information is ready to be shared.”
Many loyal fans left supportive and heartfelt comments under the post, with one writing: “We love you all big time. You ain’t going no where. The universe will take care of you cause you serve the people.”
Meanwhile, some members of the public have expressed understanding toward the development application behind the proposed demolition.
One person wrote on the public platform Planning Alerts: “Sydney is in the grip of a housing crisis, and medium-density housing near existing infrastructure is one of the fastest and most effective ways to address it. This proposal ticks all the right boxes, it’s close to Newtown Station and within easy walking distance of shops along Enmore Road and King Street.”
“The Inner West needs more well-considered developments like this one.”
The proposal is currently open for public consultation, with submissions closing on 26 June.
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