Minister for Tourism, the Hon Martin Ferguson MP will tomorrow officially open the Seven Sheds Brewery’s Meadery and Hop Garden Tasting Room project in Railton, Tasmania.
The project has received assistance from the Australian Government Australian Tourism Development Program (ATDP) through a grant of $50,000 from AusIndustry. The funding was used to help fit out the tasting room and provide a welcoming environment for visitors to sample products and view interpretive exhibitions.
The aim of the project is to develop a purpose-built tasting room to complement the Seven Sheds micro-brewing venture in north-west Tasmania’s Cradle Coast region, where no brewery has operated since 1907. Minister Ferguson is to be accompanied in Railton by the Federal Member for Lyons, Dick Adams.
Minister Ferguson said: “The tasting room is located in a landscaped garden setting, adjacent to the brewery and within easy strolling distance of other local attractions.
“It provides a unique attraction that is not available elsewhere in Tasmania and contributes to enhancing the Cradle Coast region's reputation as a high-quality provider of food and beverage. In addition, it also adds to the touring attractions for visitors to Tasmania’s north-west coast.”
Tourism to the north-west region of Tasmania has declined recently, from $307 million in 2006 to $284 million in 2007, a fall of 7.6 per cent.
“We know from research that high quality attractions act as a beacon to draw tourists to regions and keep them coming back. I have no doubt that Seven Sheds will become such an attraction and also build on the Cradle Coast’s ‘From Source to Sensation’ food and wine strategy,” Minister Ferguson said.
Seven Sheds is the brainchild of Catherine Stark and Willie Simpson, one of Australia’s premier beer writers.
"This is a perfect example of a region playing to its strengths. Today we not only celebrate another great tourist attraction in rural Tasmania but also another great chapter in Tasmania long and proud beer brewing history. Seven Sheds is another great chapter in that history and I am pleased that the Australian Government has been able to assist this fantastic development," Minister Ferguson said.
Contact: Michael Bradley 0420 371 744
Robyn Foster, AusIndustry 02 6213 6787