MakingPlace is a series of interviews with the best minds and makers in Australian housing, development, and design. From craftspeople to politicians, we’ll be joined by the people and teams that are shaping tomorrow, today. We’ll also be taking a look behind the scenes at Nation, sharing the full story of how this project came to life.
This week we’re joined by Ben Twomey, Director of Powder Monkey Group who own and operate brewery and tap houses across the UK and Australia. Ben has a wealth of experience with small breweries and pubs and he is now putting his passion and know-how into Nation's own Precinct 75 project, where he has recently acquired popular local brewer Willie the Boatman. Here Ben shares a few thoughts about the business of beer and the way that it can bring people and community together.
Ben Twomey and Pat McInerney of Willie the Boatman
What does the word place mean to you?
Place is an area of familiarity, where you are recognised and feel comfortable. It's somewhere that people know your name and take you for who you are.
What are some of your favourite places and why?
Naturally I would say pubs, but in particular I love Wille the Boatman, our brewery in St Peters. It is a community hub with shared experience and laughter. A home away from home.
What drew you into the beer industry?
It is a creative and a collaborative industry. It started as a hobby in the Southern Highlands and has morphed into a global commercial enterprise. The industry is seeing some headwinds but our ability to be contrarian and flexible is quite rewarding. We have some exciting retail projects coming up, one being the continuation of our brewery at Precinct 75.
Has your connection to the industry changed over the years?
Not really. We have a small industry, particularly in NSW, and it's truly a great group of people.. If anything The network, connection, and leverage is becoming more powerful though. It's truly a what a great Group of people!.
It seems like an industry where everyone is trying to stake out their own territory, but there's obviously a mix of good and bad in this. How do you personally identify the difference?
It's a pretty simple equation for those doing it well. You can see the success and it's a product of people being well capitalised, nimble, and being lateral thinkers. But behind all that is hard work. Where it goes wrong is when people thing that it's an easy and approach it with the mentality of “I have an mate who owns a pub…”
What do you think has been the main engine behind the rise of craft beer houses?
I think they are at their best when people see them as the second lounge room. Good pubs capture the community essence, and that is currently being lost by homogenised pubs, backed by multi-nationals, that rely on gambling revenue.
What are some of the untapped (pardon the pun) possibilities with craft beer houses, pubs, and breweries?
Events. Particularly functions, weddings, and markets. Beer brings people together and we really are starting to become the centre of demographic rituals. We have also led the beverage industry in moderate drinking culture, and for that we should be proud. In terms of placemaking, I think there's something to be said for provenance. It still works with French wineries and there's so many possibilities to be found in educating people about their "local beers". In fairness, the Inner West probably leads the country in this, so we're doing well here.
How do you go about motivating people to come and experience something new?
Keep it dynamic! Try out new events, host weddings, you name it. Be contrarian. But you also need the right spirit. To coin a phrase from Cheers – “You want to go where everyone knows you name”. It’s that spirit. It’s the dog in the corner. Your local mate’s daughter serving behind the bar. Somewhere to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. One thing beer does is bring people together.
Tell us about your experience working with Nation and Willie The Boatman in St Peters so far.
I love it. It’s the essence of the Inner West. It's in a bit of a transition at present but to be a cornerstone in a residential development excites us in terms of the foresight for building a real neighbourhood here.
As someone who has come from the Southern Highlands region but now does business in Sydney, do you see much of a difference in ou regional and metropolitan cultures?
We are all metropolitan expats ourselves in the Highlands! There is more footfall in Sydney, a greater diversity of people, and there's definitely a touch more anonymity across the board, but at Willie The Boatman, sometimes I know everyone there. You can create a small town within a large one.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of the city?
It's already evolving — but we need to make sure that we are holding onto our historic quirks, the way that cities like London and New York do.