By the late 1870s, Collingwood’s brewing industry was a central part of the local economy, and while many smaller companies closed or merged over time, the late 19th century saw Collingwood’s economy become dominated by the expansion of larger-scale brewers. The Yorkshire Brewery on Wellington St was one such example, and its factory on this site was constructed in 1876. The two-tone brick tower remains on site today, though an adjacent 200-foot chimney tower which vented the brewing works has been demolished. Yorkshire Brewery were early adopters of hydraulic machinery to move and transport their goods, and in 1888, they floated their business as a public company. At the first general meeting, “the directors congratulated the shareholders on possessing one of the most perfect and economically arranged buildings for brewing purposes in the colonies.” Yorkshire brewery was acquired by Carlton United Breweries in 1909 and remained part of their production until the site was was sold during the 1990s. (Note the adjacent laneway is named Brewery Lane.)
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