Heritage Building Brewery
Figure 1: The Moruya Co-operative Dairy Factory at 38 Hawdon Street Moruya, c1900 (closed 1930)
A heritage building with a story
There’s something pretty special about having a beer inside a piece of history. At Quantum Brewery, you’ll find us brewing and pouring in the Old Moruya Cheese Factory, a true heritage building brewery where the past and present meet over a pint.
The Cheese Factory first opened its doors back in the 1930s, built by locals who wanted to create something lasting for the community. Fast-forward nearly a century, and the old stone walls and timber beams now frame our little brewery.
We didn’t just move in, we wanted to honour the place. Keeping that heritage charm alive while adding our own flavour with small-batch brewing, local ingredients, and a relaxed space for people to gather.
Brewing with Character
Running a brewery in a heritage building makes you slow down and appreciate the details. Every batch we brew is done with care – from the grains we source, to the way we preserve the character of the old factory while using modern techniques.
When you sit down with one of our beers, you’re tasting something that’s rooted in both history and the South Coast today.
More than beer
Sure, we’re here for the beer, but there’s more to the story.
At Quantum Brewery you can:
-
Tuck into a pizza or snack in the CaféBar
-
Explore the cheese cave – a nod to the building’s original purpose
-
Stay overnight in our Airbnb accommodation, complete with spa and sauna extras if you feel like treating yourself
It’s a place you can make a day (or a night) of, not just a quick stop.
Figure 2: The Moruya Co-operative Dairy Factory at 57 Hawdon Street Moruya, c1970 (closed 1971)
Why visit our heritage building brewery?
The portion of the building that remains industrial in nature comprises of a large factory/hall, the original curing room, a corridor, a cool room and a room that was the milk processing room. The main commercial access to the industrial portion of the building is via a roller door on the south elevation of the building. This leads into a corridor which leads to the large hall/factory space.
To the West of the corridor is the factory cool room, with plans to provide the local artists with a cosy exhibition space and meeting facilities. The original cool door provides entry into the cool room and a small hatch to the cool room adjacent to the door. The door is labelled with the original makers mark, and was part of a 1958 addition to the original portion of the building. To the East is the milk producing room, now housing the Quantum Brewery kitchen.
As you progress through the corridor you enter the main hall completely enclosed by the other rooms. the main hall was the production room containing the cheese vats and now houses the Quantum Brewery brewhouse, fermentation maturing and brite dispensing tanks. The original wall covering of white tiles with a patterned black and white border is mainly intact. The walls above this are painted green, with the ceiling and gables were painted pink. A wall has been left to showcase this, whilst hygiene requirements of the brewery have lifted this room. The roof structure is exposed in the form of large trusses and the ceiling is sheeted with FC sheeting with expressed joints. At the apex of the ceiling is the original stack ventilation system.
There are two original doors leading into the old curing room. These doors have been designed for thermal properties and seal shut. The curing room is to the west of the main factory hall. This has a flat ceiling and is insulated with cork and plastered. There are areas of the ceiling that have square timber patches on them, the cooling system before refrigeration. This room has evidence of the original racking system that would have been used to store the cheese. This is evidenced by a number of remaining posts and where posts were once installed. Some of the posts have horizontal timbers which would have been used to store the cheese planks.
Plan your visit
Because it’s not just about the drink, it’s about the experience. How often do you get to sip a craft beer in a 1930s factory, surrounded by stories of the town and people who came before us?
We’ve created a space that’s welcoming, relaxed, and a little bit unique, just like Moruya itself.
📍 Where: The Old Cheese Factory, Moruya, NSW
🕛 When: Thursday to Sunday, 12pm – 6pm
🍺 What to expect: Craft beer, heritage charm, food, and good company
So if you’re looking for a true heritage building brewery, come see us at Quantum Brewery. History tastes better with a cold beer in hand.