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Four Pillars Gin was established all the way back in 2013 and opened the doors to its now well-trod Healesville bar and distillery just a couple years after that. Fast forward to 2022 and the cult gin label has put the Yarra Valley on the map as a hotspot for boutique distilleries, drawing local and international visitors year-round. After acquiring a slew of awards since its inception, the latest project for the brand has been a revamp of the original Healesville location – with a serious focus on sustainability.
The updated distillery, which the team has dubbed 'Healesville 2.0', is a $7 million development that will add 1000 square metres to the footprint. The expansion will triple the original venue's capacity with an indoor/outdoor gin garden, multiple event and function areas, and a stunningly crafted copper bar. The space will also house a dedicated Four Pillars Gin shop, where you can grab a bottle of rare, limited release, and Healesville-only gins.
Four Pillars was officially certified as carbon neutral in April 2022 – an accreditation given only to businesses who have reached a state of achieving zero net emissions – so eco-friendly design was imperative in the project. Enter; award-winning and sustainability-led Breath Architecture, the firm responsible for transforming the new space in a considered way. The new structures are made from eco-conscious materials such as upcycled concrete and bricks, pineapple 'leather' upholstery and locally sourced furniture. The buildings are clad with solar panels, and internal and external landscaping includes plantings of local native botanicals, many of which will be used in future gin distillations.
Healesville 2.0 is capable of producing up to one million bottles a year, with gin piped directly into the main bar through copper pipes to reduce the amount of glass waste. The increased capacity of the build will create more local opportunities and cater to more than 150,000 visitors annually.
"This has been a true labour of love for so many people and we should especially thank our architects Breathe, builders Neverstop, the local, state and federal governments who have all made a contribution," says Four Pillars co-founder and distiller, Cameron Mackenzie. "This building will hopefully be one that the local community loves, that Victorians come visit regularly and that gin lovers from around the world feel drawn to when they visit one of the greatest cities in the world, Melbourne.”
Four Pillar's new expansion is open to the public from Tuesday, April 26 – open seven days a week. Find out more and book online here.