A new whisky, gin and vodka distillery will open in Ballarat this year, creating construction jobs now and boosting the city’s hospitality offering well into the future.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Eureka Michaela Settle toured the fit-out underway at the Ballarat Goods Shed where the distillery ‘Itinerant Spirits’ will deliver a world class distillery and bar.

Itinerant Spirits is on track to open later this year and will feature a cocktail bar, restaurant, event and masterclass space. The project – which received funding from the Andrews Labor Government – supported 14 construction jobs and will provide a new hospitality destination for the city.

Co-Founders Brad Wilson and Craig Ryan want locals and visitors to experience all that Western Victoria has to offer, distilling locally grown and malted grains, focusing on local ingredients and proofing their spirits with local volcanic spring water.

The Ballarat Goods Shed is more than 160 years-old and remains a relic of Victoria’s goldrush era. The fit-out of the new spirits distillery showcases the success of the site’s transformation.

Managed by hospitality powerhouse the Atlantic Group, the Goods Shed already features conference and meeting rooms and a 300-seat theatre. It forms part of the Ballarat Station Precinct redevelopment made possible through $28.3 million from the Labor Government.

Alongside the Goods Shed Convention Centre, the station redevelopment includes a public plaza, a multilevel carpark, Quest Apartment Hotel, and a bus interchange.

The Government has delivered a record investment of more than $41 billion in rural and regional Victoria since 2014.

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Ballarat’s reputation as a destination for bespoke food and drink experiences is growing – that’s why we’re backing businesses to showcase the best our city has to offer. This new distillery will be another major drawcard for the region.”