STRATHPINES OWN RUM
A DVD documentary which unearths the Moreton Bay region’s rum distilling heritage has been launched at the Pine Rivers Museum, Strathpine.
Councillor Bob Millar, from Moreton Bay Regional Council, said the documentary ‘Normanby Rum: the Spirit of an Early Industry’ was a tribute to a once thriving local industry that began more than 130 years ago.
“Those who’ve just moved into the area might not realise that from 1875 Strathpine was home to a distillery which, at its peak, rolled out more than 5,000 litres of rum a day,” Cr Millar said.
"When it closed in 1968 the Normanby Rum Distillery was believed to be Australia’s oldest rum maker and now, 41 years later, the Normanby’s glory days have been preserved on video.
"The Normanby Rum story features Tanda Webb, whose family owned the distillery from 1908 to 1968 and Jack Hanson, a former Normanby distillery worker who vividly remembers the day the final barrel left the production line.
"It’s a fascinating untold chapter in the history of the Strathpine area."
The Queensland Government has contributed $5,000 to the making of ‘Normanby Rum: the Spirit of an Early Industry’ as a Q150 project, celebrating Queensland’s 150th year.
Moreton Bay video production house Bluegum Media has also invested $5,000.
"Strathpine’s rum making tradition continues with the Tom Petrie Hotel’s boutique distillery named in the Normanby’s honour," Cr Millar said.
Copies of the DVD documentary are being distributed to local schools, libraries and museums.
“Those who’ve just moved into the area might not realise that from 1875 Strathpine was home to a distillery which, at its peak, rolled out more than 5,000 litres of rum a day,” Cr Millar said.
"When it closed in 1968 the Normanby Rum Distillery was believed to be Australia’s oldest rum maker and now, 41 years later, the Normanby’s glory days have been preserved on video.
"The Normanby Rum story features Tanda Webb, whose family owned the distillery from 1908 to 1968 and Jack Hanson, a former Normanby distillery worker who vividly remembers the day the final barrel left the production line.
"It’s a fascinating untold chapter in the history of the Strathpine area."
The Queensland Government has contributed $5,000 to the making of ‘Normanby Rum: the Spirit of an Early Industry’ as a Q150 project, celebrating Queensland’s 150th year.
Moreton Bay video production house Bluegum Media has also invested $5,000.
"Strathpine’s rum making tradition continues with the Tom Petrie Hotel’s boutique distillery named in the Normanby’s honour," Cr Millar said.
Copies of the DVD documentary are being distributed to local schools, libraries and museums.
Pictured: Lawnton-based Bluegum Media propietor Chris Bradbury, Library historian and producer Leith Barter and Councillor Bob Millar with the new Normanby Rum Disitllery DVD.
