John Primrose (brewer)
John Primrose | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1803 Carsebridge, near Alloa, Scotland |
| Died | 1876-11-28 |
| Occupation(s) | Distiller, brewer |
| Known for | Founder of Union Brewery (Primrose's Brewery) in Adelaide, South Australia |
John Primrose (circa 1803 – 28 November 1876) was a Scottish-born distiller and brewer who built a prominent career within the colony of South Australia. He is credited with founding the Union Brewery, also referred to as Primrose's Brewery, situated on Rundle Street, Adelaide, which became the colony's first prosperous brewing establishment.
Early life
Born to a distiller in Carsebridge near Alloa, Scotland, Primrose received his education at the Royal High School, Edinburgh. He acquired both hands-on and theoretical expertise in brewing and distilling while working at his father’s facility. Subsequently, he managed distilleries for the firms Shea in Belfast and Beamish in Cork. Prior to relocating to Australia, he established a brewery on the Isle of Man and later took charge of a distillery in Sydney. He arrived in Adelaide aboard the Ariadne in August 1839 and decided to make it his permanent residence.
Businesses in Adelaide
Shortly after settling in Adelaide, Primrose partnered with John Richmond to open a distillery on Rundle Street. This venture was discontinued after approximately two years when government duties on domestic spirits were equalized with those on imported alcohol.
In 1841, Primrose and Richmond acquired the Union Brewery on Rundle Street, originally set up by Daniel Cudmore in 1838. Positioned at Town Acre 80, at the eastern corner of Rundle Street and James Place, the brewery was popularly identified as "Primrose's Brewery" by 1861. Primrose remained at the helm until November 1875, when he handed over management to his nephew William Ross Sawers and son-in-law Arthur Rait Malcom. They made use of the cellar beneath the Academy of Music on Rundle Street (opened in 1879) for storage purposes.
Eventually, Richmond sold his stake to Primrose, who maintained brewery operations well into the 1890s.
Death
John Primrose passed away on 28 November 1876 and was laid to rest at the West Terrace Cemetery.
Family
On 10 April 1845, John Primrose married Elizabeth Paton Reid (circa 1822 – 30 August 1867). Their daughter, Elizabeth Margaret Adelaide Primrose (1849–1874), wed Arthur Rait Malcom (circa 1847–1890) in 1872. Malcom, known for his involvement with the Adelaide Hunt Club, remarried Joanna Barry from South Melbourne in 1882.
Other breweries
In the late 1860s, several other breweries were operational, including: