Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Company
A historic Western Australian brewery established during the Eastern Goldfields gold-rush era and later absorbed into Swan Brewery.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Company was a historic brewery and ice manufacturer based in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Established in 1896 during the rapid expansion of the Eastern Goldfields, it became one of the region's most important independent brewing businesses and was locally known as the “Big K.” The company was the second brewery established in the Western Australian goldfields and produced its first beer in September 1896. The business was floated on 24 February 1896 with capital of £12,000. Its first chairman was Robert McKenzie, with James Hurtle Cummins, S. Hocking and John Joseph Dwyer among the initial directors. German brewer J. H. Shickel served as the first general manager and brewer, followed after his death in 1897 by William Elliott. Alfred Deakin became brewer in 1900 and remained in the role for more than four decades. James Hurtle Cummins became managing director in 1904 and played a central role in expanding the company. During the 1910s and early 1920s, Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Company consolidated the fragmented brewing trade of the goldfields. It acquired the Lion Brewery in Coolgardie in 1912, Langsford Brewery in 1918, Union Brewery in 1919 and Boulder City Brewery in 1920. The headquarters subsequently moved from Porter Street in Kalgoorlie to the former Union Brewery buildings in Brookman Street. By 1924, the company had taken over all of its principal brewery rivals in the goldfields area. It also established a second brewery at Merredin in 1929, extending its reach into the Western Australian wheatbelt. A decisive period of renewal came under Alice Mary Cummins. The daughter of James Cummins, she joined the business in 1928 as a cash ledgerkeeper despite having trained as a lawyer. She learned the company's technical, engineering, refrigeration, brewing and marketing operations, later becoming a director of the Merredin brewery and, after her father's death in 1936, managing director and major shareholder of the wider enterprise. Facing declining demand for traditional English-style beers, increasing competition and the loss of hotel outlets to rival breweries, she authorized major investment in plant and storage capacity. The expenditure was reported at £125,000, and the company also expanded its hotel interests. Cummins supported a move toward German-style top-fermented lager. The resulting Hannan's Lager was introduced in September 1937 and became an immediate commercial success, helping restore the company's competitive position. The brewery repeatedly resisted takeover approaches from Swan Brewery during the 1940s, but Alice Cummins died of a heart attack on 27 June 1943. In February 1945, the executors of her estate agreed to sell her 83 percent shareholding to Swan Brewery for £200,000. The business continued operating in Kalgoorlie and Merredin under Swan representation, and the name was shortened to Kalgoorlie Brewing Company. Swan Brewery later became part of Alan Bond's Bond Corporation following the latter's successful 1981 takeover offer. Kalgoorlie Brewery was among the assets associated with Swan. The Kalgoorlie operation ceased brewing on 21 November 1982, approximately one year after the Swan takeover, and the brewery was dismantled. The company is therefore remembered primarily as a regional brewing institution whose expansion mirrored the development of the goldfields and whose Hannan's Lager briefly revitalized an otherwise vulnerable independent business.
History
The Kalgoorlie Brewing and Ice Company was founded in 1896 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, during the expansion of the Eastern Goldfields gold-mining region. The company was floated on 24 February with capital of £12,000 and produced its first beer in September of that year. Its first chairman was Robert McKenzie, while German brewer J. H. Shickel served as general manager and brewer. After Shickel died of pneumonia in 1897, William Elliott became brewer, followed by Alfred Deakin in 1900. Deakin remained with the business for more than forty years. James Hurtle Cummins became managing director in 1904. Under his leadership the company expanded through a series of acquisitions. It bought the Lion Brewery in Coolgardie in 1912, Langsford Brewery in 1918, Union Brewery in 1919 and Boulder City Brewery in 1920. The headquarters moved from the original Porter Street premises to the former Union Brewery buildings in Brookman Street. By 1924, the company had absorbed all of its principal brewery competitors in the goldfields area. The company broadened its geographic base in 1929 by establishing a second brewery in Merredin. Alice Mary Cummins, James Cummins's daughter, joined the business in 1928 as a cash ledgerkeeper. Although trained as a lawyer, she developed expertise across brewing, engineering, refrigeration, finance and marketing. She became a director of the Merredin brewery and, after her father's death in 1936, became managing director and major shareholder of the family enterprises. The business faced declining support for traditional English-style beer, growing rivalry and increasing competition for hotel outlets. Alice Cummins responded by investing £125,000 in new plant and storage capacity and by acquiring or controlling hotels in several Western Australian towns. She also encouraged a shift toward German-style top-fermented lager. Hannan's Lager, launched in September 1937, achieved rapid popularity and restored the company's commercial momentum. The company continued to resist takeover proposals from Swan Brewery during the 1940s. Alice Cummins died of a heart attack on 27 June 1943. In February 1945, the executors of her estate sold her 83 percent shareholding to Swan Brewery for £200,000. Brewing continued in Kalgoorlie and Merredin, with Swan represented on the board, and the company name was shortened to Kalgoorlie Brewing Company. After Alan Bond's Bond Corporation acquired Swan Brewery in 1981, Kalgoorlie Brewery became part of the assets associated with Swan. The Kalgoorlie brewery ceased operations on 21 November 1982 and was dismantled.
- 1982
Kalgoorlie brewery dismantled
[1]The brewery ceased operations in November and was subsequently dismantled.
- 1945
Majority shareholding sold to Swan Brewery
[1]The estate of Alice Cummins sold an 83 percent shareholding to Swan Brewery, ending the company's principal period of independence.
- 1937
Hannan's Lager launched
[1]The company introduced Hannan's Lager after modernizing its plant and adopting a German-style brewing approach.
- 1936
Alice Mary Cummins becomes managing director
[1]Following James Cummins's death, Alice Cummins took control as managing director and major shareholder.
- 1929
Merredin brewery established
[1]A second brewery was opened in the wheatbelt town of Merredin.
- 1924
Goldfields brewery consolidation completed
[1]The company had taken over all rival breweries in the goldfields area.
- 1912
Lion Brewery acquired
[1]The company acquired the Lion Brewery in Coolgardie, beginning a major consolidation program.
- 1904
James Hurtle Cummins becomes managing director
[1]Cummins assumed the managing director role and later led the company's regional expansion.
- 1896
Company floated and brewery opened
[1]The company was floated in February with £12,000 capital and produced its first beers in September at Kalgoorlie.
Products and positioning
A regional Western Australian brewery serving mining communities, hotels and other licensed outlets across the Eastern Goldfields and wheatbelt. In its later independent period, the company positioned its products around local identity and modernized lager production, especially through Hannan's Lager.
Lager · 1937
Hannan's Lager
The company's best-known later product, introduced in September 1937 after a strategic shift toward German-style top-fermented lager. Its immediate popularity helped reverse declining support for the brewery's older English-style beer range and became a key part of the company's revival under Alice Cummins.
Stout
Kalgoorlie Stout
A stout associated with the brewery's regional portfolio. It formed part of a broad range designed for the Western Australian goldfields market, alongside lagers, ales and other stout variants.
Ale
K Prize Ale
An ale sold under the company's K-branded portfolio. The product reflects the brewery's original emphasis on traditional ale styles before its later move toward lager production.
Stout
K Extra Stout
A stronger stout in the brewery's historical range. Like the company's other K-branded products, it was produced for the local and regional market and is no longer available.
Lager
Westland Lager
A lager listed among the brewery's historical beers, representing its broader move into lager production and its service of Western Australian consumers.
Lager
King Lager
A historical lager from the Kalgoorlie Brewing Company portfolio. Detailed product specifications and launch information are not documented in the supplied reference material.
Bitter
Kalgoorlie Bitter
A bitter listed among the brewery's products. It was part of the company's regional beer assortment before the Kalgoorlie operation closed.
Stout
Oatmeal Stout
An oatmeal stout included in the brewery's historical range. The available reference material does not provide further information about its formulation or period of sale.
Brand decisions
1982
Closure and dismantling of the Kalgoorlie breweryStrategyBackground
The Kalgoorlie Brewery was an asset associated with Swan Brewery after its acquisition by Bond Corporation in 1981.
Action taken
Brewing operations at Kalgoorlie were ended and the brewery was dismantled.
Aftermath
The historic Kalgoorlie brewing operation ceased to exist as a production site.
1945
Sale of controlling shareholding to Swan BreweryM&ABackground
After Alice Cummins died in 1943, her estate controlled the principal shareholding and Swan Brewery had made repeated takeover approaches.
Action taken
The executors agreed to sell an 83 percent shareholding in the company to Swan Brewery.
Aftermath
Brewing continued in Kalgoorlie and Merredin under Swan representation, and the company name was shortened to Kalgoorlie Brewing Company.
Purchase price. £200,000 (February 1945)
1930
Shift toward German-style lagerStrategyBackground
Traditional English-style beer was losing support while rival breweries expanded and competitors gained control of hotel outlets.
Action taken
Alice Cummins urged the company to adopt German-style top-fermentation methods and invest in modern brewing and storage equipment.
Aftermath
The resulting Hannan's Lager became popular after its 1937 introduction and helped restore the company's competitive position.
Plant and equipment investment. £125,000 (Early 1930s)
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