A 'FORGOTTEN' shed and a narrow laneway off Summer Street are about to be catapulted into Orange's busy hospitality scene by craft brewery Badlands.
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Co-owner and head brewer Jon Shiner yesterday revealed plans for Badlands to move its operations into the old EC Cameron and Son's workshop, with the aim of producing and packaging their product from the site and also running a tap room and retail sales.
At the moment Badlands works with the Agrestic Grocer on Molong Road where it has been based for about 11 years.
"It's time for us to take control of our narrative and tell our story and actually have people close to the operation," Mr Shiner said.
Patrons will certainly be close to the operation with booth and table seating for around 100 people taking up a third of the open-plan floor space. The other two-thirds is dedicated to the production of beer while a mezzanine level will be used for grain storage, a staffroom and offices.
Patrons will enter the taproom via the laneway which runs alongside the current building at 149-153 Summer Street, giving the project an inner-city Melbourne feel.
The development application states: "The location is all but hidden from the main street, where patrons can venture a short distance down an unassuming laneway and be rewarded with a vibrant and contemporary establishment unlike anything else in Orange."
"We're looking to revive an old forgotten shed," Mr Shiner said. "I think most people that have started a business in Orange in the past 15 years have been in this shed, we've heard a lot of people say they've had a look at it.
"It poses some interesting challenges because of its age. I first saw it about and 18 months ago and straight away I thought this is where the brewery has to be.
"But its taken a lot of hard work to get us where we are today with the plans in with council."
According to the statement of environmental effects compiled by Andrew Crump Town Planning on Badlands' behalf, "the former workshop's industrial roots and central business district location lend themselves perfectly to an artisan food and drink industry use. The building has a distinct character and authenticity that could not be replicated in a modern commercial build".
Badlands' vision also falls inline with the NSW Government's 2019 initiative which encouraged councils to allow food and beverage businesses into certain commercial zones to promote a unique food and beverage experience.
With that in mind, Badlands are planning to work with Orange food truck vendors.
Mr Shiner estimates the project will cost around $600,000 dollars with construction to hopefully start early next year.
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