Industrial hub swaps ciggies for beer in hops maker’s major expansion

Australia’s largest hop producer has bought the former Tobacco Cooperative Victoria building in north-east Victoria to expand processing operations.

Hops Products Australia’s $20 million project will result in the former tobacco leaf drying facility at Mytleford being transformed into a pellet plant, packing line and cold storage by 2024.

The company’s head of sales and marketing, Owen Johnston, said the site would complement its nearby hops farms in Eurobin and Buffalo River.

“Our total crop size is predicted to continue to grow,” he said.

“We’re on track to produce 2,500 metric tonnes of finished pellets from the 2023 harvest, which is one of the biggest crops we’ve ever had.”

Mr Johnston said while new job opportunities at the facility would be limited due to the automated technology, there would be 60 new jobs created in the farm area.

“It won’t actually lead to job creation for those standing on the line so to speak, but around the facility we will create a few more roles,” he said.

He said it was the end of a rapid expansion in the north-east of the state.

“It’s the ability to process the expanded capacity of our farm production, so they are out there on the land instead of in the shed processing pellets,” he said.

New life for old building

The 22,000 square metre industrial site was built by Philip Morris Australia in 1996 as a leaf-drying facility.

The building has had many iterations since the tobacco industry left the region in 2006.

It has been previously used for bottling water, building demountable houses, a community exhibition centre and most recently a flour mill.

Alpine Shire councillor Ron Janas, who has lived in the area for 30 years, said he was “extremely pleased” a local company had bought the building.

“It’s great for the region, it gives purpose and life to the area and hope that we’re moving forward with our industries which makes people want to live here,” Mr Janas said.

“The timber mill is just across the road so that end of town will really become the timber and hops hub.”

Bring back the ‘big’ thing

The building was previously home to the Big Cigarette, which could be seen from the Yackandandah/Myrtleford road as people drove into town.

The attraction has since been removed however Mr Janas said he would welcome the return of Myrtleford’s next “big thing”.

“A big long neck?” he joked. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“However it might be subject to some public consultation.”

Mr Johnston said Hops Products Australia would consider bringing back the big thing.

“No guarantees but I’d love to see the return of the ‘big thing’ to Myrtleford and bring some happy snapping tourists to the area.”