Matso’s brewery has taken home three awards at this year’s Queensland State Architecture Awards for its recently renovated Sunshine Coast venue.
The awards included the Commercial Architecture Award; the Emerging Architects and Graduate Network (EmAGN) Project Award, which recognises a project where members from EmAGN made a substantial contribution to the overall project; and a commendation for Sustainable Architecture.
Designed by Five Mile Radius and Knight Wilson Architects, the project transformed the heritage-listed pub Joe’s Waterhole in Eumundi into a brewery, restaurant and beer garden.
The Western Australia-based brewery owned by Good Drinks Australia took over the pub in January 2024, with a renovation that combined the venue’s heritage with the Matso’s brand.
Miles Hull who heads up hospitality for Good Drinks told Beer & Brewer that the team are proud of the achievement.
“We are chuffed for the recognition in winning the awards and in particular for Five Mile Radius who delivered a new venue that didn’t feel “new” but instead organic, with a distinct sense of place which was something that we set out to achieve.”
The jury praised the project as a “respectful execution of a substantial renovation to a heritage building on the high street of a small character town” and “a space that now attracts an all-ages clientele, resulting in a deservedly popular destination.”
While Matso’s made the move to the Sunshine Coast to expand brand awareness on the east coast, Hull said that the specific location has been the key to success.
“With our original spiritual home being such a unique place in Broome and lending so much to the brand of Matso’s, when we went looking for an east coast base, we knew that we had to find something that was equally unique and distinct,” he said.
“The hinterland of the Sunshine Coast may be a long way from the Kimberley region of WA, but the wonderful character of the old pub we found in the sub-tropical hinterland of Eumundi lent itself so well to creating another Matso’s home.”
Hull said the Eumundi site was the perfect site as it allowed for the upcycling of a heritage building, similar the original Matso’s brewery which was created in 1997 in one of Broome’s oldest buildings.
“With the assistance of our architects Five Mile Radius – a firm that specialises in sustainable design and the re-use of materials in their building design – we were able to regenerate and create a sympathetic brewery, bar and restaurant that was totally in keeping with not just Eumundi but the Matso’s brand.”
The design of building consists of four gable-roofed pavilions which Hull said echo the proportions of the heritage-listed pub.
“This allows for open and natural ventilation and connection to the surrounding landscape which delivers a relaxed and laid-back feel. The project involved the restoration of the original 1920s timber and tin pub, maintaining its original street frontage but delivering a whole new experience and activation of the rear of the building.
He added: “The works required the demolition of some additions from the 70’s and 80’s that had been tacked on to the old pub. We were able to use those recycled materials both for construction and furniture. Five Mile Radius also reworked much of the original pub furniture, resulting in a whole lot of recycled and Australian hardwood-based furnishings for the new venue.”
After more than a year in operation and being honoured with these awards, Hull considers the team’s goal of raising brand awareness to be a success.
“Matso’s has always performed well in the Queensland market but certainly having a presence with on the Sunshine Coast has allowed the brand to develop further and provide an immersive experience for people to try the full range of products on offer. We are seeing some great results through the Queensland market as a result.”
In terms of plans to expand the Matso’s hospitality footprint, Hull said anything is possible.
“As the saying goes, never say never. For us it’s still early days in Eumundi and we still have lots of exciting plans for our site there. So, at this point we don’t have any immediate plans but as a business we do feel the hospitality experience goes a long way in developing a brand in a local market.”