Driving tourism to one of Tasmania’s most historic towns, Callington Mill Distillery offers complete immersion into the world of whisky amidst deeply considered architecture.

• Architect Cumulus Studio
• Builder GLB Constructions
• Location Tasmania
• Product Austral Bricks San Selmo Reclaimed in Reclaimed Original
• Bricklayer Burridge Bricklaying
• Photography Adam Gibson

Resting beside Oatlands’ famous 1830s flour mill, Callington Mill Distillery celebrates the town’s rich architectural tapestry through a contemporary interpretation. Offering a captivating experience, the family-owned distillery’s restaurant, factory and coveted barrel room each present a unique immersion into its historic context.

Callington Mill Distillery resonates with the structural accents and materiality of the surrounding sandstone buildings. The site itself was originally home to an illegal distillery which distributed bootleg whisky throughout the mid-1800s. Oatlands’ Georgian architectural footprint hosts the largest collection of colonial buildings in Australia, each connected with corrugated gabled roofs.

Lending from the iconic surrounding roofs, the distillery features a modern rendition of the gabled structures, creating an architectural connection between the contemporary build and its historic neighbours. Austral Bricks San Selmo Reclaimed bricks in Reclaimed Original line the exteriors, their soft, chalky patina echoing the rugged façade of the surrounding sandstone without overshadowing it. Similarly to traditional Georgian structures, the distillery uses minimal adornments, relying instead on a robust material palette of brick, timber, glass and bold metal accents that reflect the industrial nature of its factory function. Asserting its contemporary visual impact, floor-to-ceiling glass walls highlight the entryway, separating the space into two separate pavilions, assisted by wood panelling stretched across its frontage.

Fostering an intuitive flow through the space for both guests and workers, the distillery walks through the whisky making process from start to finish. Beginning at the first floor restaurant (with a menu filled with local produce to complement their single malt whiskey), visitors can take themselves on a self-guided tour through the spacious central walkway of the factory below before arriving at the sunken Barrel Room. In this exclusive space, visitors are treated to savour the ‘angel’s share’ – the moments in which whisky evaporates as it matures in the barrel. The award-winning whisky is a product of Tasmania’s acclaimed fresh ingredients and lush environment, taking advantage of the pure air, water and local barley with its luxury facilities.

Despite the heritage detailing, the functionality of Callington Mill Distillery reflects a commitment to a spacious, visually appealing and enriching environment that can be navigated with ease. Its material palette embodies warming whiskey tones through Tasmanian oak joinery, brass fittings and sparse lighting to enhance the intimate atmosphere. The restaurant and bar accentuate contemporary design in the wooden tables and statement metal lighting fixtures, celebrating the whisky offering with an array of bottles across well-lit open shelving.

Honouring the uniquely historic nature of its surrounding landscape, Callington Mill Distillery boasts an immersive, self-guided whisky experience within its sensitively-designed walls.

“Austral Bricks San Selmo Reclaimed bricks in Reclaimed Original line the exteriors, their soft, chalky patina echoing the rugged façade of the surrounding sandstone without overshadowing it.”