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Early History
In 1878 Henry Pike, son of a Dorset butcher, arrived in South Australia with his parents. A carpenter, joiner, undertaker and builder, he first worked in Mount Barker, and then came to Oakbank, where he worked for Johnston's as a carpenter and cooper.
His mother taught him the art of brewing, and as a hobby he made a few gallons of ale which was so popular with his friends that they persuaded him to make some more. That was the start of the Dorset Brewery, in 1885.
Architectural Notations - Brew house
Today the 4-storey building is a significant and noble reminder of earlier 19th Century Architecture, built in bluestone and sandstone with brick string and quoins with a louvered crested lantern and weathervane above a hip roof. Henry Pike's original workshop is still located at the end of the building.
Buildings today
All the structures have been re-roofed, most of which has been quite recent. The buildings are connected to one sewer point and there is also one mains water meter. Three phase power is also connected to the property.
The front residence offers 8 rooms, plus residential living, two rooms of which have been used commercially (for decades). The front two rooms originally leased to the Bank of Adelaide and Bank of South Australia, later the Oakbank Post Office (for 10 years), then for 23 years as an Antique Shop.
Summary
This notable property has had only two dedicated ownerships in the last 135 years. The views from the top storey of the brick and stone brew house are absolutely stunning and extend right across the vast Onkaparinga Valley through to the Mt Lofty Towers.
The Dorset Brewery, still with the Pike weathervane sitting atop of the main louvered crested lantern, a patent symbol of its significant heritage and is very much part of South Australia's earliest history. This cannot be overstated. A property offering a truly once in a lifetime opportunity, timeless in appeal together with a deep sense of belonging, waiting for your input...
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