After operating the Northern Brewery at Stirling, just north of Port Augusta, Charles Henry Gray later settled in Blinman, where a small brewery was established to supply beer to the North Blinman Hotel. Gray remained in the district until 1876, when he relocated to Beltana to establish another brewery. Following Gray’s departure, John Cock is recorded as brewing at the Blinman brewery, producing beer not only for local consumption but also for Port Augusta and the surrounding areas. By 1872, ownership of the North Blinman Hotel had passed to William Roberto Barnes, and by the end of that decade Barnes had assumed control of the brewery as well. Whilst Barnes was the property owner, he did not brew the beer; there were several people take over as brewer over the years, with David Hart from 1883 to 1885, then W Hocking in 1885 and finally George Armstrong from 1885 to 1893. In 1889, Barnes undertook a major redevelopment of the brewery, replacing the original timber structure with a substantial stone-built brewery, reflecting the continued importance of brewing in the region at that time. The North Blinman Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1896. Although there are no surviving references to the brewery after 1892, Barnes left Blinman following the hotel’s destruction, making it likely that the brewery had already ceased operation or closed shortly thereafter. Adelaide Observer, 10th July 1880

1876 The Hotel is the stone building on the left, The brewery would have been behind the hotel South Australian State Library [B9345] Hotel 1901 The Hotel is centre, The brewery would in the building behind the hotel South Australian State Library [B8014] Northern Argus, 20th December 1872 Port Augusta Dispatch, 15th December 1877