Historical information
" The former Cohn Brothers brewery was established in 1858. Today, only remnants of the once substantial complex survive, including the ice works building (1880s), built for the storage of lager beer on site, and the adjacent fermentation vats building. The ice works and fermentation buildings constitute the public interface with the site, as viewed from Water Street. The site also includes other process and ancillary buildings and a building which appears likely to have been for office/administration use. There is also a substantial retaining concrete wall which provides a reference to the site boundary... The former Cohn Brothers ice works and brewery, a long-standing and once extensive industrial site, is of local
historical significance. Established in the 1850s, the site was contemporary with establishment and rapid expansion of Bendigo during the alluvial gold rushes. The Cohn Bros.' brewery was one of the largest and longest-running in the city, outlasting many of the small breweries which had been established during the 1850s. It operated continuously as a brewery and aerated drinks manufactory from 1858 to 1984. The Cohn Bros installed extensive refrigeration and ice-making facilities in the 1880s, to facilitate the production and storage of lager beer. The equipment was acquired from J H Schwalbe and Son of Chemnitz, Germany. The brewery is noted as the first in Australia to produce lager beer. The ice works building, at the north-west corner of the site addressing Water Street, is a remnant of the significant investment in ice making and refrigeration equipment in the 1880s."
Victorian Heritage Database Report
Report generated 22/07/25
Former Cohn Brothers Ice Works and Brewery
Physical description
10934.34a: No. 2440
A small sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and two along the top edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in red ink is the business name and details: Credit Note: Credit by the Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery Co. Ltd. The receipt is handwritten in blue ink. Dated 18 Feb 1938. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 1 pounds 1 shillings and 10 pence. The receipt has a long black line, diagonally crossing the page.
10934.34b:
A long, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details:
Cart Note: Cordial Branch,
Phones: Bendigo 700 and Swan Hill 196
Receipt No. 5126
Bendigo, Bought of the Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery Co. Ltd.
The receipt is handwritten in blue pencil. Dated 5 Jan 1948. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. The Receipt is crossed out in black pencil. The bottom edge of the page is creased from being folded. The receipt has a large black cross indicating payment. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 1 pounds 5 shillings and 3 pence.
10934.34c:
A long, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details:
Cart Note: Cordial Branch,
Phones: Bendigo 700 and Swan Hill 196
Receipt No. 5155
Bendigo, Bought of the Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery Co. Ltd.
The items are pre-printed on the receipt. The remainder of the receipt is handwritten in blue pencil. Dated 22 Jan 1948. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. The bottom edge of the page is creased from being folded. The receipt has a large black cross indicating payment. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 50 pounds 14 shillings and 6 pence.
10934.34d:
A long, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. One of the holes has torn to the left edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details:
Cart Note: Cordial Branch,
Phones: Bendigo 700 and Swan Hill 196
Receipt No. 3116
Bendigo, Bought of the Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery Co. Ltd.
The receipt is handwritten in blue pencil. Dated 16 Nov 1945. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. The Receipt is crossed out in Green pencil. The bottom edge of the page is creased from being folded. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 17 pounds 15 shillings and 1 pence.
10934.34e:
A long, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details:
Cart Note: Cordial Branch,
Phones: Bendigo 700 and Swan Hill 196
Receipt No. 3373
Bendigo, Bought of the Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery Co. Ltd.
The receipt is handwritten in blue pencil. Dated 18 Jan 1946. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. The Receipt is crossed out in Green and black pencil. The bottom edge of the page is creased from being folded. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 20 pounds 14 shillings and 9 pence.
10934.34f:
A long, aged sheet of yellow paper with two clean punch holes on the left side and a perforated edge. The paper is thin, but sturdy. Printed in black ink is the business name and details:
Cart Note: Cordial Branch,
Phones: Bendigo 700 and Swan Hill 196
Receipt No. 5126
Bendigo, Bought of the Cohn Bros. Victoria Brewery Co. Ltd.
The receipt is handwritten in blue pencil. Dated 9 Jan 1946. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items. The Receipt is crossed out in Green and black pencil. The bottom edge of the page is creased from being folded. Below the header is neat, ruled lines for listing items with prices listed in British Pounds, totaling 14 pounds and 4 pence.
