Microbrewery set for former Geraldton nightclub building

A development application has been submitted to the City of Greater Geraldton to convert the former Phit gym building into a microbrewery.

The proposed Batavia Brewing Company hopes to emulate the success of Broome’s Matso’s and Kalbarri’s Finlay’s with a combined brewery and restaurant which would be the first of its kind in Geraldton.

The company plans a family-friendly social environment with “large function space for social gatherings, events, conferences and other social gatherings,” and a proposed capacity of 400 peo-ple.

It also plans to serve meals made from locally sourced ingredients and beer brewed in-house, as well as hosting a themed event centred on the Batavia, embracing Geraldton’s nautical history.

Despite its location across the road from Geraldton Pri-mary School, planning documents say it will have “far less an im-pact on the surroundings than its previous long life as a nightclub”.

The Fitzgerald Street building hosted a nightclub and cabaret for 40 years before being converted to a gym, which is now defunct.

The brewing plant will consist of two 1200-litre brewing vats, six fermenting tanks, and a 5600-litre reverse osmosis system, used to purify the brewing water.

The City of Geraldton is calling for public comments on the plan.

Submissions can be made by post or by email, and close on September 15.