Meet John Boston

...republican, surgeon, apothecary, opportunist, schemer, salt-maker, trader and brewer.

It all started when a visionary named John Boston set sail for Australia in 1794 as a free settler aboard the “Surprize” accompanied by his wife and three children... Next »

Salted Fish

...and seven convicts

Selling his services to the Colonial Office as a trained surgeon and apothecary, versed in the areas of brewing and agriculture, John Boston was empowered to supply the young colony with salted fish.

Shortly after his arrival in Sydney town John Boston discovered the scarcity of salt was proving a problem for Governor Hunter. Having being unable to supply salted fish (a shortage of boats and men) he offered his services to extract salt from sea water.

The Governor happily accepted, granting him a spot on Bennelong Point and salt production began. A month later utilising the labour of seven convicts only four bushels had been produced, John Boston’s salt making days concluded... Next »

The Windmill

...and the love-apple

Not to be deterred brewing was next on his opportunity list. With the aid of an encyclopedia, and using his knowledge and skill as an apothecary, he produced our first brew in 1796. Crafted from malted maize and bittered with leaves and stalks of love-apple (commonly known as Cape gooseberry) a beer was born...

Success was now well in his sights. He erected a building to continue brewing, adding soap production to the mix. The Bennelong Point site (part of our documented history) is where his windmill stood tall turning out what many would question was a palatable beer... Next »

The Boat Builder

...trader and distiller

A year on the Governor decided John Boston was someone who offered no real advantage to the colony. Sensing his decline John Boston had already moved to his next venture - trading.

Here he organised the building of several ships and ever the opportunist Boston’s sea journeys continued outside the colony. One of these took him to Manila. It was here he built and ran a successful distillery.

Prosperity was finally in his hands and his thirst for expansion continued... Next »

A Tongan greeting

...and delicious farewell

In late 1804 he reached Nukualofa on Tongatapu Island to a warm Tongan greeting. Many would say never be fooled by open arms. A moment onshore and the arrival party were killed, including John Boston.

If the story is true they were then devoured.

And that’s our John Boston... republican, surgeon, apothecary, opportunitist, schemer, salt-maker, boat builder, trader, brewer and delicious to natives.

But best of all a brewer – when all is said and done it was the beer that made the difference...

Cheers!

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