Hellyers Road Distillery: Tasmania's Dairy Farmers' Whisky
Updated: 21 hours ago
Hellyers Road is a distillery in Burnie, in the remote north west of Tasmania. It began as a side venture for a group of dairy farming families.
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Hellyers Road at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Hellyers Road |
Country and region | Tasmania, Australia |
Owner / operator | Hellyers Road Distillery, originally dairy-farmer backed |
Historical background | Tasmanian whisky founded by dairy-farming families |
Whisky identity | Tasmanian whisky founded by dairy-farming families |
Visitor planning | Check the producer's official site for current tours and operating hours. |
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A dairy cooperative turns to whisky
According to the distillery, a small group of family-owned dairy farms formed a cooperative in 1956 on the red volcanic soil of north west Tasmania. By 1997 the business wanted to diversify and chose to start a whisky distillery. Wikipedia names the founders as Betta Milk, a group of dairy farmers.
Hellyers Road calls itself Australia's oldest operating whisky distillery. The families' descendants still largely own it, with the second, third and fourth generations involved.
The name
Wikipedia says the distillery is named after a road surveyed in 1827 by the explorer Henry Hellyer. The distillery says it sits on the route of the original Hellyers Road, which led from the Bass Strait coast into the mountains.
A sense of place
The distillery stresses its setting: the Tarkine wilderness nearby, the Southern Ocean to the west and a cool, maritime climate with limited temperature variation. It describes the air as among the purest in the world, a claim it attributes to measurements over more than 40 years, and says that salt in the air and shifting pressure influence its maturing whisky.
The team
The distillery says its team is around 20 people, many of them local. Head Distiller Fiona Coutts was a microbiologist and biochemist before moving into distilling.
Awards
Wikipedia reports that in 2010 the Malt Whisky Association of Australia recognised Hellyers Road for the nation's best single malt, and that in 2013 its Pinot Noir Finish was voted Best New World Whisky at Whisky Live in Paris. The distillery calls itself Australia's most awarded distillery on its own site.
Visiting
The site offers a cellar door visit and a Distillers' Choice experience at the distillery. Check the official site for current booking details.
Founding and recognition
Hellyers Road is a whisky distillery in Burnie, Tasmania. Wikipedia says it was founded in 1997 by Betta Milk, a group of dairy farmers, and takes its name from a road surveyed in 1827 by the explorer Henry Hellyer.
2010: recognised by the Malt Whisky Association of Australia for producing the nation's best single malt
2013: the Pinot Noir Finish was voted Best New World Whisky in blind tastings at the Whisky Live fair in Paris
Sources and gaps
Sources: hellyersroaddistillery.com.au home and Our Story pages, and Wikipedia (Hellyers Road Distillery), read 20 October 2026.
Gaps: stills, capacity, ABVs and the current range with prices were not read. The Distillery, American Oak and Awards pages were not opened. Slug and cover image to be set by hand.
Further source read on 21 October 2026: Wikipedia Hellyers Road Distillery article.
What makes Hellyers Road distinctive?
Tasmanian whisky founded by dairy-farming families
Hellyers Road whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Documented producer expression |
|---|---|---|---|
Hellyers Road Original Single Malt | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Hellyers Road 10 Year Old | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Hellyers Road Peated Single Malt | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Hellyers Road Pinot Noir Finish | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Producer and release sources document these expressions. Historical bottles may be out of production or unavailable. Bottled sourced or blended whiskey is not always entirely distilled at this site.
The table records named or historical expressions. Exact availability, strength and provenance can change; consult the producer for current details.
Hellyers Road 10 Year Old bottle photograph
Hellyers Road 10 Year Old Tasmanian whisky bottle, historical; photograph records an earlier bottle design and does not guarantee current packaging.
More distilleries in Tasmania
Adam's Distillery — Tasmania
Battery Point Distillery — Tasmania
Explore other whisky producers in this region, each with its own history and range.
Frequently asked questions about Hellyers Road
Where is Hellyers Road located?
Tasmania, Australia.
Who owns or operates Hellyers Road?
Hellyers Road Distillery, originally dairy-farmer backed.
What makes Hellyers Road distinctive?
Tasmanian whisky founded by dairy-farming families.
Which whiskies are documented for Hellyers Road?
Hellyers Road 10 Year Old. Availability varies.
Can visitors tour Hellyers Road?
Check the producer's current tour and booking information; not all sites are open to visitors.
Sources and editorial notes
The original research and reference links have been retained. Current ownership, prices, operating status and visitor arrangements should be reconfirmed.
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Whisky producer and release source: https://hellyersroad.com.au/
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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