Here's cheers to Bermagui's Camel Rock Brewery coming back to let the good times flow

Bega Valley’s first microbrewery has reopened thanks to Broulee Brewhouse taking it on.

Camel Rock Brewery, at the BIG4 Wallaga Lake Holiday Park, closed abruptly a few months ago after seven years of operation.

New manager Joanne Taylor said that when Camel Rock Brewery closed, it left a big gap in the market.

“We are just so excited to bring it back,” she said.

“Our vision is to create something that feels truly local while also appealing to visitors who come to experience the South Coast’s vibrant food and drink culture. We want to bring our good vibes to Camel Rock.”

The renamed Camel Rock Brewhouse opened on 18 December.

Currently there is a mix of Camel Rock and Broulee beers, until a new brewer is hired.

“We will get a brewer and the brewing happening in the early months of next year,” Ms Taylor said. “The focus is to get it up and running in time for the holidays.”

It is remarkable how quickly it all happened. The holiday park owners approached Broulee Brewhouse only a month ago.

For now they are offering a selection of their award-winning Broulee beers.

Broulee Brewhouse’s craft beers won four silver and five bronze medals at the prestigious Independent Brewers Association Australia awards in 2023.

Ms Taylor has worked at Broulee Brewhouse for about two years.

“I think there were a couple of us breweries that opened around the same time, and I believe Camel Rock was the first one on the Sapphire Coast,” she said.

Ms Taylor’s background is in small business, although she worked in hospitality when she was younger. She does the hiring, training, accounts and marketing, and will be overseeing both breweries.

She grew up on the South Coast and moved back to the area a few years ago.

Camel Rock Brewhouse is now hiring front-of-house staff, including bar tenders and waitstaff, as well as kitchenhands and chefs for the affiliated bistro.

So far, they have employed some people from outside of the area but the majority are locals.

“Hopefully we can build on that,” Ms Taylor said.

Many South Coast businesses struggle to recruit staff because of the lack of affordable accommodation. One of the advantages of Camel Rock Brewhouse being in a holiday park is that sometimes there is an option to help employees with accommodation.

“I think overall we will create 20 to 30 jobs for the region,” Ms Taylor said. “It will peter off a bit in the winter but we hope to make it a destination no matter what time of the year.”

Ms Taylor said the new mountain bike trails in Mogo, Narooma and Eden would help greatly.

“I think the trails will make the region a year-round destination.”

Eurobodalla Shire Council’s manager of economic development and place activation, Teresa Lever, said amid cost-of-living pressures and a post-COVID rebound in Australians holidaying overseas, the revenue of businesses exposed to the tourism sector was down 15 to 30 per cent from 2023. Yet her data showed spending by visitors to Narooma between January and August 2024 was up 2.2 per cent from the same period last year. Local businesses attributed that to the new Narooma Mountain Bike Hub.

Ms Taylor said the cost-of-living pressures had not dampened the thirst for Broulee Brewhouse’s craft beers.

“Some of our craft-brewing peers have seen a downturn, but on the South Coast we are becoming known as a destination for craft beer,” Ms Taylor said. “For us, it is always adapting to the market. In any industry, you have to be constantly adapting and listening to customers.”

Camel Rock is also bringing back live music. Artists will perform every Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm, and the odd Friday for a special event.

“We have a bunch of musicians booked in already,” Ms Taylor said. “People who play up and down the coast, artists who people will recognise, and hopefully some different ones.

“It is great to support that arts scene from the brewery’s perspective.”