History of the Building

1869

The Lyttelton Times reported that “one of the finest Malthouses in New Zealand” was erected on this site for a sum in excess of £2000. In 1870 an additional oasthouse was added on the South elevation which increased the capacity to 20,000 bushels per annum.

The malting of barley is central to the production of beer. There are 3 stages – steeping, germination and kilning. The barley is initially steeped in water and then spread on long malting floors (upstairs theatre space) and turned frequently by shovel until germination took place. After 5 days the sprouted barley was spread in the “oast” (our green room) where heat from a furnace flue stopped germination and developed flavour and colour. The finished product was removed after about a day and delivered to the Victoria Brewery on Antigua Street and City Brewery on Colombo Street.

1887

A corrugated iron lean-to with a stone and concrete basement added to the North elevation.1923 – New Zealand breweries was formed and the Malthouse joined the conglomerate.

1953

Malting ceased and the Malthouse was sold to Aysons Seed Company for storage. The oasthouse ventilators were lowered and the brick furnaces removed.

1965

The building was purchased by Canterbury Children’s Theatre and renamed “The Malthouse”. This included ownership of the former manager’s cottage which sits adjacent to the South.

1966

The interior was remodeled and a concrete block addition was made to the North elevation to create performance space, storage and toilet facilities.

1975

Tonnes of reinforced concrete poured to replace metal grill flooring in oasthouses. Extensive renovation to provide wardrobe storage, set construction areas and a green room.

1978

The roof repaired with the yard re-laid and the frontage landscaped. The exterior timber and iron repainted specifically to enhance the stone building.

1985

New access stairway built and foyer area repainted and re-floored. Makeup room built and sprinkler system installed throughout the building. Malthouse Costumes began trading.

2003

Seismic strengthening undertaken. The outside walls re-poured internally and tied into the foundations and extensive steel beams spanning the upstairs performance space installed.

2010/11

Earthquakes in Canterbury. Malthouse remained operational with the exception of the north extension. Months of planning and restoration began.

2016

18 months of restoration and upgrades completed. New north extension with toilet, laundry, office and kitchen facilities. Complete concrete foundations replaced and all exterior stone facades restored. Full wiring and alarm system upgraded. Fire doors and alarms installed. New drainage and front yard completed and upgrade of cottage facilities.