SA Chapter HALL OF FAME

Web: www.johnston-oakbank.com.au

The Johnston family first settled on a section of land near Willunga in 1839 and then soon moved to the area they named Oakbank, where they farmed and established a brewery. The Oakbank Brewery served the Adelaide Hills and Lower Murray regions and the family built and acquired numerous hotels in the area, through which they also sold their aerated waters and cordials, introduced during the 1860s.

The transition to the third generation in the 1880s-1890s coincided with drought, recession, improved transportation from Adelaide and the introduction of lager beer, which severely tested what had been a thriving business. Brewing ceased in 1914 and the company relied upon its hotel chain, royalties from the sale of an Adelaide brewer’s beer in those hotels and sales of its non-alcoholic beverages.

The firm currently owns 18 hotel freeholds through the Adelaide Hills and Lower Murray regions and the Balhannah Junction Shopping Centre. It manufactures Johnston Cordials at the Oakbank Brewery and it established vineyards in 1993. In 2002 it released its first Adelaide Hills wine under the Johnston label – an estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc.  The 2003 Sauvignon Blanc won Best Sauvignon Blanc and Best White Wine in the 2003 Adelaide Hills Wine Show.  The range also includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz , Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

J & AG Johnston was incorporated in 1901 and became an unlisted public company in 1990.  There was a significant ownership restructure in 1998 when an unsuccessful, hostile takeover bid was resolved by selling some assets to the bidder and buying-back about 35% of the issued share capital. Fifth and sixth generation family members own a majority of the shares and occupy four of the five board positions. The business is managed by non-family, as has been the case for many years.

J & AG Johnston is the oldest known family business in South Australia .

J & A G Johnston was inducted into the FBA(SA) Hall of Fame in 2002.