Unveiling the History of The Malthouse: From Oasthouse to Ovations.

Discover the rich history of The Malthouse, an iconic NZ heritage site that has witnessed the evolution of both brewing and performance arts in New Zealand. With a history dating back to 1869, The Malthouse stands as a testament to the past while embracing modern renovations and upgrades.

1869: Laying the Foundation for Excellence

The malthouse first appears in print in a notable report by The Lyttelton Times, boasting the title of “one of the finest malthouses in New Zealand.” The construction costs exceeded £2000, around half a million dollars today. Which, to be fair, sounds cheap at twice the price. 

So, the malthouse had been built, it was splendid, the Lyttelton Times loved it, but what actually is a malthouse? What is the purpose of the building? That has a lot to do with beer…

Malting: Not about losing feathers

At the core of the beer production process lies the malting of barley, a multi-stage endeavour involving steeping, germination, and kilning. The barley’s journey began with soaking in water, followed by spreading it out over extensive malting floors. Regular shovelling and turning it over facilitated germination. Once the barley germinated – a process that took about five days –  it was taken to the “oust”. 

Here, heat from a furnace halted germination in its tracks, right at the point where the starches in the barley had transformed into sugars. The heat not only stopped further growth but also added it’s own flavour and colour development to the barley. Once this process was complete the barley was now ‘malted’ and dispatched to breweries all over town. 

So, that’s what happened. Barley was malted in the malthouse, for beer production. 

1870: The Oust with the Most

An additional oasthouse was constructed on the South elevation, significantly boosting the Malthouse’s capacity, enabling it to handle 20,000 bushels annually. Now, that’s a lot of bushels. Or is it? Wait— What’s a bushel? 

A bushel is a measurement used for harvested crops. 1 bushel of barley is just over 21.7 kilograms. 

So, that’s 20 000 x 21.7 which equals 434 000 kilograms. That’s 434 tonnes, the weight of 434 baby humpback whales, or 868 grand pianos. That’s a lot of whales, a lot of pianos, and most importantly, a lot of barley. 

1887: Not Just an Historic Shed

A corrugated iron lean-to, accompanied by a stone and concrete basement, was seamlessly integrated into the northern elevation of the building. It does sound a bit like something you’d put up in the backyard, but don’t forget that basement. That’s how you know it’s good.  

1923: Uniting Brewing Forces

New Zealand Breweries was created in 1923. This conglomerate of multiple smaller brewing companies enveloped the malthouse into its fold. No longer a stand-alone supplier, the malthouse was part of a larger entity and continued malting for the next 30 years, generating many, many bushes worth of bushels.  

1953: Evolution and Adaptation

In 1953 the malting for New Zealand Breweries was being taken care of by other facilities and malting operations ceased. The building was then acquired by Aysons Seed Company for storage purposes. As they wanted to just store seeds – not germinate then cook ‘em – multiple modifications ensued, including the lowering of oasthouse ventilators and the removal of brick furnaces, reflecting the building’s first shift in function.

1965: A Theatrical Takeover

Canterbury Children’s Theatre took centre stage in 1965 by acquiring the malthouse and the capital letters arrived as they officially named it The Malthouse. 

A flurry of changes followed, encompassing remodelling, extensions, and concrete block additions. The building’s metamorphosis facilitated the birth of performance spaces, storage facilities, and a green room.

Modern Revitalisation and Upgrades

The passage of time witnessed transformations that continued to breathe new life into The Malthouse:

• 1975: Concrete replaced metal grill flooring in oasthouses, accompanied by extensive renovations for wardrobe storage and set construction areas.

• 1985: Enhanced access via a new stairway, foyer renovations, and the advent of Malthouse Costumes.

• 2003: Incredibly prescient seismic strengthening, internal wall pouring, and steel beam installations reinforced the building’s structural integrity.

• 2010/11: Despite the Canterbury earthquakes, The Malthouse persisted, initiating months of restoration work post-earthquakes.

• 2016: A triumph of restoration and upgrades unfolded over 18 months. A new north extension, restored stone facades, upgraded wiring and alarm systems, and revamped drainage underscored a commitment to modernization.

Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future

The Malthouse’s journey is a testament to adaptability, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. From its barley-infused origins to its transformative role in performance arts, The Malthouse continues, irrespective of it’s function, to be “one of the finest malthouses in New Zealand.”