2009
Kirin Holdings assumes 100% ownership of Lion Nathan
Global brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev appoints Lion Nathan distribution rights to the Budweiser group of brands in Australia and NZ, as well as distribution of Staropramen in NZ
Lion Nathan's first cider is launched in Australia: Tooheys Extra Dry 5 Seeds
Lion Nathan launches two new low carb, mid strength brands: Hahn Super Dry 3.5 in Australia and Steinlager Edge in NZ
A new addition to the XXXX portfolio, XXXX Summer Bright Lager enters the market in Queensland
2008
Lion Nathan completes acquisition of J. Boag & Son
Lion Nathan acquires US wine import company, Cumulus Wines and creates Lion Nathan Wine, incorporating the company's owned wine brands and distribution company Fine Wine Partners
Full strength, low carb Tooheys NEW White Stag is launched
Lion Nathan launches Barefoot Radler, a lemon and lime infused beer certified carbon neutral
2007
Lion Nathan announces acquisition of iconic Tasmanian brewer, J. Boag & Son
Lion Nathan NZ launches super premium Steinlager Pure
Lion Nathan acquires Inner Circle Rum brand and distillery
2006
McKenna Bourbon brand launched
Hahn Super Dry, a low carb offering under the famous Hahn trademark, launched
2005
Fine Wine Partners established in Australia. A joint venture between fine wine distributors Distinguished Vineyards and Tucker Seabrook, creating an extraordinary portfolio representing distinctive wines from renowned regions around Australia and the world.
2004
Heineken and Lion Nathan establish a joint venture to make and sell Heineken in Australia
2004
Following a competitive sale process, Lion Nathan sells the Chinese beer business to China Resources Breweries
2003
Bacardi-Martini and Lion Nathan establish a joint venture to market, sell and distribute a range of ready-to-drink and spirit brands in Australia
2002
Lion Nathan adds to its premium wine business by acquiring New Zealand wine company Wither Hills
2001
Lion Nathan purchases a controlling interest in premium Australian wine companies Petaluma and Banksia. Their brands include Petaluma, Stonier, Croser, Mitchelton, Knappstein, Tatachilla, St Hallett and Oregon-based Argyle Wines
2000
Lion Nathan shifts its domicile and primary stock exchange listing to Australia
1999
Lion Nathan acquires the rights to brew, market and distribute Mac’s in New Zealand
1999
The Hahn Brewery is renamed the Malt Shovel Brewery in honour of Australia’s first commercial brewer. James Squire Original Amber Ale is born
1998
Lion Nathan expands interests in China with the opening of a brewery at Suzhou
1998
Douglas Myers sells most of his 16 percent share in Lion Nathan to Kirin Brewery Company of Japan. Kirin goes on to acquire a 45 percent interest in the company, creating the fourth largest brewing alliance in the world
1998
Hahn Premium Light is born
1997
The remainder of New Zealand Breweries takes on the name Lion Breweries
1997
After 15 years as either Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Myers is appointed Chairman of the Lion Nathan Board
1995
Lion Nathan enters the Chinese beer market through the purchase of a controlling interest in the Taihushui brewery in Wuxi
1994
Brent Marris establishes the Wither Hills wine label. In 1999 Brent merges the label with his father John’s vineyard holdings to establish the Wither Hills Vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand
1994
Tooheys Extra Dry is born
1993
Lion Nathan acquires New South Wales boutique brewer, Hahn Brewing, and the South Australian Brewing Company
1992
Tooheys is established in Victoria to cater for the needs of Victorian drinkers
1992
Lion Nathan acquires the remaining 50 percent of Natbrew Holdings. Tooheys, Castlemaine Perkins and the Swan Brewing Company begin operating as independent breweries under the Lion Nathan umbrella
1990
Lion Nathan buys a 50 percent share in Natbrew Holdings which owned Alan Bond’s brewing assets in Australia including Castlemaine Tooheys and Swan Brewing
1988
Lion Nathan is formed when New Zealand's largest retailer, LD Nathan & Co, merges with brewer, wine and spirit manufacturer and hotel operator, Lion Breweries
1987
Building starts on the Hahn Brewery in a converted furniture factory at Camperdown in Sydney. Hahn Premium is born
1985
Castlemaine Tooheys is bought by Bond Corporation
1985
Castlemaine Tooheys is bought by Bond Corporation
1982
The Swan Brewery becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Alan Bond’s Bond Corporation
1981
McCashins Brewery is established by Terry McCashin in Nelson, New Zealand. Mac’s Real Ale is born
1981
Campbell & Ehrenfried sells shares in New Zealand Wines and Spirits and purchase a 20 percent share in Lion Breweries
1980
Tooheys and Castlemaine Perkins merge to form Castlemaine Tooheys
1979
XXXX Lite (relaunched as XXXX Gold in 1991) is born
1978
The Swan Brewery moves from Sherwood Court to a large modern brewery constructed at Canning Vale in Perth
1978
The Standard Brewery closes and all Tooheys operations relocate to Auburn
1977
The northern division of New Zealand Breweries takes on the name Lion Breweries
1976
Brian Croser establishes Petaluma in South Australia and makes the first Petaluma wine, a Riesling from a Goulburn Valley vineyard
1971
New Zealand Wines & Spirits is formed through a 50/50 joint venture by Campbell & Ehrenfried and New Zealand Breweries
1965
Douglas Myers becomes CEO of Campbell & Ehrenfried
1961
LD Nathan acquires Waikato Breweries from CL Innes
1960
Speight’s taken off the market but reintroduced after public outcry
1958
Steinecker (renamed Steinlager in 1962) is born
1944
The Lindner Family establish St Hallett in Australia’s best known wine region, the Barossa Valley
1931
Tooheys New is born
1928
The Castlemaine Brewery buys out major rival Perkins & Co which owned the City Brewery, the Toowoomba Brewery, the Toowoomba Maltings and a number of hotels. The new company is known as Castlemaine Perkins
1928
Swan acquires major competitor, the Emu Brewery
1924
The first caricature of Mr Fourex appears in an advertisement. XXXX Bitter is born
1923
Lion is one of 10 leading brewing companies that amalgamate to form New Zealand Breweries. The merger creates a united force against prohibitionist sentiments of the time
1923
Emu Bitter is born
1914
The Great Northern Brewery becomes officially known as the Lion Brewery when the company merges with Campbell & Ehrenfried
1908
Previously known as Stanley Co-operative Brewery and the Albion Brewery, the Emu Brewery is established in Perth
1907
Lion Beer (relabelled Lion Red in 1986) is born
1902
With the family owned Tooheys business being transferred to a limited company, the Stag is chosen as the Tooheys trademark. The symbol is derived from John Toohey’s favourite hotel, the Bald Faced Stag Hotel in Leichhardt, Sydney
1898
The Albert Brewery and Hobson Bridge Brewery amalgamate to create Campbell & Ehrenfried. Having no offspring, the Ehrenfried brothers invite Arthur Myers, the grandfather of Douglas Myers, to join and manage the family business
1888
The South Australian Brewing Company is formed through a merger of the West End Brewery, the Kent Town Brewery and Wine & Spirit merchant Rounsevell & Simms
1878
The first brew is produced in the Castlemaine Milton Brewery
1878
The Ehrenfried brothers buy the Albert Brewery in Auckland
1877
The Fitzgerald brothers form a partnership with Kate Quinlan, George Gray and Robert Prendergast with the intent to build a brewery in Brisbane. They purchase the failing Milton Distillery and much of the surrounding land
1876
James Speight, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson establish the City Brewery (now the Speight’s Brewery) in Dunedin. Speight’s is born, two months before its makers obtain a licence
1875
The Standard Brewery opens near Sydney’s Central Station and Tooheys prospers
1872
John Thomas Toohey and his younger brother, James Matthew, join forces and buy the Darling Brewery in Sydney. The brothers begin trading as JT & J Toohey and give Australia its first taste of Tooheys Old
1869
John Thomas Toohey obtains his brewer's licence
1861
Pioneer brewer Richard Seccombe founds the Great Northern Brewery at Khyber Pass. He uses the Lion from his family crest as its logo
1859
The West End Brewery is established by William Clark in Hindley Street, Adelaide. West End Draught is born
1857
Early West Australian settler Frederick Sherwood establishes the original Swan Brewery in what is now the suburb of Sherwood Court in Perth. Swan Draught is born
1840
LD Nathan established as a trading Company in Russell, New Zealand and moved to Auckland soon after
1840
Under the name Brown Campbell & Co, liquor wholesalers John Logan Campbell and William Brown establish the Hobson Bridge Brewery in Auckland, the antecedent of Lion Breweries
1795
James Squire, convicted highway robber and publican, produces the first commercial ale to become Australia’s first brewer. The spirit of his brews is later honoured by Lion Nathan’s Malt Shovel Brewery which adopts the James Squire name for its unique range of handcrafted flavoursome beers