Ray OSBORNE
This paper will provide an overview of the history and development of the malting industry across Australia and discuss the issue of redundancy of malting sites and re-use. Amalgamations and takeovers in the industry have generally resulted in malting sites being rationalised or made redundant. The recent internationalisation of the industry, and the requirement to meet world food standards and minimise costs in a competitive market, however, is quickening the pace of redundancy. This is likely to result in all nineteenth century malting sites being abandoned. While there are examples world wide and in Australia of adaptive re-use of maltings, this process inevitable results in the loss of spatial qualities and significant fabric and machinery. Australia has a small number of significant and rare surviving maltings, one of which is arguably of international significance. They are effectively redundant and present particular challenges in terms of their future conservation and interpretation.