Our Story
How We Started
For many years Rob has toyed with the idea of Corporate leadership and owning his own business. Originally from Sydney, he moved to Dubbo with his family for his high school years, where he met his wife and co-founder Tenelle.
As a young couple, they set out into the world of development, experience & growth bouncing from Sydney, Dubbo, Brisbane and the Gold Coast before returning back “home” with their young family to a more family focused lifestyle.
With a dream in mind & a search for the perfect location to nurture that vision, the pair opened The Establishment Bar Dubbo. A small hidden bar in the heart of Dubbo’s CBD. It was and still is Dubbo’s First Speakeasy and has a little bit of the City to the Country in our region of NSW. This is where you will find Tenelle on most evenings, discreetly placed down the alley towards the Old Dubbo Gaol, where to gain access you need to ring the bell.
Though the journey to any successful small business is never easy & navigating their way through the hurdles of creating something so uniquely different it was through the complete shut down of the Covid pandemic (and beyond) that gave Rob a deeper dive into the world of spirits & distilling and from this, he found his calling.
Being surrounded by such passionate people & friends in the Distilling Industry, he went on to create another unique opportunity for our region in which The Dubbo Winter Whisky Festival. After completing some formal training, experiencing Distilling first hand, learning so much from many other Distillers, Rob and Tenelle researched, created & launched their first Spirit with the assistance of Granddad Jacks on the Gold Coast. With similar values & stories, the birth of our Signature…. “Roma” Gin was born & from there the journey was well and truly alive and it is now that we bring you = Macquarie Distilling Co =
Where we are
We are situated in Dubbo NSW, half way between Brisbane and Melbourne on the inland road, with a population over 40,000.
The Dubbo Region hosts many famous wonders such as the Iconic Taronga Western Plains Zoo, The Old Dubbo Gaol, Wellington Caves and hidden gems -We like to think we are one of those gems.
Once again the Journey to find the ‘perfect location’ to establish our Distillery Door Venue we continue to distil off site with the generous help of our many colleagues & friends, as our beautiful Aussie made 3000L Copper Still handcrafted by Burns Welding & affectionately named “RJ”, idly awaits its new home. But we do have a TASTING ROOM Open at The Establishment Bar Dubbo, where you can Sample our Products either neat or in a perfectly crafted Cocktail from our Signature Menu at the Bar.
Our company history and facts
I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.
Design & development process demonstration
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul,like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart.
