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Mouse Proof Brewery to close Toowoomba venue after landlord dispute - Toowoomba, QLD
Smart summary
The popular Toowoomba brewery will close its current venue at the end of August after a dispute with its landlord, while the owners search for a new location.
Mouse Proof Brewery, a well-known craft brewery and live-music venue in Toowoomba, will temporarily close its current premises at the end of August 2026 following a dispute with its landlord. The development was reported on 10 August 2026, with the brewery's owners now looking for a new location to continue the business.
The brewery operates from the historic Downs Co-operative Dairy Association Limited factory, a distinctive industrial building that has been transformed into a hospitality and entertainment venue. Over its five years of operation, Mouse Proof Brewery has developed a following among Toowoomba residents through its craft beers, live blues performances and unusual community events.
According to reports, the business has been ordered to vacate the premises within a month following the dispute with its landlord. Owner John Bennett attempted to obtain an interim injunction through the court but was unsuccessful. The decision means the brewery will need to leave its current home despite having established itself as a local entertainment venue.
The closure is currently described as temporary rather than a permanent end to Mouse Proof Brewery. The owners are actively looking for another venue and have already identified several potential locations. Their intention is to relocate rather than abandon the business.
In preparation for the move, the brewery has reduced its production and is also selling down its existing stock. This allows the business to manage its operations while dealing with the immediate challenge of losing its current premises.
Mouse Proof Brewery has become known for more than just beer. Its venue has hosted live music and a range of unusual events, including music festivals and medieval fight nights. These activities have helped establish the brewery as part of Toowoomba's broader hospitality and entertainment scene.
The owners are also planning three farewell weekends before leaving the current premises. These events will provide customers and supporters with an opportunity to visit the brewery before its final day at the existing location.
The final day of operation at the current venue is expected to be 29 August 2026. After that date, the business hopes to continue operating from a new premises once a suitable location has been secured.
The situation highlights the difficulties that independent hospitality businesses can face when operating from leased commercial premises. Even established venues with a loyal customer base can be forced to relocate when agreements with landlords break down.
For Toowoomba's local hospitality sector, Mouse Proof Brewery's planned departure represents the loss of a distinctive venue from the city's current entertainment landscape. However, the owners' plans to find another site mean there is still a possibility that the brewery will return in a new location.
The business has previously faced another dispute involving its premises, although that matter was ultimately resolved without a finding against the brewery. The latest dispute has nevertheless resulted in the current requirement to leave the building.
The coming weeks are therefore expected to be focused on completing operations at the existing venue, selling remaining stock, holding the planned farewell events and searching for a new home.
For customers and supporters in Toowoomba, the brewery's final weeks at the current premises will provide an opportunity to visit before the move. The owners remain optimistic about finding a new venue and continuing the business in the city.
This is a distinct Toowoomba business and hospitality story published on 10 August 2026 and is separate from the Toowoomba water infrastructure report and other regional stories appearing today.
BreweryVenueBusinessCurrentPremises
Mouse Proof Brewery, a well-known craft brewery and live-music venue in Toowoomba, will temporarily close its current premises at the end of August 2026 following a dispute with its landlord. The development was reported on 10 August 2026, with the brewery's owners now looking for a new location to continue the business.
The brewery operates from the historic Downs Co-operative Dairy Association Limited factory, a distinctive industrial building that has been transformed into a hospitality and entertainment venue. Over its five years of operation, Mouse Proof Brewery has developed a following among Toowoomba residents through its craft beers, live blues performances and unusual community events.
According to reports, the business has been ordered to vacate the premises within a month following the dispute with its landlord. Owner John Bennett attempted to obtain an interim injunction through the court but was unsuccessful. The decision means the brewery will need to leave its current home despite having established itself as a local entertainment venue.
The closure is currently described as temporary rather than a permanent end to Mouse Proof Brewery. The owners are actively looking for another venue and have already identified several potential locations. Their intention is to relocate rather than abandon the business.
In preparation for the move, the brewery has reduced its production and is also selling down its existing stock. This allows the business to manage its operations while dealing with the immediate challenge of losing its current premises.
Mouse Proof Brewery has become known for more than just beer. Its venue has hosted live music and a range of unusual events, including music festivals and medieval fight nights. These activities have helped establish the brewery as part of Toowoomba's broader hospitality and entertainment scene.
The owners are also planning three farewell weekends before leaving the current premises. These events will provide customers and supporters with an opportunity to visit the brewery before its final day at the existing location.
The final day of operation at the current venue is expected to be 29 August 2026. After that date, the business hopes to continue operating from a new premises once a suitable location has been secured.
The situation highlights the difficulties that independent hospitality businesses can face when operating from leased commercial premises. Even established venues with a loyal customer base can be forced to relocate when agreements with landlords break down.
For Toowoomba's local hospitality sector, Mouse Proof Brewery's planned departure represents the loss of a distinctive venue from the city's current entertainment landscape. However, the owners' plans to find another site mean there is still a possibility that the brewery will return in a new location.
The business has previously faced another dispute involving its premises, although that matter was ultimately resolved without a finding against the brewery. The latest dispute has nevertheless resulted in the current requirement to leave the building.
The coming weeks are therefore expected to be focused on completing operations at the existing venue, selling remaining stock, holding the planned farewell events and searching for a new home.
For customers and supporters in Toowoomba, the brewery's final weeks at the current premises will provide an opportunity to visit before the move. The owners remain optimistic about finding a new venue and continuing the business in the city.
This is a distinct Toowoomba business and hospitality story published on 10 August 2026 and is separate from the Toowoomba water infrastructure report and other regional stories appearing today.
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