Oh how I miss it. Fossey’s – The Original Ginporium.
What a great place to hang out on a Friday night or any night for that matter, with friends at any time of the year. It’s a blessing to have such a treasure in my local town of Mildura.
What makes Fossey’s Ginporium so amazing?
Well to answer that I quote Darryl Kerrigan from the legendary Australian movie “The Castle” where he says “it’s just the vibe of the place” but it really is much more too.
If you don’t know the origins of the Ginporium, please allow me to enlighten you. It’s a ginteresting tale and one I think you will definitely enjoy.
Fossey’s is family owned and operated. Fossey’s is the epitome of a boutique Distillery.
Embracing family history, sensational local produce and exceptional story telling though the art of Gin & Whisky Swilling and Distilling, Fossey’s has truly embraced the Australian Gin, Vodka and Whisky culture.
Fossey’s Ginporium is in one of Mildura’s most iconic and historical buildings, The Setts. It is home to Mildura’s first and only Gin Garden and Gin & Whisky Bar.
The unique back story to creating Fossey’s Ginporium:
Well the Fossey name was married into the family in the early 1900’s and as was tradition then, it was given as the middle name to the first-born son John Fossey, known to everyone as “Foss”.
A name that stood out, those who have it as their own have been of creative mind. Of pioneering spirit. Those with the name are usually proudly misunderstood!
The Fossey’s have lived by principles and ideologies that have been passed down through generations and become known as “Fosseylosophies” which we have based our Fossey’s Ginporium business principles on.
Foss’s Grandmother (who he never met) raised 6 children alone, while running a pub in Ludlow, United Kingdom. Coincidentally, this is the same area as our Fossey’s Gin Juniper berries come from.
One of her sons, Albert, migrated to Australia and married Elsie Vera. Elsie was small in stature but big in spirit nothing would faze her. She bought up 4 children (one of them Foss) in Koorlong before there were established roads and power. Elsie was always one who rolled up her sleeves and got on with the job. Growing up in the sticks, Foss thought the best things he had ever seen were running water and knives with a serrated edge.
Were these the things to ginspire big ideas and Fosseylosophies?
Who knows?
His execution of big ideas could be somewhat erratic at times and misguided at best, but Foss was truly an original entrepreneur.
Pioneering land (well outside Mildura) which wasn’t being used for anything else, Foss went on to create something that is still an icon of Mildura today – Timmis Speedway.
Foss and his young family farmed a property in Mourquong. Growing fresh fruit still to this day, this particular block is where our Fossey’s Original Gin Elixir bergamot oranges and tangelos are grown.
Father to our Master Ginnovator, Steve Timmis, who embodies the pioneering spirit and big ideas like his dad. Only perhaps with a slightly straighter forward strategy to implementation, the fundamentals of Fosseylosophies live on when developing something truly unique.
Ginterestingly, speaking of creating something truly unique, Foss’s great grandad Vere Quaile who was a blacksmith living in the Bacchus Marsh area, along with his son Edward, were the ones to create Ned Kelly’s armour.
So why create gin?
Well creating gin encompasses everything Fossey’s want to represent.
First class second to none products. Creative interpretation everything. Good fun, good times, good friends, good drink. Fossey’s has huge ideas conceived in a small space with crazy deadlines.
And then of course, there is family. We believe nothing is more important than family.
Fossey’s ginporium is a lasting legacy for Izzy May and Zeb Fossey (5th generation Mildura-ians). These two little ones have “fossmerized” grandfather – Steve Timmis, nana – Eddie Timmis and their mum – Cherie, into doing what they do best to create and bring to Mildura something never seen or done before.
That’s it. The tale of how Fossey’s Ginporium came into fruition. And thank the gin gods for that.
Cheers,
Narelle
Fossey’s Blogger
