Lion has just revealed the design plans for the much-anticipated Stone & Wood Brewing co Tasting Room, set to open in Murwillumbah. This new space at the Stone & Wood brewery promises to bring the brewery’s community-centric brewing philosophy to life, offering an immersive tasting room experience complete with engaging brewery tours. The launch of the Tasting Room is a key feature of a significant $30 million upgrade to the Stone & Wood brewery, poised to substantially boost the capacity and capabilities of the site.
Scheduled to open its doors before Christmas 2025, the Tasting Room marks a major milestone in the brewery’s ongoing commitment to fostering community connections and enhancing the local economy. The upgrade, first announced last year, is already underway, signalling new opportunities for the Northern Rivers region through job creation, collaboration with local suppliers, and economic stimulation. The Murwillumbah Tasting Room will complement the aesthetic of Stone & Wood’s existing Tasting Room located in Byron Bay, offering a fresh yet harmonious addition to the brewery’s New South Wales offerings.
Richie Crowe, a long-standing member of the Stone & Wood Brewing Co team and now Lion’s Brewery Network Director, expressed the company’s enduring commitment to community engagement: “At Stone & Wood, we’ve always believed in the importance of community, and that a brewery should be more than just a place that makes beer. It’s about nurturing connections and bringing people together, and our new tasting room in Murwillumbah is designed to bring this community brewing philosophy to life.”
Crowe further emphasised the exciting opportunity the new Tasting Room presents: “The Tasting Room also creates an exciting opportunity for us to involve our community more deeply in the Stone & Wood journey. By building a space that is welcoming and embodies the spirit of the Northern Rivers, we can share ideas and brewing innovations directly with the locals and visitors who love our beers, fostering a more vibrant community right here at the source.”
The design of the Tasting Room pays homage to the Northern Rivers and Murwillumbah’s unique character, featuring red brick that echoes the volcanic soil of the region. The use of locally sourced, durable materials such as brick, concrete, and steel, alongside touches of local hardwood, will create an environment that truly reflects Stone & Wood’s ethos.
Lead Architect Hayley Pryor shared insights into the design philosophy: “As architects, we strive to create spaces that have a strong sense of place and community, and the Stone & Wood team had a clear vision for how they wanted to bring their community brewing philosophy to life. Our goal was to show that great beer experiences can co-exist with environmental responsibility. Locally sourced materials and trades are prioritised, endemic species are integrated into the landscaping, and time-honoured sustainable practices are woven through the design, making the space feel right at home in Murwillumbah.”
Pryor’s team has crafted a Tasting Room that embodies Stone & Wood Brewing Co’s dedication to craft, community, and sustainability, offering a multi-layered experience where the brewing process and the patron experience seamlessly merge within its unique Northern Rivers context.
Janelle Saffin, State Member for Lismore and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, extended her congratulations to Stone & Wood’s management and staff on their visionary plans to enhance the Murwillumbah Brewery. Saffin remarked, “This upgrade and expansion are a show of confidence in the local economy and in the future prosperity of the Northern Rivers region. Parliamentary duties prevent me from attending the reveal, but like many others, I look forward to visiting the tasting room for a tipple.”
The Murwillumbah Tasting Room will welcome visitors from Wednesday to Friday between 2pm and 8pm, and on weekends from 12pm to 8pm, starting before Christmas 2025. With its opening, Stone & Wood continues to reinforce its role as a cornerstone of the community, offering a venue where the joys of craft beer and the vibrancy of the Northern Rivers come together in perfect harmony.
