Our Story

In the vast landscapes of Outback Queensland, a pioneering spirit has given rise to Western Queensland Spirit, the region's first craft distillery. The distillery was built with the purpose of bringing the best of Outback Queensland together. It now has eight products that feature botanicals from across the Outback and has opened a cellar door that has welcomed thousands of visitors since its opening in April 2023. 

The founders of Western Queensland Spirit, Michael McLaughlin and Will Fellowes, seized an opportunity to not only craft exceptional spirits but also to forge partnerships with other small businesses scattered across the Outback. When searching for a grazing platter to add to their food menu, it became clear that countless businesses produced incredible products but faced the same challenges of scaling up to reach the market. From olives and dates grown in Charleville to the rebirth of a citrus orchard in their hometown of Roma, there was an opportunity for the distillery to incorporate other food producers into its food and beverage offerings and provide a new route to market. This created the idea of a “Trading Post” -- the distillery’s larder-style offering that allowed locals and tourists to get their hands on produce proudly grown in Outback Queensland. 

The distillery's commitment to sourcing ingredients locally not only supports farmers and producers but also fosters a sustainable and interconnected network that resonates across the Outback. This sense of collaboration, or "mateship" as the distillery likes to refer to it, has created opportunities for the distillery’s products to be featured across 15 places in Queensland in 2023. This ranges from curating VIP cocktails at the Mount Isa Rodeo to serving arrival cocktails for 600 guests at the Royal Flying Doctor Service gala in Brisbane. While the business has grown bigger than could have been imagined, it’s been the support of the community and the interest of visitors who are searching for something unique in Outback Queensland that has made it all possible.