Credit: Bastian Allfrey

Hawke’s Brewing Co., the independently-owned beer company established by former Australian Prime Minister, the late Bob Hawke, has unveiled a mural of the company’s co-founder at popular West End pub venue, The Montague Hotel.

Hawke’s Brewing commissioned local artist, Bastian Allfrey, to create the 5m high artwork, which depicts a deeply-tanned Hawke wearing nothing but a pair of budgy smugglers, while holding a beer in one hand and a newspaper in the other, with the headline reading “HAWKIE SAVES DAINTREE”.

The headline is in reference to the Hawke government’s victory over the Anti-Heritage alliance in 1988, ending a long battle between the Federal and Queensland Governments, loggers and conservationists, ultimately leading to the listing of North Queensland’s Wet Tropics as a World Heritage site.

Says Hawke’s co-founder, Nathan Lennon, “Bob was a lizard when the sun came out, so he obviously enjoyed his time up here in Queensland. But more than that, he loved and fiercely defended Queensland’s environment, from saving the Daintree Rainforest to expanding the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. We’re incredibly proud that, through the beer company he helped us start, we can do our bit to protect the Queensland environment through our charity partnership with Landcare Australia.”

At age 87, Hawke gave his endorsement to Hawke’s Brewing Co. on the condition that 100% of his royalty share from the business be provided to Landcare Australia, the environmental not-for-profit the Hawke government established in 1989.

Says Lennon, “This company wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Bob generously passing on his share to the national environmental not for profit, Landcare Australia. We’re honoured to be carrying on his legacy by bringing together two of his great loves – beer and the environment – as we begin our journey in a state that we know he loved.”

The launch of the mural coincides with the release of Hawke’s Brewing’s once-a-year special release, Hawke’s Legend IPA, with $1 from every can sold being provided to Landcare Australia to help fund the Cairns & Far North Environment Centre’s on-going conservation of mangroves in far north Queensland.

Hawke’s beers are available in Dan Murphy’s and select independent bottleshops in SE Queensland.

To find Hawke’s Lager, go to hawkesbrewing.com

To find Hawke’s Legend IP, go to hawkesbrewing.com/legend