Our History

The story of Timboon’s illicit distillers

colourful characters and enduring whisky folklore

Long before the still ran openly at the Railway Shed, the Timboon district had already earned a reputation for whisky.

In the late 1800s, the forests and valleys around Timboon were home to a thriving illicit distilling trade, with hidden bush stills producing spirit far from the eyes of the law. Of all the local names linked to that era, none became more legendary than Tom Delaney, the most notorious of the so-called Nirranda distillers.

By the early 1890s, Delaney and his associates were said to be producing whisky at scale, with their spirit known locally as “Mountain Dew.” It was reputed to be smooth, high quality and highly sought after — and its growing reputation soon attracted the attention of the authorities.

Christie, disguise and capture

The man chosen to put an end to the trade was Detective Inspector John Mitchell Christie — champion boxer, master of disguise and one of colonial Victoria’s most celebrated detectives. Posing as a travelling tinker, Christie set out to track Delaney and his associate Jim Love, in one of the district’s most colourful cat-and-mouse tales.

The story that followed became part of local folklore: disguises, pursuits, escapes, shots fired, capture and surrender. Though illicit distilling in the area eventually came to an end, the stories endured — and so did Timboon’s reputation for good whisky.

Carrying the story forward

At Timboon Railway Shed Distillery, we draw inspiration from this rich and rebellious past. Today, we craft whisky openly, legally and proudly, honouring the characters, craft and folklore that shaped the region.

These stories continue throughout our range — from Christie’s Club, named after the detective who once chased down local distillers, to liqueurs inspired by the colourful personalities of the district.

Timboon’s whisky story never truly disappeared. It simply changed hands.