AUSTRALIA. Melbourne Airport and Stomping Ground Brewing Co. from the city’s Collingwood district, have joined forces for a second consecutive year to open a giant pop-up beer garden at the airport.
The facility, unveiled today, has been dubbed Terminal 3 1/2 (T3 ½) and will be open for 18 weeks through the Australian summer.
The family-friendly venue offers travellers and others a wide range of locally brewed craft beers on tap, some of Melbourne’s most renowned food truck offers on rotation and local coffee Proud Mary. Melbourne illustrator and muralist Justine McAllister* has collaborated with Stomping Ground to develop the new look of T3 1/2.
“For us it’s about being Melbournian and looking after Melbournians.” – Melbourne Airport Chief of Retail Andrew Gardiner
Throughout summer, visitors, staff and travellers will be able to watch Australia’s major sporting and other events on a large screen, while relaxing in deckchairs dotted around the garden.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Retail Andrew Gardiner told The Moodie Davitt Report that the attraction sits on around 1,000sq m of otherwise vacant land between T3 and T4. “We thought what a great opportunity it represented to bring a bit of Melbourne to the airport so about a year ago in summer we did a deal with Stomping Ground where they came in and fitted out a portion of the space, laid down some astroturf, built a pub, added big-screen TV and deckchairs. Then every other week they brought in a new food retailer by way of a food truck.
“It was a tremendous success. So, again we’re bringing to life here some of the really good food operators from downtown Melbourne. It’s making use of space that is fallow. It’s not so much a money-making venture but really introducing the look and feel of Melbourne – the Sense of Place.
“We have a massive TV screen so that people can watch whatever is going on, for example, some big sporting events – Melbournians, like all Australians, are sporting-mad and there’s always something happening over summer. People can sit and watch from the deckchairs while enjoying a local craft beer or something from our rotating local food truck offer. We have Mexican, American, Indian food and so on.
“Melbourne is famous for its coffee culture , and one of the famous Melbourne brands is Proud Mary, which we don’t have in our formal areas at the airport. But we do have it at T3 ½. The brand has massive local reach – customers know it and love it.
“For us it’s about being Melbournian and looking after Melbournians. Plus Melbourne artist Justine McAllister has done a very different iteration from last year and created a real vibrancy. Street art in Melbourne is commonplace and it’s forever changing. Again, it’s about bringing the look of Melbourne to the airport, which our customers love.”
“More beer, takeaway tinnies and a whole new look”
Stomping Ground Co-Founder Steve Jeffares said, “Last year so many people enjoyed an unprecedented range of beer styles at the airport, so this year we are stepping up the experience
Local illustrator and muralist Justine McAllister said she is excited to bring her vibrant design, as seen in Melbourne’s Central Business District, to the airport. “It was so much fun collaborating with such a Melbourne institution to create artwork for Terminal 3 1/2,” she commented.
“Whether you’re arriving or departing, I have tried to capture a friendly atmosphere with some edge for locals and visitors alike. The design also depicts elements from the brewery process using my signature palette.”
In an official statement issued earlier, Gardiner said he was thrilled to welcome Stomping Ground back. “You don’t get much more ‘Melbourne’ than craft beer plus food trucks, then throw into the mix bright art and major sporting events and you get all of the best elements of our city in the one place, which makes T3 ½ so appealing,” he commented.
“Another perk of the venue is its proximity to our domestic terminals with its convenient location in between Terminals 3 and 4. Plus, there will be flight information display screens inside the bar, so passengers won’t need to rush to the gate.
“With the festive season upon us Melbourne Airport is expected to experience its busiest travel period for the year, so it is only fitting to bring the city to life for the millions of people that will fly through over summer.”
Stomping Ground’s Terminal 3 1/2 will trade seven days a week from 7.30am until late.
FOOTNOTE (1): Justine McAllister is a Melbourne-based illustrator and muralist. Her works are often based around a sense of character surrounded by vibrant texture, pattern and design. After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts she transitioned into the world of design and now devotes her time to large scale projects and mural painting.
Last year Justine was chosen to have her artwork on a tram as part of the Melbourne Festival (pictured below) and she has painted many walls in the Central Business District this year. She currently has works in Melbourne Central, outside the entrance of Rod Laver Arena, i
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