Firstly, the goldfields were booming and the miners always enjoyed a beer (or three) after a hard day's work.

Secondly, the miners were drinking sub-standard beer because the major ingredient - malting barley - was imported from England.

Mr White knew Australia's clean environment would produce good quality barley. The warm climate also ensured the barley was sun-dried rather than machine-dried, which was the process in Europe.

Mr White's decision to give the miners' better beer was the beginning of what would become the Southern Hemisphere's largest malting company.

Today, Australia and the rest of the world enjoy drinking famous brands of beer including Boags, Tooheys, Coopers, Asahi and Heineken.

The beers were created with malting barley made in the Joe White Maltings Wendouree plant, which officially closed its doors yesterday. The Wendouree plant operated for more than 100 years.

At one point, it was one of the company's main export sites, delivering malting barley to Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.

But its old machinery, coupled with the need for new technology, means the historic work site is no longer needed.

"Some of the equipment here is over 100 years old," Joe White Maltings chief executive officer Andrew Gee said.

"The technology is around the mid-1950s and the industry has moved into the 21st century, so we have to move on, too."

Mr Gee said some maltsters and fitters had been employed at the company's plants in Delacombe and Lake Gardens.

Eighteen workers have been made redundant.

"But because of the dynamic city Ballarat is, many employees have been able to find alternative employment, which is reassuring," Mr Gee said.

The eight-acre site with two sets of 110ft silos is under review.

"It isn't heritage listed. We're not sure what is going to happen to the site but it won't be run as a malting house," he said.