Hyne has launched a limited-edition Radiata Pine needle-infused gin to mark a quarter-century of operations at its Tumbarumba sawmill in the New South Wales Snowy Valleys. It comes as Hyne Group Chair Tom Bruce-Jones hosted a small launch event for local customers, suppliers and builders, with the gin produced in partnership with Tumbarumba-founded Ladbroken Distillery.
The collaboration was Hyne’s idea. Robbie and Neil Ladbrook, the distillery’s founders, took the brief and developed the product — a limited release now trading as Hyne-Pine Gin. “Pine-infused gin certainly presented some light-hearted fun while acknowledging the importance of supporting locally grown and manufactured timber for our housing construction,” Bruce-Jones said.
Wood Central understands that the launch doubled as a moment to acknowledge those who stood behind the mill when it mattered most. Bruce-Jones thanked those in attendance for their support during the Black Summer bushfires and the market challenges that followed, describing the evening as a chance to share current insights alongside reflections on the journey since 2001.
Snowy Valleys Mayor Councillor Julia Ham spoke at the launch, placing the milestone in regional economic terms. “25 years is a significant milestone, and the economic value of the Mill to this region cannot be underestimated,” Ham said. The Hyne Community Trust alone has contributed almost $1 million into the community — and that figure excludes timber donations and other in-kind contributions across the Snowy Valleys Council area.
The gin marks a milestone Wood Central reported on last week in full — a $180 million redevelopment that transformed an ageing site into one of the Snowy Valleys’ largest employers, now processing around 500,000 cubic metres of plantation pine a year. More than 200 people work directly at the mill, with hundreds more tied to the regional supply chain.
The Hyne-Pine Gin can be purchased from the Ladbroken Distillery at 7 Albury Street, Tumbarumba, or ordered online. Future batches will depend on demand — but at 25 years and almost $1 million back into the community, Hyne has earned the right to a limited run.
