It Started with a Lark

In 1989, Hobart land surveyor Bill Lark took a fishing trip with his father in law, Max, in Tasmania’s Central Highlands. When Max pulled out a bottle of single malt whisky, Bill found himself asking a simple question that would change everything: why wasn’t anyone making malt whisky in Tasmania?

Three years later, Bill and his wife, Lyn, answered that question by launching Lark Distillery. It became the first whisky distillery to operate in Tasmania in more than a century and a half, after spirit distilling had been shut down under Governor John Franklin. What began as a passion project soon sparked a revival.

A significant part of Lark’s success came from the way Bill and Lyn built their brand. They focused on uncompromising quality, complete honesty about their craft, and a deep connection to local ingredients and Tasmanian identity. Long before the global whisky boom arrived, Lark stood apart, cultivating a loyal community of supporters who championed the brand as it grew.

Often described as the patriarch of the Tasmanian whisky industry, Bill sold Lark Distillery in 2013 and has since played a pivotal role in mentoring and supporting many of the distilleries that now define Tasmania’s world-class whisky reputation. At the heart of that story is family. Bill’s children have also continued the tradition, carrying forward the values, skills, and pioneering spirit that shaped the Lark name and reinforced whisky making as a true family craft.

In this session, Bill Lark shares how a family-led passion project grew into an industry-defining business. He reflects on building a brand grounded in trust and place, navigating legacy and succession within a family enterprise, and the role of generosity and mentorship in strengthening both the business and the wider family business community.