Cheers to the whisky pioneer handed Order of Australia honour

Bill Lark, the man who changed the Australian whisky industry forever, has been awarded ‘Member of the Order of Australia’ honours in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List.

Lark helped propel to Tasmania to global spirits prominence when he established the Lark Distillery with his wife Lyn, in Hobart in 1992.

Lark began his whisky journey in the late 1980s after a fishing trip with his Scottish father-in-law, who recognised echoes of his homeland in Tasmania’s landscape. 

He and his wife set out to overturn a 150-year-old law that had long barred commercial distillation in Tasmania.

After several years lobbying, he was successful and Tasmania is now a global hotspot for artisan beverages. 

Lark was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Australian distilling community as well as the Tasmanian community.

Lark has led the way in shaping the Tasmanian and Australian whisky industry.

“I am genuinely humbled by receiving this award and feel immensely honoured to be recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM)," he said. 

"I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the sharing and collegiality offered to me by the Scottish industry, a sentiment which is largely shared today throughout the industry in Australia. 

"Today our craft encompasses manufacturing, hospitality and tourism employing many people. I would also like to thank the many people across Australia who have helped make an amazing industry a reality.” 

Lark was the first Australian inducted into the World Whisky Hall of Fame in 2015 and he is also an inaugural inductee in the Australian Distillers Hall of Fame. He was also the founding president of the Australian Distillers Association in 2004.

He's a man who gets things done. 

Bill remains actively involved in the business and this past week travelled to Asia to launch the new range of Lark single malt whiskies in Malaysia and Singapore.

“Australian whisky owes almost everything to Bill Lark and this recognition could not be more richly deserved,” said Lark CEO Stuart Gregor.

“Bill has not only made the most incredible contribution to Tasmanian whisky but to the distilled spirits industry across Australia. His name is synonymous with great quality, integrity and imagination, and for what the New World of Whisky, with Tasmania at the forefront, can become.”

“The whole of the industry thanks Bill from the bottom of our glass.”

For more info see www.larkdistillery.com