Our History

Our history

Beginning in 1989

Our story began in 1989 with a fishing trip and a simple, hypothetical question - one that sparked an epic journey of flavour and discovery.

Beneath the vast Tasmanian sky, Bill Lark and his father-in-law cast their lines into the glassy stillness of Lake Sorell — and in that moment, a challenge was set.

Could this place, its essence, its purity, be captured in a fine single malt?

The Godfather of Australian Whisky

Amending antiqued laws

When Bill shared the idea with his wife Lyn, she embraced it without hesitation — taking the lead in challenging century-old laws to make their dream a reality. Distillation had been restricted in Tasmania since 1839, but Bill and Lyn refused to be stopped.

They successfully amended Australia's antiquated distillation laws, establishing the first distillery to produce single malt spirit on the island — earning Bill the nickname: The Godfather of Australian Whisky.

Tasmanian Community

The power of our island

But you don't make whisky at the edge of the world alone. From the very beginning, LARK has been built on the pioneering spirit of the Tasmanian community — and in return, has championed local producers, welcomed visitors from around the world, and kept that spirit alive.

As Bill has always said, it took the whole island to create LARK.

the craft and a shared vision

A drive for innovation

Chris Thomson, a former musician, found his way to LARK in his early twenties — drawn in by curiosity, then captivated by the craft.

Welcomed into the Lark family, he learned the foundations under Bill's mentorship, inspired by Lyn's bold vision and relentless drive for innovation.

It was that pioneering spirit that pushed Chris from apprentice to leader, and in 2010 he stepped into the role of Master Distiller.

In 2026, the world took notice — Chris was named Master Distiller/Blender of the Year (Rest of World) at the World Whiskies Awards Icons of Whisky, a testament to the craft and vision he has brought to every drop of LARK.