Beaumont’s pies find a Routley to local fans

IT’S AN Aussie staple, the old dog’s eye with dead horse.
And woe betide the soul who comes between a meat pie lover and their precious pastry.
So it comes as no surprise to find Geelong pie aficionados are still championing their old faithful, the Beaumont’s pie, even though its fortunes have somewhat diminished over recent years.
History-based Facebook site Geelong has run up a lengthy catalogue of sentimental pie-lovers attesting their addiction to Beaumont pastries.
The Beaumont’s operation ceded way to company takeovers – first to Balfours then to Routleys – but the line has not completely vanished.
Routley’s, based at North Geelong, still makes a plain beef pie labelled ‘The Beaumont’s Pie’ as a tip to its glory days and loyal fans.
With hundreds of likes and comments on the Geelong Facebook site, it’s obvious the humble Beaumont’s holds a special place in Geelong’s pie and pastry pantheon.
“Best pies ever,” posted one fan.
“My favourite when I was growing up,’’ recalled another.
“Drool, used to have one very week!’’ was another comment.
Bec Failla attested to an unwavering delight in Beaumont’s pastries.
“I got 21 Beaumont pies and 21 Beaumont vanilla slices for my 21st birthday,” she said.
“I’d eat one a day, so it was the best present I got.
“I started eating them at Roslyn Road Primary School and remember my nanna bought me some the day they closed for the last time. I’ve eaten thousands of pies in my life and nothing compares to them.”
Routley’s Abbey Harrington told the Independent a “couple of hundred” Beaumont’s pies were still produced each week.
The pies were sold over the counter at North Geelong and also distributed to milk bars and other outlets around the city, she said.
“They’re made to the old recipe and it’s called a Routley’s Beaumont’s Pie. People really love them.” And they’re still a bargain, too, at just $2.53 for a slice of heaven, including GST.
But mouth-watering as they might have been, too much of a good thing can still spell mischief.
“We had a pie-eating contest I won by eating seven and a half Beaumont’s pies in two minutes,” Andrew Seater revealed on the Facebook site.
“As farfetched as it sounds, I couldn’t even look at a Beaumont’s bag for a few months.”