| Babinda Sugar Mill | |
|---|---|
 Photo of the mill, which was active from 1915 to 2011 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Babinda, Queensland, Australia |
The Babinda Sugar Mill was a sugar mill that operated in Babinda, Queensland, Australia from 1915 to 2011. The site of the mill is owned by MSF Sugar and is located next to the Bruce Highway. [1]
Sugar cane production became a staple crop in the Far North Queensland, making it necessary for there to be a means of refining the product. The sugar industry was the primary source of economic stability and growth in the local area and was described as being a “foundation industry” for local economics. [2]
Activities of the sugar mill were important in overall discussions about the economics of both the local area and wider economy. [3] [4] The mill closed on 23 February 2011.
The Babinda Sugar Mill opened on 15 September 1915 [5] but some operations and building of the mill had begun in 1914. [6] The address of the Babinda Mill was on the Bruce Hwy, Babinda, Queensland. [7]
It was a source of food and employment for nearly a decade and important for the local area and great Australian food industry. As part of the Bundaberg Sugar Ltd reports are available from the Queensland government. [7]
As of 2011, the mill employed around 60 workers, with employment numbers increased to 100 during peak crushing season. The Courier-Mail reported at the time of closure that many workers at the mill came from families with many relatives who had been employed at the mill. [8]
The closure of the mill in 2011 was reportedly a "huge shock to canegrowers" in the region. [9] The banana production industry in the local area replaced some of the economic activity. [2]
In 2014, the previous site of the mill was earmarked for a residential housing development project. The project was described as being large-scale which was predicted to generate an economic boom for the local area. [10] In 2017, it was proposed as a site for a biorefinery. [1]
An additional photo can be sourced from the 1930s from the Townsville library. [11]
Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Wide Bay, Queensland, Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. It is a major centre of the Wide Bay–Burnett geographical region. The Bundaberg central business district is situated along the southern bank of the Burnett River, about 20 km (12 mi) from its mouth at Burnett Heads, and flows into the Coral Sea. The city is sited on a rich coastal plain, supporting one of the nation's most productive agricultural regions. The area of Bundaberg is the home of the Taribelang-Bunda, Goreng Goreng, Gurang, and Bailai peoples. Popular nicknames for Bundaberg include "Bundy", "Rum City", and "The 'Berg". The demonym of Bundaberg is Bundabergian. In the 2021 census, Bundaberg's urban area has a population of 73,747 people.
Cairns is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
Tully is a rural town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It is adjacent to the Bruce Highway, approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) south of Cairns by road and 210 kilometres (130 mi) north of Townsville. Tully is perhaps best known for being one of the wettest towns in Australia, and home to the 7.9 m tall Golden Gumboot.
The North Coast railway line (NCL) is a 1,681-kilometre (1,045 mi) 1067 mm gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It commences at Roma Street station, Brisbane, and largely parallels the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton. Along the way, the 1680 km railway passes through the numerous towns and cities of eastern Queensland including Nambour, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville. The line though the centre of Rockhampton runs down the middle of Denison Street.
The Regions of Queensland refer to the geographic areas of the Australian state of Queensland. Due to its large size and decentralised population, the state is often divided into regions for statistical and administrative purposes. Each region varies somewhat in terms of its economy, population, climate, geography, flora and fauna. Cultural and official perceptions and definitions of the various regions differ somewhat depending on the government agency or popular group by which they are being applied.
Giru is a town and coastal locality in the Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia, situated on the Haughton River, 54 kilometres (34 mi) south-east of Townsville. In the 2021 census, the locality of Giru had a population of 387 people.
Babinda is a rural town and locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. Babinda and Tully annually compete for the Golden Gumboot, an award for Australia's wettest town. Babinda is usually the winner, recording an annual average rainfall of over 4,279.4 millimetres (168.48 in) each year. In the 2021 census, the locality of Babinda had a population of 1,287 people.
North Queensland is a proposed state of Australia, to be formed out of the current state of Queensland. The proposal does not have the support of the two major political parties that dominate politics in Queensland.
Mourilyan is a town and locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was established around the Mourilyan sugar mill which provided much of the employment in the area until it was destroyed by Cyclone Larry on 20 March 2006. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mourilyan had a population of 509 people.
Wallaville is a rural town and locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 372 kilometres (231 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane and 43 kilometres (27 mi) south west of the regional centre of Bundaberg. In the 2021 census, the locality of Wallaville had a population of 363 people.
The economy of Queensland is the third largest economy within Australia. Queensland generated 19.5% of Australia's gross domestic product in the 2008-09 financial year. The economy is primarily built upon mining, agriculture, tourism and financial services. Queensland's main exports are coal, metals, meat and sugar.
The 1936 Bundaberg distillery fire was a disaster in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Winifred was the worst tropical cyclone to make landfall in northern Queensland and the first since Althea in 1971 to inflict significant damage on the northeastern coast of Australia. The sixth named storm of the 1985–86 Australian region cyclone season, Winifred originated as a tropical low north of Cairns, Queensland on 27 January 1986. Slowly organizing, the system was recognized as a tropical cyclone after gaining tropical characteristics on 30 January, christened with the name Winifred the same day. Meandering southward, the cyclone began to curve southeastward that evening before suddenly turning toward the coast, southwestward, on 31 January, steadily intensifying in that time. By the time it came ashore near Silkwood, Queensland at 0445 UTC on 1 February, it was producing Category 3-force winds on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and a minimum atmospheric pressure of 957 mbar (28.38 inHg). Weakening as it drifted inland, Winifred persisted as a tropical depression for another five days after landfall before finally dissipating on 5 February.
Fallon House is a heritage-listed trade union office at 1 Maryborough Street, Bundaberg Central, Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by David Ballinger Goodsir and Harold James Carlyle and built in 1953 by Llewellyn Herbert Edwards. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 December 2012.
Gin Gin railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Mulgrave Street, Gin Gin, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1888 to c. 1928. It is also known as Gin Gin Railway Station, Goods Shed & Refreshment Rooms. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000.
Sunnyside Sugar Plantation is the heritage-listed remains of a former sugar plantation at 94 Windermere Road, Windermere, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in c. 1880s by South Sea Islander labour. It is also known as Dry-rubble Boundary Wall. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 May 1996.
North Isis is a rural locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, North Isis had a population of 566 people.
Grove Street Pensioners' Cottages is a heritage-listed house at 28D Grove Street, Parramatta Park, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. They were designed by the Cairns City Council and built from 1953 to 1958. They were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 August 2017 amidst some controversy as their heritage listing would prevent the redevelopment of the site for affordable housing.
East Feluga is a rural locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, East Feluga had a population of 266 people.