| 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]
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