Fairymead Sugar Plantation was a sugar plantation in Fairymead, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was established by Ernest Young together with his father Henry and brothers Arthur, and Horace. It was one of Bundaberg's earliest independent sugar plantations and had one of its earliest sugar mills. [1]
The origin of Bundaberg's sugar industry dates back more than 100 years to the introduction of the Sugar and Coffee Regulations Act 1864. Faced with the high cost of importing sugar from overseas, the Queensland Government wanted to find a way to encourage people to invest in sugarcane growing. The Sugar and Coffee Regulations Act 1864, was introduced into the Queensland Legislative Assembly by Charles Coxen, member for the Northern Downs. The proposed regulations of the Act permitted persons or companies to select land suitable for sugar in lots ranging from half a square mile to two square miles. [2] The introduction of the Act brought about a renewed interest in sugar cane growing and people raced to accumulate land up and down the coast of Queensland. [1]
The Brown brothers, Alfred and Arthur, were one of many who acquired land under the Sugar and Coffee Regulations Act 1864. In the early 1870s, the brothers acquired 13 square kilometres of land and developed the cattle property, Tantitha. Working under the Act the brothers divided up a central section of their property into three blocks, called Jamaica, Barbados and Mauritius and experimented with the growing of sugarcane. These subdivided sections later became known as Fairymead, after a friend of the family visited the plantation and described the place as being like a "fairy mead" on a misty morning. The Brown's abandoned their venture into sugar after the floods of 1875, which saw the land swamped and the cane trampled by cattle. They sold the 5 square miles of land devoted to sugarcane to the Young family in 1878. [1]
Arthur and Horace Young, with their younger brother Ernest, began to transform Fairymead into a profitable state-of-the-art sugar plantation. Like many others who had heard of the potentially profitable sugar industry in Queensland's north, Arthur, Horace and Ernest had no knowledge of the sugar industry except their father's theoretical experience. They had formerly held two sheep stations in New Zealand, but when rabbits devastated these stations in 1878, the brothers began an eight-month search for another suitable investment. Their original intent was to investigate the pastoral possibilities in Australia but they were immediately won over by the possibility of a profitable sugar industry in Queensland. [1]
Arthur and Horace began operations at Fairymead in 1880, while Ernest went to England to acquire some necessary equipment for the plantation. By 1883 the rougher pioneering work was done and the first major crop harvested. For the first two years, the Young's punted the juice from their crops to Millaquin plantation and sugar refinery. In 1884 they installed a clarification unit and boiling plant, which enabled them to refine their own sugar as well as the sugar crops of smaller plantations in the Bundaberg region. By the end of 1884 cane from the Fairymead plantation, processed by their own mill, was producing 15 long tons (15 t) of sugar daily. [1]
The Young brothers were also responsible for the introduction of a number of innovative cane harvesting and crushing techniques, many of which are still in use today. In setting up Fairymead Mill the Young brothers chose to install 81-centimetre (32 in) rollers imported from Glasgow to crush the cane instead of the standard 76-centimetre (30 in) rollers. They installed a Relieux furnace to improve processing efficiency of the raw juice and in c. 1882, they initiated the use of Fowler's tramway system to bring cane to the mill, introducing the now universal system of cane railways to the Bundaberg district. In 1902 the Young brothers established an irrigation system to help combat the effects of long periods of drought in the region and began working towards the mechanisation of the cane harvesting industry. [1]
In 1938 the Young Brothers took their first step towards the mechanisation of cane harvesting by financing the development of a new single-row cane-cutting machine. This machine was a significant advance in cane-cutting technology, capable of cutting over 200 metric tons (200 long tons; 220 short tons) per day in straight cane. This investment paid off during the labour shortages of World War II. The rest of the district also benefited from Fairymead's reduced demand for cane cutters, who were made more available to service other sugar plantations in the region. Their second step was the development of the successful two-row cane-cutting machine. This machine was a post-war development thanks to the mechanical skills of Jim Vichie and the encouragement of Charles Young (son of Ernest and Margaret Young). [1]
In 1972 Fairymead Sugar Company merged with Gibson and Howes Pty Limited to form the Bundaberg Sugar Company Limited. Milliquin Sugar Company Pty Limited became part of the group in 1975. In the 121 years since the first primitive sugar juice mill crushed the area's first successful cane crop, Fairymead and the sugar industry has played a major role in the development and prosperity of Bundaberg and surrounding district. Fairymead Sugar Plantation was one of Australia's largest cane farms. [1]
Fairymead Sugar Mill closed in 2005, due to the milk sinking into the ground from the swap like soil from the previous flood. Most of the buildings were taken down as safety hazards but some of the old mill still remains. The middle of the mill is now used as a loco shed to house trains used for collecting cane Around the old mill, to be bought up to the Bingara mill which still runs today. [3] [4]
Fairymead House, a grand plantation home, was built in 1890 on land adjacent to the plantation. It was the principal residence of Ernest and Margaret Young and other members of the Young family for over 60 years. It is a good example of the grandeur of plantation accommodation in the late 19th and early 20th century. [1]
In 1988 the Bundaberg Sugar Company Ltd gave Fairymead House to the City of Bundaberg as a building of "significant historical importance to the district" and as the company's Bicentennial gift to the city. The Bundaberg City Council agreed to provide a site for the home and Fairymead was relocated to the city's Botanic Gardens on the corner of Young Street and Mt Perry Road. The house was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2002. [1]
Bundaberg is a city in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia, and is the tenth largest city in the state. Bundaberg's regional area has a population of 70,921, and 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 peoples. Popular nicknames for Bundaberg include "Bundy" and "Rum city". The demonym of Bundaberg is Bundabergian.
A plantation economy is an economy based on agricultural mass production, usually of a few commodity crops, grown on large farms worked by laborers or slaves. The properties are called plantations. Plantation economies rely on the export of cash crops as a source of income. Prominent crops included cotton, rubber, sugar cane, tobacco, figs, rice, kapok, sisal, and species in the genus Indigofera, used to produce indigo dye.
Florence Selina Harriet Young was an New Zealand-born missionary who established the Queensland Kanaka Mission in order to convert Kanaka labourers in Queensland, Australia. In addition, she conducted missionary work in China and the Solomon Islands.
Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, perennial grass that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk internodes. Sugarcanes belong to the grass family, Poaceae, an economically important flowering plant family that includes maize, wheat, rice, and sorghum, and many forage crops. It is native to the warm temperate and tropical regions of India, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea. Grown in tropical and subtropical regions, sugarcane is the world's largest crop by production quantity, totaling 1.9 billion tonnes in 2020, with Brazil accounting for 40% of the world total. Sugarcane accounts for 79% of sugar produced globally. About 70% of the sugar produced comes from Saccharum officinarum and its hybrids. All sugarcane species can interbreed, and the major commercial cultivars are complex hybrids.
Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida is a vertically integrated agricultural enterprise that harvests, transports and processes sugarcane grown primarily in Palm Beach County, Florida and markets the raw sugar and blackstrap molasses through the Florida Sugar and Molasses Exchange. The Cooperative is made up of 45 grower-owners who produce sugarcane on approximately 70,000 acres of some of the most fertile farmland in America, located in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Sugarcane grown by Cooperative members is harvested, transported and processed. The raw sugar is then marketed to one of the ASR Group's sugar refineries. The Cooperative produces more than 350,000 tons of raw sugar annually.
Beenleigh Rum Distillery is a heritage-listed rum distillery at Distillery Road, Eagleby, City of Logan, Queensland, Australia. The distillery produces Beenleigh Rum. It was built from c. 1890 to c. 1980. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 6 March 2004.
Moreton Central Sugar Mill Cane Tramway is a heritage-listed tramway at Mill Street, Currie Street, and Howard Street, in Nambour, Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1897. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005.
Central Sugar Mill Ruins is a heritage-listed former sugar cane mill at Old Mill Road, Yengarie, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1866 to 1890s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 December 2005.
Fairymead House is a heritage-listed homestead at Thornhill Street, Bundaberg North, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John Shedden Adam and built in 1890. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 February 2002.
Sir Anthony's Rest is a heritage-listed dry-stone lookout at Sir Anthony's Rest Street, Qunaba, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built for the official visit of the Governor of Queensland, Sir Anthony Musgrave, to Bundaberg in his 1888 tour of the area. It is located on the summit of the Bundaberg Hummock hill and provides a commanding view of the surrounding Bargara canefields.
South Sea Islander Church and Hall is a heritage-listed church at 46 Johnston Street, Millbank in Bundaberg, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1920. 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.
Carmila Cane Lift is a heritage-listed piece of agricultural equipment at 49 Hindles Road, Carmila, Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built between the 1920s and the 1960s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 February 2010.
Mount Martin Cane Lift is a heritage-listed piece of agricultural equipment at Mirani Mount Ossa Road, Mount Martin, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built before 1939. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 February 2010.
The Leap Cane Lift is a heritage-listed piece of agricultural equipment at Bruce Highway, The Leap, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built before the 1960s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 February 2010.
Richmond Mill Ruins is a heritage-listed sugar cane mill at Habana Road, Richmond, Mackay, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1881. It is also known as Richmond Mill. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 June 1996.
Canecutters Memorial is a heritage-listed memorial at Fitzgerald Esplanade, Innisfail, Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Renato Beretta and built in 1959. It is also known as Pioneers of the Sugar Industry Monument. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 29 April 2003.
Fairymead is a coastal locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Fairymead had a population of 28 people.
Redridge is a locality in the Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Redridge had a population of 628 people.
This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).
Media related to Fairymead sugar mill at Wikimedia Commons