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Babinda Sugar Mill

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Australian business

Babinda Sugar Mill
Photo of the mill, which was active from 1915 to 2011
General information
LocationBabinda, 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.

History

Background

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.

Activities of the sugar mill were important in overall discussions about the economics of both the local area and wider economy. The mill closed on 23 February 2011.

Operations

The Babinda Sugar Mill opened on 15 September 1915 but some operations and building of the mill had begun in 1914. The address of the Babinda Mill was on the Bruce Hwy, Babinda, Queensland.

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.

Workforce

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.

Closure and legacy

The closure of the mill in 2011 was reportedly a "huge shock to canegrowers" in the region. The banana production industry in the local area replaced some of the economic activity.

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. In 2017, it was proposed as a site for a biorefinery.

An additional photo can be sourced from the 1930s from the Townsville library.

References

  1. ^ "Old Babinda Mill site not suitable for biorefinery says sugar miller". The Cairns Post. 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  2. ^ Cairns Regional Council. (2019, June). Babinda Economic Development Plan. Retrieved from https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/208407/BabindaEDP.pdf
  3. "REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES OF BABINDA SUGAR MILL". Cairns Post. 1951-12-22. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  4. "Babinda Central Sugar Mill | Queensland Places". www.queenslandplaces.com.au. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  5. Babinda Info Centre. "Babinda" (PDF).
  6. "Sugar mill to close in blow to cyclone town". ABC News. 2011-02-08. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  7. ^ Queensland Government. "Bundaberg Sugar Ltd. Babied a Sugar Mill".
  8. Healy, Samantha (2011-02-27). "Scores jobless after sugar mill closes". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  9. Cassey, Brian; Grant-Taylor, Tony (2011-02-09). "Canegrowers sour over closure of mill". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  10. Serenc, Michael (2014-12-10). "Demolished Babinda Mill site near Cairns to undergo massive residential, commercial, tourism and light industrial redevelopment". The Cairns Post. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  11. "Babinda, Sugar Mill, ca. 193?". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-06.

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