Northern Region

The Northern Region encompasses the Far North Queensland sugar districts from Mossman and the Douglas Shire in the north through Cairns and the Johnstone River districts to Tully in the south, together with the elevated sugar-growing areas of the Atherton Tableland.

The region includes some of Queensland's highest-rainfall cane-growing districts as well as the distinctly different climate and farming conditions of the Tableland. Its sugar industry has included privately owned plantation mills, Queensland Government central mills, grower-owned companies and cooperatives, and modern corporate milling groups.

Industry rationalisation progressively reduced the number of operating mills during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The closures of Goondi, Hambledon, Mourilyan, Babinda and, most recently, Mossman resulted in the consolidation of cane supply and transport infrastructure around the surviving mills.

The region currently contains four operating sugar mills: Tableland, Mulgrave, South Johnstone and Tully. Raw sugar is exported principally through the bulk sugar terminals at Cairns and Mourilyan.

Mossman Central Mill (Closed)

Mossman Mill commenced crushing in 1897 and completed its final crushing season on 26 November 2023. Far Northern Milling had entered voluntary administration six days earlier, and the mill's operating companies subsequently entered liquidation in March 2024.

Following the closure, coastal Mossman cane was transported south for processing. In 2024 it was crushed at Mulgrave Mill and, late in the season, South Johnstone Mill, while Julatten cane was supplied to Tableland Mill. The 2025 coastal crop was transported to Mulgrave at Gordonvale with Queensland Government assistance. The final truckload was delivered in November 2025 after growers and processors were unable to reach a commercial agreement for seasons beyond 2025.

Hambledon Mill (Closed)

Hambledon Mill commenced crushing in 1883 after Thomas Swallow established the associated plantation near present-day Edmonton. The mill was acquired by CSR in 1897 and remained under CSR ownership until its closure.

Increasing residential development in the southern Cairns district progressively reduced Hambledon's available cane land. The mill completed its final season and closed in 1991, after which its cane assignments were transferred to Mulgrave Mill.

Sugarworld had already been established by CSR on part of the Hambledon property before the mill closed. Parts of the former estate were subsequently incorporated into Sugarworld Gardens, the waterpark and surrounding residential development.

Tableland Mill

Located at Arriga, south-west of Mareeba, Tableland Mill is the only operating Northern Region mill situated on the Atherton Tableland rather than the coastal plain.

The mill commenced operation in 1998 and is Australia's newest operating sugar mill. Originally built by Bundaberg Sugar, it is now operated by MSF Sugar. Unlike most Queensland mills, it receives cane entirely by road.

The site also contains MSF Sugar's 24 MW Tableland Green Energy Power Plant, which uses bagasse, the fibrous residue from sugarcane processing, to generate renewable electricity.

Cairns Bulk Sugar Terminal

The Cairns Bulk Sugar Terminal at Portsmith opened in 1964 as part of Queensland's transition from bagged sugar handling to bulk storage and export.

The terminal historically handled raw sugar from several Far North Queensland milling districts, including Mossman, Hambledon and Mulgrave. It contains two storage sheds with a combined capacity of 250,000 tonnes and receives sugar entirely by road.

Following the closure of Mossman, Mulgrave Mill is the principal operating mill supplying raw sugar through Cairns. In February 2026, raw sugar produced at Mulgrave was exported to Japan through the terminal.

Mulgrave Mill

Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale commenced crushing in 1896. Originally established as a grower-owned central mill, it is now operated by MSF Sugar.

Its supply area expanded considerably after the closure of Hambledon Mill in 1991 and again following later rationalisation of the Far North Queensland milling industry. The modern 610 mm gauge cane railway incorporates sections of several former mill networks.

Mulgrave also played a major role in processing cane from the former Mossman district after Mossman ceased crushing. Coastal Mossman cane was processed at Mulgrave during 2024, with some late-season cane continuing to South Johnstone, while the 2025 coastal crop was transported to Mulgrave for processing.

Babinda Mill (Closed)

Babinda Mill commenced crushing in 1915 as a Queensland Government central mill. It was transferred to grower control in 1924 and later acquired by Bundaberg Sugar in 1989.

Babinda completed its final crushing season in 2010 and closed in February 2011. Although the closure announcement followed Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi, the mill's owners identified the longer-term decline in regional cane supply and excess milling capacity as the principal reasons the factory was no longer viable.

Cane previously supplied to Babinda was transferred principally to Mulgrave Mill and South Johnstone Mill. The former factory was progressively demolished during 2013.

Mourilyan Mill (Closed)

The Mourilyan Sugar Company was established in 1882 and Mourilyan Mill commenced crushing in 1884, making it one of the oldest sugar mills in Far North Queensland.

The mill completed its final crushing season in 2005. Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry struck the Innisfail district in March 2006 and caused substantial damage to Mourilyan Mill. The factory did not reopen for the 2006 season, and owner Bundaberg Sugar subsequently decided not to rebuild it.

Industry rationalisation had already been under consideration before the cyclone, with Larry acting as the immediate catalyst for the permanent closure. Former Mourilyan cane was redirected to South Johnstone Mill and Babinda Mill, both of which were upgraded to accommodate additional throughput.

Mourilyan Bulk Sugar Terminal

The Mourilyan Bulk Sugar Terminal opened in 1960 within the sheltered natural harbour at the mouth of the Moresby River.

The terminal was constructed as part of the Queensland sugar industry's transition from bagged sugar and lighterage to bulk storage and shiploading. It historically received raw sugar by both road and 610 mm gauge railway, but rail sugar haulage ceased after the 1996 season and the harbour railway connection closed in 1997.

Today the terminal receives sugar entirely by road and has one storage shed with a capacity of 178,000 tonnes. The Port of Mourilyan exports raw sugar and molasses from the Innisfail, Babinda, Tully and Atherton Tableland sugar-growing districts.

Goondi Mill (Closed)

Goondi Mill was established by CSR near Innisfail and commenced crushing in 1885. CSR remained the owner and operator throughout the mill's working life.

Goondi completed its final crushing season in 1986. The statutory rationalisation of its cane supply area and disposal of its assets took place during 1987.

Under the Sugar Milling Rationalization (Far Northern Region) Act 1987, former Goondi cane assignments were redistributed between Babinda Mill and Mourilyan Mill. South Johnstone Mill sought access to the former Goondi crop but was excluded from the final redistribution arrangement.

South Johnstone Mill

South Johnstone Mill commenced crushing in 1916 as a Queensland Government central mill. Growers acquired the mill in 1927 and operated it as the South Johnstone Co-operative Sugar Milling Association until the cooperative entered receivership in 2001.

The mill was subsequently acquired by Bundaberg Sugar and is now operated by MSF Sugar.

South Johnstone's modern supply area and extensive 610 mm gauge cane railway incorporate infrastructure and cane-growing districts formerly associated with Goondi Mill, Mourilyan Mill and Babinda Mill. The mill remains one of the principal processing centres of the Cassowary Coast sugar industry.

Tully Mill

Tully Mill commenced its trial crushing season on 5 November 1925 and was the last Queensland Government-built sugar mill. Apart from the much later Tableland Mill, it was also the last new sugar mill constructed in Queensland.

The mill was transferred to grower cooperative ownership in 1931 and became the public company Tully Sugar Limited in 1990. In 2011 it was acquired by the Chinese agribusiness COFCO, of which Tully Sugar is now a wholly owned subsidiary.

Tully is one of Australia's largest sugar mills. Its 610 mm gauge cane railway comprises more than 200 kilometres of main line together with approximately 80 kilometres of delivery sidings and loops, serving the high-rainfall Tully, Murray River and surrounding cane-growing districts.