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{{Infobox Mill | name = Inkerman Sugar Mill | image = InkermanMill.jpg | caption = Inkerman Sugar Mill, situated on the banks of the Burdekin River | coordinates = [https://www.google.com/maps?q=-19.6438,147.4007 19.6438° S, 147.4007° E] | region = [[Burdekin Region|Burdekin]] | lga = [[Burdekin Shire Council]] | established = {{Start date and age|df=y|1914}} | closed = | owner = [[Wilmar Sugar]] | gauge = 610 mm (2 ft) | crush = 1,700,000 tonnes per season }}
{{Infobox Mill
| name       = Inkerman Mill
| image       = Inkerman mill.jpg
| caption     = Inkerman Mill. 2006. Amos T Fairchild.
| coordinates = [https://www.google.com/maps?q=-19.642963769533335,147.40077000046057 19.64296° S, 147.40077° E]
| region     = [[Herbert & Burdekin Region|Burdekin]]
| lga         = [[Burdekin Shire Council]]
| established = 1913 ({{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1913}} years ago)
| closed     =  
| owner       = [[Wilmar Sugar]]
| gauge       = 610 mm (2 ft)
| crush       = 1,800,000 tonnes (seasonal average)
}}
'''Inkerman Sugar Mill''' is a sugar mill located in [[Home Hill]], [[Queensland]], on the southern bank of the [[Burdekin River]]. It is one of the four sugar mills currently operating in the [[Burdekin]] district and is unique among them for being the only mill located south of the river.


== History ==
=== Establishment ===
The mill was established by John Drysdale, a prominent figure in the Burdekin sugar industry who had previously developed the [[Pioneer Mill|Pioneer]] and [[Kalamia Mill|Kalamia]] estates. Construction began in 1913 under the supervision of Scottish engineer J. Pickering. The machinery was manufactured by George Fletcher and Company of [[Derby]], England.


History
Inkerman Mill commenced crushing in 1914. Its establishment was a catalyst for the development of the Home Hill township, attracting workers and cane farmers to the southern side of the Burdekin River.
Inkerman Sugar Mill is located in Home Hill, Queensland, on the southern bank of the Burdekin River. It is one of the four sugar mills currently operating in the Burdekin district and is unique among them for being the only mill located south of the river.


=== Ownership ===
The mill was originally owned and operated by Drysdale Brothers and Company, which later became Pioneer Sugar Mills Limited. For much of the 20th century, the mill operated under this entity.


The mill was established by John Drysdale, a prominent figure in the Burdekin sugar industry who had previously developed the Pioneer and Kalamia estates. Construction began in 1913 under the supervision of Scottish engineer J Pickering, who worked to Drysdale's instructions. The machinery was manufactured by George Fletcher and Company of Derby, England.
In the late 1980s, the company was acquired by [[CSR]] Limited, bringing Inkerman into the CSR sugar division. In 2010, CSR sold its sugar and renewable energy business, known as Sucrogen, to [[Wilmar International]]. Since then, the mill has been owned and operated by [[Wilmar Sugar]].


=== Recent Developments ===
The mill celebrated its centenary in 2014. In recent years, it has continued to receive significant investment, including the commissioning of a new 26 tonne locomotive named 'The Alma' in 2023.<ref name="WilmarNews">Wilmar Sugar Australia. "New locomotive 'The Alma' joins Inkerman fleet". 2023.</ref>


Inkerman Mill commenced crushing in 1914. Its establishment was a catalyst for the development of the Home Hill township, attracting workers and cane farmers to the southern side of the Burdekin River. The mill was originally owned and operated by Drysdale Brothers and Company, which later became Pioneer Sugar Mills Limited.
== Infrastructure ==
=== Milling ===
Inkerman Mill is a dual milling train factory with an annual crushing capacity of approximately 1.7 to 1.8 million tonnes of sugar cane. It produces around 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar each season.


=== Tramway ===
The mill operates an extensive 610 mm (2 ft) gauge tramway network that services the cane growing areas of Home Hill, Kirknie, Up River, and Iona.


For much of the 20th century, the mill operated under Pioneer Sugar Mills. In the late 1980s, the company was acquired by CSR Limited, bringing Inkerman into the CSR sugar division. In 2010, CSR sold its sugar and renewable energy business, known as Sucrogen, to Wilmar International. Since then, the mill has been owned and operated by Wilmar Sugar Australia.
Unlike the other three Wilmar mills in the Burdekin ([[Invicta Mill|Invicta]], Pioneer, and Kalamia), which are interconnected by rail on the northern side of the river, the Inkerman railway network is physically isolated on the southern bank.
 
* '''Network Isolation:''' Due to the Burdekin River, the rail network does not connect to the north bank mills. Transfer of rolling stock between Inkerman and the other Burdekin mills requires transport by road float.
The mill celebrated its centenary in 2014. In recent years, it has continued to receive significant investment, including the commissioning of a new 26 tonne locomotive named 'The Alma' in 2023.
 
Operations and Infrastructure
Inkerman Mill is a dual milling train factory with an annual crushing capacity of approximately 1.7 to 1.8 million tonnes of sugar cane. It produces around 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar each season.


Unlike the other three Wilmar mills in the Burdekin (Invicta, Pioneer, and Kalamia), which are interconnected by rail on the northern side of the river, the Inkerman railway network is physically isolated on the southern bank.
== Production Statistics ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Statistic
! Value
|-
| Average Annual Crush
| 1,800,000 tonnes
|-
| Average Sugar Production
| 260,000 tonnes
|-
| Railway Gauge
| 610 mm (2 ft)
|-
| Network Status
| Isolated (South Burdekin)
|}


Railway System
== Location ==
The mill operates an extensive 610 mm (2 ft) gauge tramway network that services the cane growing areas of Home Hill, Kirknie, Up River, and Iona.
<display_map>-19.64296, 147.40077</display_map>


Notable features of the Inkerman railway operations include:
== Rollingstock ==


Network Isolation: Due to the Burdekin River, the rail network does not connect to the north bank mills. Transfer of rolling stock between Inkerman and the other Burdekin mills requires transport by road float.
{{#get_db_data:
|db=locos
|from=locos
|where=current_mill LIKE "%Inkerman%" OR purchasing_mill LIKE "%Inkerman%"
|data=name=name,builder=builder,model=model,serial=serial_number,year=year,current_mill=current_mill,notes=notes
}}


Locomotives: The fleet consists primarily of diesel hydraulic locomotives. The mill is home to the locomotive 'Iona' (formerly 'Kilrie'), which was the first bogie locomotive introduced to the Australian sugar industry in 1972.
<table class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;">
  <tr>
    <th>Name</th>
    <th>Builder</th>
    <th>Model</th>
    <th>Serial</th>
    <th>Year</th>
    <th>Current Mill</th>
    <th>Notes</th>
  </tr>
{{#for_external_table:
  | <tr>
      <td>{{{name}}}</td>
      <td>{{{builder}}}</td>
      <td>{{{model}}}</td>
      <td>{{{serial}}}</td>
      <td>{{{year}}}</td>
      <td>{{{current_mill}}}</td>
      <td>{{{notes}}}</td>
    </tr>
}}
</table>


Expansion: The network has expanded significantly since 1914, reaching out to the furthest growers in the Kirknie and Leichhardt areas.
== References ==
<references />

Latest revision as of 17:22, 15 January 2026

Inkerman Mill

Inkerman Mill. 2006. Amos T Fairchild.
Inkerman Mill. 2006. Amos T Fairchild.

Location
Coordinates 19.64296° S, 147.40077° E
State Queensland
Region Burdekin
LGA Burdekin Shire Council
Details
Established 1913 (113 years ago)
Owner Wilmar Sugar
Gauge 610 mm (2 ft)
Annual Crush 1,800,000 tonnes (seasonal average)

Inkerman Sugar Mill is a sugar mill located in Home Hill, Queensland, on the southern bank of the Burdekin River. It is one of the four sugar mills currently operating in the Burdekin district and is unique among them for being the only mill located south of the river.

History

Establishment

The mill was established by John Drysdale, a prominent figure in the Burdekin sugar industry who had previously developed the Pioneer and Kalamia estates. Construction began in 1913 under the supervision of Scottish engineer J. Pickering. The machinery was manufactured by George Fletcher and Company of Derby, England.

Inkerman Mill commenced crushing in 1914. Its establishment was a catalyst for the development of the Home Hill township, attracting workers and cane farmers to the southern side of the Burdekin River.

Ownership

The mill was originally owned and operated by Drysdale Brothers and Company, which later became Pioneer Sugar Mills Limited. For much of the 20th century, the mill operated under this entity.

In the late 1980s, the company was acquired by CSR Limited, bringing Inkerman into the CSR sugar division. In 2010, CSR sold its sugar and renewable energy business, known as Sucrogen, to Wilmar International. Since then, the mill has been owned and operated by Wilmar Sugar.

Recent Developments

The mill celebrated its centenary in 2014. In recent years, it has continued to receive significant investment, including the commissioning of a new 26 tonne locomotive named 'The Alma' in 2023.[1]

Infrastructure

Milling

Inkerman Mill is a dual milling train factory with an annual crushing capacity of approximately 1.7 to 1.8 million tonnes of sugar cane. It produces around 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar each season.

Tramway

The mill operates an extensive 610 mm (2 ft) gauge tramway network that services the cane growing areas of Home Hill, Kirknie, Up River, and Iona.

Unlike the other three Wilmar mills in the Burdekin (Invicta, Pioneer, and Kalamia), which are interconnected by rail on the northern side of the river, the Inkerman railway network is physically isolated on the southern bank.

  • Network Isolation: Due to the Burdekin River, the rail network does not connect to the north bank mills. Transfer of rolling stock between Inkerman and the other Burdekin mills requires transport by road float.

Production Statistics

Statistic Value
Average Annual Crush 1,800,000 tonnes
Average Sugar Production 260,000 tonnes
Railway Gauge 610 mm (2 ft)
Network Status Isolated (South Burdekin)

Location

Loading map...

Rollingstock

Name Builder Model Serial Year Current Mill Notes
Iona Clyde DHI-71 DHI.2 1954 Out of service Stored at Macknade Mill
Keebah Commonwealth Engineering AF C2231 1958 Inkerman Mill
Osborne Commonwealth Engineering AH AH2866 1963 Inkerman Mill
Koolkuna Commonwealth Engineering AM AM4993 1965 Inkerman Mill
Carstairs E.M Baldwin DH18 6-2715-1-9-68 1968 Inkerman Mill
Iona E.M. Baldwin DH26B 4498-1-7-72 1972 Inkerman Mill Was Kilrie
Bojack E.M. Baldwin DH26B 7280-1-9-77 1977 Inkerman Mill Was Seaforth. Possibly retired. Last seen 2024
Alma Wilmar Canefields TBA-5 2024 Inkerman Mill No further information
Iyah E.M. Baldwin DH24B 6559-1-6-76 1976 Out of service
Alma Commonwealth Engineering FE FE56110 1975 Out of servic
Lil Toot Baguley BG6 3354 1951 Out of service Preserved - Puffing Billy
Iyah E.M. Baldwin DH24B Mk8 6558-1-6-76 1976 Inkerman Mill
(Blank) Malcolm Moore 4wDM 1013 1943 Out of service
Inkerman 1 Hunslet 0-6-0T 1119 1913 Out of service Preserved?

References

  1. ↑ Wilmar Sugar Australia. "New locomotive 'The Alma' joins Inkerman fleet". 2023.
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