South Johnstone Mill

South Johnstone Mill
South Johnstone Mill. 2025.
Location
Coordinates	17.60533° S, 145.99218° E
State	Queensland
Region	Northern Region
LGA	Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Details
Established	1914
Owner	MSF Sugar
Gauge	610 mm (2 ft)
Annual Crush	1,100,000 tonnes, seasonal average

The South Johnstone Sugar Mill was established following the Sugar Works Act of 1911, which authorised the construction of central sugar mills to encourage settlement in North Queensland. A Royal Commission selected the site on the South Johnstone River due to the fertile soils of the surrounding district, including the Japoon Valley, Liverpool Creek, and Maria Creek areas.

Construction began in 1914 but faced significant delays due to the outbreak of World War I. A notable incident during construction involved the loss of critical machinery and Fowler steam locomotives, which were aboard a transport ship sunk by a German warship while en route from England. Management was forced to source replacement materials from within Australia, and the mill was largely built using day labour.

The mill crushed its first cane in October 1916 under government control. In its first season, which lasted until February 1917, the mill produced 4,729 tonnes of raw sugar.

The Cooperative Era (1927 to 2001)

Following a period of labour unrest and industrial disputes in the 1920s (including strikes related to Weil's disease), the mill was transferred to grower ownership. In 1927, the South Johnstone Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited was formed, marking the beginning of a long period of farmer control.

During this era, the mill acted as the economic anchor for the local township. The tramway network was expanded significantly to service soldier settlement farms in the El Arish area. By the 1970s, production had increased substantially, frequently exceeding 100,000 tonnes of sugar per season. The mill celebrated its 50th year as a cooperative in 1977.

However, the late 1990s brought financial difficulties caused by low global sugar prices, cyclones, and crop disease. In 2000, the mill struggled to remain solvent, and in 2001, the cooperative went into receivership.

Corporate Ownership (2001 to Present)

In 2001, Bundaberg Sugar acquired the South Johnstone mill from the receivers, ending 74 years of cooperative ownership. Bundaberg Sugar operated the mill for nearly a decade before entering a joint venture with the Maryborough Sugar Factory (MSF) in 2010.

This joint venture merged the operations of the South Johnstone, Mulgrave, Babinda, and Tableland mills. In 2011, MSF Sugar acquired 100 per cent ownership of the joint venture assets, making them the sole owner of South Johnstone. Shortly after, in 2012, MSF Sugar was itself acquired by the Thai sugar giant Mitr Phol.

Under MSF Sugar, the mill continues to operate, processing cane from the South Johnstone, Silkwood, Kurrimine Beach, and Japoon areas.

Tramway Operations

South Johnstone operates an extensive 610 mm gauge tramway network that is vital to its logistics. The network is historically significant as it connects with the Mourilyan Sugar Mill tramway system.

Key features of the tramway network include:

• The Japoon Line: A major branch servicing the Japoon Valley.
• Township Running: The main line runs directly through the centre of the South Johnstone township, a distinctive feature where cane trains share space with road traffic near the mill entry.
• Mourilyan Connection: Historically, the system connected to the Mourilyan Harbour line, facilitating the transport of raw sugar to the bulk terminals.

The fleet has historically comprised a mix of steam locomotives (in the early years) and diesel-hydraulic locomotives. Following the integration with MSF Sugar, the rolling stock has been managed alongside the Mulgrave mill fleet, though South Johnstone retains its own dedicated maintenance facilities.

Significant Events

• 1918 Cyclone: The mill and surrounding township were heavily damaged just two years after opening, leading to a rebuild that influenced the local architecture.
• World War I: Caused the loss of original rolling stock and machinery at sea.
• Cyclone Larry (2006) and Yasi (2011): Both cyclones caused extensive damage to the mill infrastructure and the cane crop, impacting throughput for subsequent seasons.

Location

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Rollingstock

Name	Builder	Model	Serial	Year	Current Mill	Notes
28 / Daintree	E.M. Baldwin	DH28B	7303-1-7-77	1977	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Mossman. Sold to South Johnstone after Mossman closure; operational as South Johnstone #28 (Jan 2026).
22 / Aloomba	Professional Engineering	B-B DH	P.S.L.25.01	1990	Mulgrave Mill	Built by Professional Engineering, Harare, to an Eimco design as South Johnstone #33 Nyleta; also carries Eimco serial L253. Rebuilt by South Johnstone in 1993. Transferred to Mulgrave and renamed Aloomba; extensively rebuilt by Mulgrave in 2014/15.
1 / Josephine	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1821	1957	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
10 / Russell	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A2027	1958	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
6 / Allison	Commonwealth Engineering	AB	C2234	1959	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
4	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1138	1960	South Johnstone Mill	Was Harvey at Babinda. Rebuilt by IBS Engineering Supplies in 2015 and fitted for multiple operation.
7 / Morrison	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1239	1960	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
5	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH2460	1962	South Johnstone Mill	Was Bramston at Babinda. Rebuilt by IBS Engineering Supplies in 2015 and fitted for multiple operation.
9 / Bartle-Frere	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH3979	1964	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Babinda. Fitted for multiple operation.
2	Clyde	DHI-71	55-56	1955	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Goondi; later Mulgrave #23 Behana. Returned to South Johnstone and rebuilt in 2016.
3	Clyde	DHI-71	56-90	1956	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Goondi; later Mulgrave #24 Pyramid. Returned to South Johnstone and rebuilt in 2016.
8 / Miriwinni	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	AA1543	1960	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Mourilyan #6; formerly Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL16 Korabine. Converted from diesel-mechanical to diesel-hydraulic in 1983 and fitted for multiple operation in 1999.
11	Clyde	DHI-71	55-64	1955	South Johnstone Mill
12	Clyde	DHI-71	55-60	1955	South Johnstone Mill	Rebuilt by South Johnstone Mill in 2014.
14	Clyde	DHI-71	63-288	1963	South Johnstone Mill
15	Clyde	DHI-71	66-491	1966	South Johnstone Mill
16	Clyde	DHI-71	56-93	1956	South Johnstone Mill	Fitted for multiple operation.
17	Clyde	DHI-71	55-57	1955	South Johnstone Mill	Fitted for multiple operation.
18	Clyde	DHI-71	56-83	1956	South Johnstone Mill	Stored as of May 2024.
26 / Meringa	Commonwealth Engineering	AK	AK3675	1964	Mulgrave Mill	Was South Johnstone #2
12 / Riverstone	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1452	1961	Mulgrave Mill	Ex South Johnstone #23; rebuilt by Mulgrave in 2016.
24	E.M. Baldwin	DH24B Mk1	5477-1-8-74	1974	South Johnstone Mill	Rebuilt at Mulgrave Mill in 2015 with Mulgrave-style cab, hood and fuel tank; RSU remote-control equipment fitted.
25	E.M. Baldwin	DH24B Mk7	6470-1-1-76	1976	South Johnstone Mill	RSU remote-control equipment commissioned at Mulgrave Mill in March 2015.
26	E.M. Baldwin	DH24B	7244-1-8-77	1977	South Johnstone Mill	Rebuilt at Mulgrave Mill in 2015 with Mulgrave-style cab, hood and fuel tank; RSU remote-control equipment fitted.
27	Commonwealth Engineering	AI	AI57111	1975	South Johnstone Mill	Ex Queensland Railways DL20 Pin Gin. Generally used for navvy duties as of May 2024.
28	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	AA1544	1960	Out of service	Ex Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL17 CURRAJAH. Dismantled in 2021.
9	Baguley		2395	1952	Out of service	Ex South Johnstone #9. Sold to the Welsh Highland Railway in 2009, rebuilt at Dinas and returned to service as No. 9. The proposed name CASTELL CIDWM was not adopted.
10	Baguley	BG8	3390	1954	Out of service	Ex Queensland Railways Innisfail Tramway DL12 MOURILYAN. Acquired by Lake Macquarie Light Rail in 2010 after being stored out of use at Mourilyan; subsequently restored.
31	Commonwealth Engineering	AB	C1125	1957	Out of service	Stored out of use at Babinda in 2006 awaiting rebuilding. By late 2006 it had been stripped of useful parts; the remains were placed near the locoshed and reported destined for a tourist resort. Later disposition not established.
32 / Liverpool	E.M. Baldwin	DH32B	10385-1-8-82	1982	South Johnstone Mill	Rebuilt by Mulgrave in 2016.
15	Baguley		2520	1954	Out of service	Preserved at the Locos Function Centre, Mourilyan.
36	Commonwealth Engineering	AA	A1102	1955	Out of service	Former South Johnstone #16; renumbered #36 after 2001. Stored out of use at Babinda in 2006, stripped of remaining useful parts and removed as scrap by late October 2006.
17	Malcolm Moore		1060	1943	Out of service	Preserved at Newington, Sydney.
39	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4688	1965	South Johnstone Mill	Paired with #38; rebuilt by South Johnstone in 2017.
38	Commonwealth Engineering	AH	AH4695	1965	South Johnstone Mill	Paired with #39; rebuilt by South Johnstone in 2017.
(5)	Baguley		2396	1952	Out of service	Former South Johnstone #14, Baguley 2396. Converted in 1986 to unpowered brake wagon RS0014; recorded out of use at Mourilyan in 2007.
17 / Deeral	Commonwealth Engineering	AD	AD1453	1962	Mulgrave Mill
9	Perry		9737.45.1	1945	Out of service	Originally South Johnstone #6; later Millaquin #9. Retired from cane haulage in 1974. Donated to Gisborne Vintage Machinery Society in 1990 and restored to operation in 1994; preserved operational at Gisborne Steam Park.
12	Malcolm Moore	4wDM	TBA-12	1943	Out of service	Ex Australian Army Malcolm Moore; petrol engine replaced by diesel. Out of use by 1978 and retained to provide spare parts for #13. Later disposition not established.
13	Malcolm Moore	4wDM	TBA-14	1943	Out of service	Ex Australian Army Malcolm Moore; petrol engine replaced by diesel. #12 and #17 were reported retained as spare-parts donors for this locomotive in 1978. Later disposition not established.