Pleystowe Mill: Difference between revisions
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Pleystowe Sugar Mill was a raw sugar mill located in the Pioneer Valley, approximately 18 kilometres west of Mackay, Queensland. Established in 1869, it holds the distinction of being the oldest operating sugar mill in Australia at the time of its closure in 2008.<ref>Pleystowe Sugar Mill, Wikipedia, 2023.</ref> Throughout its 139 years of operation, the mill underwent significant changes in ownership, moving from private plantation ownership to corporate control under Australian Estates and CSR Limited, before finally becoming part of the grower-owned Mackay Sugar Co-operative.<ref>Mackay Sugar Limited, Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, 2025.</ref> | {{Infobox Mill | ||
| name = Proserpine Mill | |||
| image = Proserpine-Sugar-Mill-1196.jpg | |||
| caption = Propserpine Mill. 2008. Vmenkov. | |||
| coordinates = [https://www.google.com/maps?q=-20.398299212160634,148.5797524065207 20.64997° S, 148.57975° E] | |||
| region = [[Central Queensland Region|Proserpine]] | |||
| lga = [[Whitsunday Regional Council]] | |||
| established = 1882 ({{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1894}} years ago) | |||
| closed = | |||
| owner = [[Wilmar Sugar]] | |||
| gauge = 610 mm (2 ft) | |||
| crush = 1,800,000 tonnes, seasonal average | |||
}}Pleystowe Sugar Mill was a raw sugar mill located in the Pioneer Valley, approximately 18 kilometres west of Mackay, Queensland. Established in 1869, it holds the distinction of being the oldest operating sugar mill in Australia at the time of its closure in 2008.<ref>Pleystowe Sugar Mill, Wikipedia, 2023.</ref> Throughout its 139 years of operation, the mill underwent significant changes in ownership, moving from private plantation ownership to corporate control under Australian Estates and CSR Limited, before finally becoming part of the grower-owned Mackay Sugar Co-operative.<ref>Mackay Sugar Limited, Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, 2025.</ref> | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
| Line 29: | Line 41: | ||
The tramway system was interconnected with the networks of neighbouring mills, particularly following the 1925 amalgamation with The Palms. The system crossed the government railway line (Pioneer Valley line) and extended deep into the surrounding cane fields. Upon the closure of the mill in 2008, the tramway network was integrated into the wider Mackay Sugar rail system to facilitate the transport of cane to Marian and Racecourse. | The tramway system was interconnected with the networks of neighbouring mills, particularly following the 1925 amalgamation with The Palms. The system crossed the government railway line (Pioneer Valley line) and extended deep into the surrounding cane fields. Upon the closure of the mill in 2008, the tramway network was integrated into the wider Mackay Sugar rail system to facilitate the transport of cane to Marian and Racecourse. | ||
=== | == Location == | ||
<display_map>Proserpine Sugar Mill, Proserpine, QLD</display_map> | |||
== Rollingstock == | |||
{{#get_db_data: | |||
|db=locos | |||
|from=locos | |||
|where=current_mill LIKE "%Proserpine%" OR purchasing_mill LIKE "%Proserpine%" | |||
|data=name=name,builder=builder,model=model,serial=serial_number,year=year,current_mill=current_mill,notes=notes | |||
}} | |||
<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> | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 11:38, 11 January 2026
| Proserpine Mill | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 20.64997° S, 148.57975° E |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Proserpine |
| LGA | Whitsunday Regional Council |
| Details | |
| Established | 1882 (132 years ago) |
| Owner | Wilmar Sugar |
| Gauge | 610 mm (2 ft) |
| Annual Crush | 1,800,000 tonnes, seasonal average |
Pleystowe Sugar Mill was a raw sugar mill located in the Pioneer Valley, approximately 18 kilometres west of Mackay, Queensland. Established in 1869, it holds the distinction of being the oldest operating sugar mill in Australia at the time of its closure in 2008.[1] Throughout its 139 years of operation, the mill underwent significant changes in ownership, moving from private plantation ownership to corporate control under Australian Estates and CSR Limited, before finally becoming part of the grower-owned Mackay Sugar Co-operative.[2]
History
Establishment and Early Years (1869 to 1924)
The Pleystowe plantation was originally selected in the mid 1860s by Joseph Holmes, who sold the property in 1868 to Alfred Hewitt and Charles Romilly. These partners developed the site for sugar cultivation, and the mill commenced its first crushing on 6 September 1869.[3]
In 1873, a distillery was added to the facility to manufacture Pleystowe Rum, although this operation only lasted for a few years.[4] The mill faced early financial difficulties and was sold to a Melbourne syndicate in May 1882, operating as the Pleystowe Sugar Company. This company eventually went into voluntary liquidation in August 1894.[5]
The devastating cyclone of 1918 caused significant damage to the sugar industry in the Mackay region. The nearby Palms Mill, owned by Australian Estates, suffered severe structural damage. Consequently, its cane supply was diverted to Pleystowe for crushing, establishing a relationship that would lead to a merger of the two entities.[6]
Amalgamated Sugar Mills and CSR (1925 to 1987)
In 1925, the operations of Pleystowe and The Palms were formally merged to form Amalgamated Sugar Mills Limited. Under this arrangement, Australian Estates operated the mill for nearly 50 years.[7] This period saw substantial modernisation and the expansion of the tramway network to service the consolidated cane areas.
In 1975, the mill was purchased by CSR Limited (Colonial Sugar Refining Company), which operated the site until the late 1980s. During the CSR era, Pleystowe was one of the major producers in the district, often serving as a testing ground for new milling technologies.[8]
Mackay Sugar and Closure (1988 to 2008)
In 1988, the Mackay Sugar Co-operative Association Limited was formed to rationalise milling operations in the Pioneer Valley. The cooperative purchased Pleystowe from CSR in that same year, bringing it under local grower control alongside Farleigh, Marian, Racecourse, and Cattle Creek mills.[9]
Following the acquisition, the region saw a period of rationalisation. North Eton Mill closed in 1988 and Cattle Creek closed in 1990, increasing the crushing load on Pleystowe. However, due to urban encroachment and the need for greater efficiency within the Mackay Sugar group, Pleystowe Mill ceased crushing operations in October 2008.[10]
Post Closure
Following the closure, the cane supply previously allocated to Pleystowe was redirected to the Marian and Racecourse mills. The site remained in use for several years to provide centralised services and spare parts storage for the remaining Mackay Sugar mills. Demolition of the main mill structures commenced in 2021, though the original brick chimney stack was retained as a heritage feature.[11]
Railways and Tramways
Like most Mackay mills, Pleystowe operated an extensive 2 foot (610 mm) gauge tramway network to transport cane from the fields to the mill.
Network
The tramway system was interconnected with the networks of neighbouring mills, particularly following the 1925 amalgamation with The Palms. The system crossed the government railway line (Pioneer Valley line) and extended deep into the surrounding cane fields. Upon the closure of the mill in 2008, the tramway network was integrated into the wider Mackay Sugar rail system to facilitate the transport of cane to Marian and Racecourse.
Location
Rollingstock
| Name | Builder | Model | Serial | Year | Current Mill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra | Clyde | HG-3R | 65-433 | 1965 | Proserpine Mill | Now #5 - 06/07/22 |
| 6 Lucinda | Clyde | HG-3R | 65-436 | 1965 | Proserpine Mill | Seen October 2023 |
| 12 | Walkers | GH700V | 680 | 1972 | Proserpine Mill | Walkers 680 of 1972; formerly Westrail M1851. Rebuilt by Bundaberg Foundry in 1996 and operated at Victoria Mill as JOURAMA. Rebuilt again at Pioneer in 2022 and transferred to Proserpine Mill as No.12 on 7 April 2022. |
| 14 | Walkers | GH700V | 681 | 1972 | Proserpine Mill | Walkers 681 of 1972; formerly Westrail M1852. Rebuilt by Bundaberg Foundry in 1997 and operated at Victoria Mill as CAIRNS. Later transferred to Proserpine Mill as No.14. Rebuilt again at Pioneer in 2022 and returned to Proserpine on 18 May 2022. |
| 15 / Paluma | Wilmar | Canefield | 2025 | Proserpine Mill | Wilmar 26-tonne Canefield new build. Contemporary enthusiast observations report that the locomotive was sent from Proserpine to Macknade for completion on 4 June 2025, later transferred from Victoria Mill to Proserpine Mill in May 2026, and was photographed operating there as No.15 PALUMA on 27 August 2026. Build identifier 006 of 2025 was reported in photographer captions but has not been independently confirmed. | |
| 7 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 65-442 | 1965 | Proserpine Mill | |
| 8 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 65-443 | 1965 | Proserpine Mill | Rebuilt 2014 |
| 10 | E.M. Baldwin | DH26B | 9816-1-10-81 | 1981 | Proserpine Mill | |
| 11 | Walkers | GH500 | 628 | 1969 | Proserpine Mill | Rebuilt Walkers 1996 |
| Shirbourne | Walkers | GH700 | 673 | 1971 | Invicta Mill | Ex NSW SRA 7314. Acquired for Proserpine Mill and converted from 1435 mm to 610 mm gauge by Bundaberg Foundry in 1998 as Proserpine No.12. Its frame was transferred to Pioneer Mill in 2022 for use as the basis of a future rebuild after Walkers 680 became the replacement Proserpine No.12. Rebuilt by Wilmar in 2025 as the 40-tonne RSU locomotive SHIRBOURNE for Invicta Mill. |
| 3 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 58-195 | 1958 | Out of service | Stored as of April 2024. |
| 5 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 60-218 | 1960 | Out of service | Stored as of April 2024. |
| 7 | Perry | 6160.48.1 | 1948 | Out of service | Ex Qunaba #3 Flash; preserved. LRRSA recorded at The Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich (2011). | |
| 1 | Clyde | DHI-71 | DHI.7 | 1954 | Out of service | Acquired by Gympie Mining Museum in October 2003 and subsequently recorded preserved there. |
| 2 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 56-91 | 1956 | Out of service | Rebuilt by Ontrak in 2009 for Fiji Sugar Corporation as OSCAR (2434-2); transferred to Lautoka in 2014 as #15. Later disposition not established. |
| 4 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 59-202 | 1959 | Out of service | Rebuilt by Ontrak in 2008 for Fiji Sugar Corporation as HOWIE (2434-1); recorded operating on the Lautoka system in 2010 and as #23 in 2014. |
| 6 | Clyde | DHI-71 | 62-272 | 1962 | Out of service | Out of service for several years; useful components removed and locomotive taken away for scrap in February 2018. |
| 9 | E.M. Baldwin | DH26B Mk3 | 6626-1-7-76 | 1976 | Proserpine Mill | In service |
References
- ↑ Pleystowe Sugar Mill, Wikipedia, 2023.
- ↑ Mackay Sugar Limited, Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, 2025.
- ↑ Pleystowe Mill, Mackay, Queensland, State Library of Queensland One Search.
- ↑ Pleystowe Mill Reunion, Mackay & Whitsunday Life, 2023.
- ↑ Pleystowe Mill, Mackay, Queensland, State Library of Queensland One Search.
- ↑ The Palms Sugar Mill, 1881 to 1924, Mackay History.
- ↑ Pleystowe, Queensland Places, 2025.
- ↑ Pleystowe Mill Reunion, Mackay & Whitsunday Life, 2023.
- ↑ Our History, Mackay Sugar.
- ↑ Bittersweet memories as Australia's oldest sugar mill shuts its doors, ABC News, 2008.
- ↑ Our History, Mackay Sugar.