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.<ref name="Mossman2024">CANEGROWERS Queensland. [https://www.canegrowers.com.au/uploads/Annual-Report/Annual-report-2024-25.pdf Annual Report