Kalamia Mill
| Kalamia Mill | |
|---|---|
|
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| Location | |
| Coordinates | 19.52376° S, 144.41603° E |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Burdekin |
| LGA | Burdekin Shire Council |
| Details | |
| Established | 1882 (144 years ago) |
| Owner | Wilmar Sugar |
| Gauge | 610 mm (2 ft) |
| Annual Crush | 1,500,000 tonnes average |
Establishment and Early Years (1882 to 1920) Kalamia Mill was established in 1882 by the Scottish brothers Charles and John Young, who had acquired a large area of Crown land in the Burdekin delta known as the Kalamia Estate. The mill was constructed near the Lilliesmere Lagoon, approximately seven kilometres north of the present day town of Ayr.
Crushing operations commenced in 1883. Unlike many early mills that produced raw brown sugar, Kalamia quickly gained a reputation for high quality production. In 1885, the mill was awarded first prize for its white sugar at the Mauritius Exhibition, a significant achievement given the prominence of the sugar industry in Mauritius at the time.
The Young brothers were instrumental in the development of the district. They sponsored early settlers to the region to secure a workforce and expand cane supply. During the late 19th century, the mill operated successfully, although like other Burdekin mills, it relied heavily on spear irrigation systems (pioneered by John Drysdale of Pioneer Mill) to combat the dry climate.
Australian Estates Era (1920 to 1975) In the 1920s, the mill ownership transitioned to the Australian Estates and Mortgage Company Limited (later known as Australian Estates). During this period, the company sought to consolidate its sugar interests. In a major expansion project during the mid 1920s, the company closed their Palms Mill in the Mackay district and transported much of its machinery to the Burdekin to duplicate and upgrade the Kalamia factory.
This expansion allowed Kalamia to significantly increase its crushing rate. By the late 1930s, the mill was crushing over 250,000 tonnes of cane per season, a massive increase from the 45,000 tonnes processed in 1920.
CSR and Wilmar Era (1975 to Present) In 1975, CSR Limited acquired Australian Estates, bringing Kalamia Mill into the CSR portfolio. This acquisition consolidated CSR's dominance in the Queensland sugar industry, adding Kalamia to its existing Burdekin assets.
Under CSR, the mill continued to modernise. The cane railway network was integrated with neighbouring mills to improve efficiency. While Kalamia uses a 610 mm (two foot) gauge network, it is connected to the neighbouring Invicta Mill and Pioneer Mill systems via a dual gauge section of track, allowing for the transfer of cane and locomotives between mill areas during breakdowns or wet weather events.
In 2010, CSR sold its sugar division (Sucrogen) to Wilmar International. Today, Kalamia operates as one of the four Wilmar mills in the Burdekin region.
Infrastructure and Technical details Kalamia is the smallest of the four Wilmar mills in the Burdekin but remains a highly efficient factory. It is situated in a rural setting near the Lilliesmere Lagoon.
The mill is serviced by an extensive 610 mm gauge tramway network that brings cane from the surrounding farms. The network is unique in that it connects to the Pioneer Mill system (which uses 1067 mm gauge) via a dual gauge rail link. This interoperability allows the Burdekin mills to balance their crushing loads.
Kalamia Mill produces raw sugar which is transported by rail to the Townsville Bulk Sugar Terminal for export.
Statistics Average Annual Crush: 1.5 million tonnes of sugarcane
Average Sugar Production: 230,000 tonnes of raw sugar per season
Railway Gauge: 610 mm (two ft)
Status: Operational
Significant Dates 1882: Mill established by Charles and John Young.
1883: First crushing season.
1885: Won first prize for white sugar at the Mauritius Exhibition.
1925: Major expansion using machinery from the closed Palms Mill (Mackay).
1975: CSR Limited acquires Australian Estates and takes ownership of Kalamia.
2010: Ownership transfers to Wilmar Sugar.
Location
Rollingstock
| Name | Builder | Model | Serial | Year | Current Mill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giru | Walkers | GH500 | 625 | 1969 | Invicta Mill | Was Rita Island. Rebuilt by Pioneer Mill 2023 |
| 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 |
| Delta | Commonwealth Engineering | FD | FD5094 | 1965 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Norham | E.M. Baldwin | DH26B Mk1 | 5383-1-7-74 | 1974 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Strathalbyn | Westfalia / E.M. Baldwin | DH32C | 13863-1-8-91 | 1991 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Burdekin | E.M. Baldwin | DH32B | 10215-1-7-82 | 1982 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Barratta | Commonwealth Engineering | AD | AH4098 | 1965 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Northcote | Commonwealth Engineering | AH | AH4091 | 1965 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Chiverton | Commonwealth Engineering | AB | C1030 | 1958 | Kalamia Mill | |
| Kalamia | Commonwealth Engineering | AA | A1409 | 1955 | Out of service | |
| Seaforth | Baguley | 2514 | 1954 | Out of service | Was converted to brake van prior to being dismantled | |
| Seaforth | Hunslet | 0-4-2T | 1026 | 1910 | Out of service | Unknown location |
| Ivahoe | Commonwealth Engineering | GA | GA1042 | 1960 | Out of service | |
| Airdmillan | Commonwealth Engineering | AH | AH3068 | 1963 | Out of service | |
| (Blank) | Motor Rail | 4wDM | 21543 | 1956 | Out of service |