Plane Creek Mill

Plane Creek Mill
Plane Creek Mill. 2016. Kerry Raymond.
Location
Coordinates	21.42734° S, 149.21522° E
State	Queensland
Region	Sarina
LGA	Mackay Regional Council
Details
Established	1896 (130 years ago)
Owner	Wilmar Sugar
Gauge	610 mm (2 ft)
Annual Crush	1,200,000 tonnes (seasonal average)

Plane Creek Sugar Mill is a sugar mill located in Sarina, approximately 37 kilometres south of Mackay. It is currently owned by Wilmar Sugar and serves as the economic anchor for the Sarina district. The mill is notable for its diversified operations, including an adjacent distillery, and its extensive tramway network that utilizes unique distributed power trains.

History

Establishment

The Plane Creek area was first settled by pastoralists Edmund Atherton and Henry Bell in the 1860s. By the 1890s, local farmers sought to establish a central sugar mill to process cane crops in the district. The Plane Creek Central Mill Company Limited was formed in March 1894 under the Sugar Works Guarantee Act 1893, which allowed the company to mortgage land to the Queensland Government in exchange for a loan of 65,000 pounds to construct the mill.

The contract for the mill machinery was awarded to Walkers Limited of Maryborough. Construction began under the supervision of G. Wolfe and J.B. Wood, and the first crushing season commenced on 4 November 1896. During this inaugural season, the mill processed 3,579 tonnes of cane to produce 371 tonnes of raw sugar.

Operational History

Initially, the mill struggled financially, leading to the appointment of government guarantor directors. However, operations stabilised by the early 20th century. A significant development occurred in 1925 with the construction of the Plane Creek Power Alcohol Company plant adjacent to the mill. This facility was designed to process molasses (a byproduct of sugar production) into ethanol, a project supported by then Queensland Premier Edward Theodore.

The mill's water supply was secured through the construction of weirs on Plane Creek in 1926 and 1935. The extension of the North Coast railway line in the 1920s allowed cane to be transported from as far south as Flaggy Rock. In 1995, Plane Creek Mill commenced the production of Very High Pol (VHP) sugar, also known as VLC (Very Low Colour) sugar.

Ownership

The mill remained a grower owned cooperative for much of its history.

• 1974: The mill was acquired by Pioneer Sugar Mills Limited.
• 1987: CSR Limited acquired Pioneer Sugar, bringing Plane Creek under its control.
• 2010: CSR sold its sugar milling division, Sucrogen, to the Singapore based agribusiness Wilmar International. The mill is currently operated by Wilmar Sugar Australia.

Infrastructure

Tramway

The mill operates an extensive 610 mm (2 ft) gauge tramway network. Original proposals in 1896 included a 15 mile line to a wharf at Louisa Creek for sugar export. Today, the network extends south to Carmilla and is known for its long haulage distances.

A unique feature of the Plane Creek railway operations is the use of Distributed Power (DP) trains, where a second locomotive is placed mid train to assist with braking and traction on long consists. This system is typically used on the run from the Karloo siding, approximately 65 kilometres from the mill.

Rolling Stock

The locomotive fleet has historically included both steam and diesel traction.

• Steam: Early motive power included locomotives from John Fowler & Co. and Maffei. Notable units included "Coronation" and "Billy" (Maffei 0-6-0WT, built 1911).
• Diesel: The mill began dieselisation in the mid 20th century. The fleet has included Clyde Engineering 0-6-0DH units and rebuilt ex-government locomotives, such as the "Carmilla" (ex-New South Wales Government Railways 73 class) and "Victoria" (ex-Queensland Rail DH class).

Production Statistics

Plane Creek Mill is a consistent producer for the Central Region.

Statistic	Value
Average Annual Crush	1,200,000 tonnes
Raw Sugar Production	180,000 tonnes
Railway Gauge	610 mm (2 ft)
Key By-product	Ethanol (Distillery)

Location

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Rollingstock

Name	Builder	Model	Serial	Year	Current Mill	Notes
Victoria	Walkers	GH500	599	1968	Plane Creek Mill	Converted by Tulk Goninan - 1994
Dalrymple	Clyde Queensland	HG-3R	70-709	1970	Victoria Mill	Usually used as full yard loco
D4	Commonwealth Engineering	FA	FA1037	1960	Plane Creek
D12	E.M. Baldwin	DH32B	6890-1-10-76	1976	Plane Creek mill
Allan Page	Walkers	GH500	594	1968	Plane Creek Mill	Last rebuilt Pioneer Mill 2020
Karloo	Walkers	GH500	632	1969	Plane Creek Mill	Last rebuilt Bundaberg Foundry 1995
Koumala	Walkers	GH500	651	1970	Plane Creek Mill	Last rebuilt Pioneer Mill 2019
Carmila	Walkers	GH700	676	1971	Plane Creek Mill	Last rebuilt Proserpine Mill 2018
D7	Commonwealth Engineering	FC	FC3775	1964	Plane Creek Mill	Stored - Backup duties
D8	Commonwealth Engineering	FC	FC3777	1964	Pioneer Mill
Kalamia	Clyde	HG-3R	67-569	1967	Invicta Mill
Allan Page	Walkers	GH500	630	1969	Plane Creek	Converted Pioneer Mill 2023
1	Clyde	DHI-71	56-101	1956	Out of service	Unknown location
2	Clyde	DHI-71	57-147	1957	Out of service	Unknown location
3	Commonwealth Engineering	FA	FA1036	1959	Out of service	Unknown location
5	John Fowler		18801	1927	Out of service	Unknown location
6	Ruston Hornsby	30DLU	371381	1954	Out of service	Unknown location
7	Commonwealth Engineering	FC	FC3776	1964	Out of service	Unknown location
9	Ruston Hornsby	DH15	6-825-1-5-64	1964	Out of service	Rebuilt by E.M. Baldwin. Unknown location
(Blank)	F.C. Hibberd		2333	1940	Out of service	Unknown location