Southern Region

The Southern Region encompasses Queensland's sugar-growing districts from Bundaberg and Childers south through the former Maryborough and Sunshine Coast milling areas to Rocky Point on the northern Gold Coast. The region once contained numerous plantation, juice and central mills, but successive consolidation and declining cane supply have reduced the industry to three operating raw sugar factories: Millaquin Mill, operated by Bundaberg Sugar; the grower-owned Isis Central Sugar Mill; and the family-owned Rocky Point Mill.

The Bundaberg and Isis districts are major irrigated cane-growing areas, while the former Maryborough and Sunshine Coast industries have undergone substantial contraction. The closure of both Bingera and Maryborough mills following the 2020 season represented the most recent major rationalisation of milling capacity in the region.

Bingera Mill (Closed)

Bingera Mill was established by the Gibson and Howes families in 1885 on the northern side of the Burnett River. It developed into one of the largest mills in the Bundaberg district and remained under family control until becoming part of Bundaberg Sugar in 1972.

Declining regional cane production led Bundaberg Sugar to close Bingera following the 2020 crushing season after 135 years of operation. All remaining Bundaberg Sugar cane is now crushed at Millaquin Mill. Portions of Bingera's former 610 mm gauge railway network remain in use to collect cane from districts north of the Burnett River.

Maryborough Mill (Closed)

The Maryborough Sugar Factory Company was established in 1894 and commenced sugar production in 1895. The mill subsequently became the principal processing factory for cane grown throughout the Maryborough and Fraser Coast districts.

In its later years the mill was operated by MSF Sugar, which became part of the Thai sugar group Mitr Phol in 2012. MSF announced in November 2020 that the 2020 crushing season would be the mill's last, ending 126 years of