Gin Gin Mill
| Mossman Central Mill | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 25.0756° S, 151.9956° E |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Sothern Region |
| LGA | Boundaberg Regional Council |
| Details | |
| Established | 1896 (130 years ago) |
| Closed | 1974 (52 years ago) |
| Owner | Bundaberg Sugar |
| Gauge | 610 mm (2 ft) |
| Annual Crush | 300,000 tonnes, seasonal average prior to closure |
Gin Gin Mill
Gin Gin Mill (originally known as the Gin Gin Central Mill) was a raw sugar factory located at Wallaville on the banks of the Burnett River, approximately 12 kilometres southwest of the township of Gin Gin, Queensland. Established in 1896 under the government's central mill legislation, it operated for 78 years before its closure in 1974. Following its acquisition by Bundaberg Sugar, the mill's supply area was consolidated into the Bingera Mill network.[1]
Origins and Establishment
The establishment of the Gin Gin Mill was a direct result of the Sugar Works Guarantee Act 1893, legislation designed by the Queensland Government to encourage the development of central sugar mills owned by cane farmers. Settlers in the Gin Gin and Currajong districts formed a company and petitioned the government for funding.[2]
The site chosen was at Wallaville, due to its proximity to the Burnett River for water supply, rather than the town of Gin Gin itself. Construction began in 1895, and the mill commenced crushing in 1896. Like many central mills of the era, it initially struggled with financial viability and debt repayment to the Treasury. In 1904, the government took possession of the mill due to arrears in interest and redemption payments, managing it directly for over two decades.[3]
Cooperative Era
In 1927, the growers regained control of the facility with the formation of the Gin Gin Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited. Under cooperative ownership, the mill was modernised and the tramway network expanded significantly to reach new cane growing areas in the Wallaville and Currajong districts.[4]
The mill played a vital role in the development of the Wallaville community. However, it remained one of the smaller mills in the wider Bundaberg region, often constrained by the variable rainfall of the inland districts it serviced.
Bundaberg Sugar Acquisition
In 1965, the Gin Gin Co-operative Sugar Milling Association accepted a takeover offer from the Fairymead Sugar Company (later Bundaberg Sugar). This acquisition marked the beginning of the consolidation of the Bundaberg sugar industry.[5]
Following the takeover, the new owners invested in the mill, but also began to assess the efficiencies of processing cane at larger, more central facilities.
Closure
Gin Gin Mill closed at the conclusion of the 1974 crushing season. Bundaberg Sugar determined that it was more economically efficient to expand the capacity of the nearby Bingera Mill to process the Wallaville cane, rather than maintaining the aging infrastructure at Gin Gin.[6]
Upon closure, the mill machinery was dismantled and sold. The mill site at Wallaville was cleared, though some foundations and the associated manager's housing remain visible. The closure necessitated the construction of a heavy-duty tramway link to transport the district's cane to Bingera.
Seasonal Crush
As a smaller inland mill, Gin Gin's crushing figures were modest compared to the coastal giants.
- 1940s-1950s: The mill typically crushed between **80,000 and 120,000 tonnes** of cane annually.
- Final Years: By the early 1970s, prior to closure, the mill's capacity had increased, with an average crush of approximately 300,000 tonnes per season. In its final operational years, it processed a peak of 326,000 tonnes (1972).[7]
Tramway Network
The mill operated a 610 mm gauge tramway network that connected the factory at Wallaville to the government railway line (which passed through the mill yard) and the surrounding farms.
- The "Gin Gin" Loco: The mill was famous for operating a Decauville steam locomotive, historically known as "Gin Gin."
- Network Integration: After the mill closed in 1974, the tramway network was not abandoned. Instead, it was linked to the Bingera Mill network (and subsequently the Millaquin network in 2020). The long haul from Wallaville to Bundaberg became one of the longest cane haulage runs in the Australian sugar industry.[8]
Location
Rollingstock
| Name | Builder | Model | Serial | Year | Current Mill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thistle | Commonwealth Engineering | AA | A1207 | 1955 | Millaquin Mill | Stored at Millaquin |
References
- ↑ Queensland State Archives, Gin Gin Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Ltd, Queensland Government, 2016.
- ↑ The Western Champion, The Sugar Industry: The Gin Gin Central Mill, National Library of Australia, 1896.
- ↑ Queensland State Archives, Gin Gin Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Ltd, Queensland Government, 2016.
- ↑ The Brisbane Courier, Gin Gin Mill: Cooperative Control, National Library of Australia, 1927.
- ↑ Bundaberg Sugar, History of Bundaberg Sugar, Bundaberg Sugar Ltd, 2024.
- ↑ The Canberra Times, Sugar mills to close, National Library of Australia, 1974.
- ↑ Australian Sugar Year Book, Statistics of the Australian Sugar Industry, Strand Publishing, 1975.
- ↑ Light Railway Research Society of Australia, Queensland sugar cane railways today, LRRSA, 2020.