North Eton Mill
| North Eton Mill | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 21.23129° S, 148.96339° E |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Mackay |
| LGA | Mackay Regional Council |
| Details | |
| Established | 1888 (138 years ago) |
| Closed | 1988 (38 years ago) |
| Owner | Mackay Sugar |
| Gauge | 610 mm (2 ft) |
| Annual Crush | 325,000 tonnes (seasonal average at closure) |
North Eton Sugar Mill (originally known as the Defiance) was a sugar mill located in the Mackay region of Queensland. It holds the distinction of being the first government sponsored central mill established in Queensland.
History
Establishment
In the mid 1880s, cane farmers in the Eton district became dissatisfied with the low prices offered by the nearby Victoria Mill and the instability of the plantation system. At the same time, the Queensland Government was promoting the establishment of central mills to encourage small farmers.[1]
A group of farmers submitted an application for a government loan in October 1885. The North Eton Central Sugar Company Limited was registered on 14 October 1886. Construction began in early 1887, utilising machinery originally intended for a mill in Proserpine. The mill was officially opened on 1 January 1888 by the Queensland Premier, Samuel Griffith, although it was not yet fully operational. The mill was named the "Defiance", likely due to its proximity to the competing Victoria Mill.[2]
The mill undertook its first crush in August 1888. This opening contributed to the closure of three nearby mills: Victoria, Barrie, and Marian. The North Eton mill offered higher prices to growers and benefited from a double crushing plant.
Government Control and Cooperative Era
Despite its initial promise, the mill faced financial difficulties and insufficient cane supply. By 1915, the company could not secure further bank funding, and in 1917, it defaulted on its loan repayments. Consequently, the Queensland Government took possession of the mill. Under government control, the plant was modernised, and the tramway network was repaired.
In 1928, a new entity, the North Eton Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited, was formed. This grower owned cooperative purchased the mill from the government using a loan of 60,000 pounds.
Amalgamation and Closure
By the late 1980s, economic pressures and the need for rationalisation in the sugar industry led to significant changes in the Mackay district. On 1 February 1988, the North Eton mill merged with four other local mills—Farleigh, Racecourse, Marian, and Cattle Creek—to form the Mackay Sugar Co-operative Association Limited.[3]
Following the merger, a decision was made to close North Eton to improve overall efficiency. The mill ceased operations at the end of the 1988 crushing season. Its cane supply was subsequently redirected to the Marian and Pleystowe mills.
Infrastructure
Transport
The mill was serviced by the Queensland Rail network. A branch line connected the mill to the main Mackay–Eton line. However, the railway line to Eton was closed on 1 August 1959 due to the high cost of maintaining short haul lines. This closure forced the mill to rely on road transport for sugar, increasing operational costs.
The mill also operated a 610 mm (2 ft) gauge tramway system to transport cane from the fields. The cane supply was historically unreliable during drought years, a problem that was only alleviated in the 1970s with the development of the Kinchant Dam and the Eton Irrigation Scheme. Following closure, the tramway network was absorbed into the systems of the remaining mills.[4]
Production Statistics
The mill remained a relatively small operator compared to the "super mills" that developed later.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Annual Crush (Final) | 325,000 tonnes |
| 1951 Season Crush | 84,443 tons |
| Railway Gauge | 610 mm (2 ft) |
| Status | Closed (Network Integrated with Marian) |
Location
Rollingstock
| Name | Builder | Model | Serial | Year | Current Mill | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Eton | E.M. Baldwin | DH24B Mk9 | 6780-2-8-76 | 1976 | Racecourse Mill | |
| Mia Mia | E.M. Baldwin | DH28B | 9815-1-10-81 | 1981 | Racecourse Mill | |
| Eton | Commonwealth Engineering | FB | FB3170 | 1963 | Farleigh Mill | Navvy Duties |
| Septimus | Commonwealth Engineering | AE | A2128 | 1958 | Out of service | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| Barcoo | Commonwealth Engineering | FB | FB4383 | 1965 | Out of service | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7304 | Walkers | GH700V | 663 | 1970 | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7306 | Walkers | GH700V | 665 | 1970 | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7308 | Walkers | GH700V | 667 | 1971 | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7327 | Walkers | GH700V | 689 | 1972 | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7332 | Walkers | GH700V | 694 | 1972 | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| 7341 | Walkers | GH700V | 703 | 1972 | Stored | Stored at North Eton Depot |
| Inkerman | Commonwealth Engineering | FB | FB3169 | 1963 | Pioneer Mill | |
| D1 | Bundaberg Fowler | BJ100 | 10 | 1953 | Out of service | Unknown location |
| D2 | Bundaberg Fowler | BJ200 | 13 | 1954 | Out of service | Unknown location |
| (Blank) | E.M. Baldwin | DM3 | 4-473-3-63 | 1963 | Out of service | |
| (Blank) | Motor Rail | 4wDM | 21503 | 1953 | Out of service |
References
- ↑ Mackay Historical Society. "North Eton Sugar Mill, 1888-1988".
- ↑ Rolleston, Frank (1987). "The Defiance: The Story of North Eton Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited, 1888-1987".
- ↑ Mackay Sugar. "Our History".
- ↑ Light Railway Research Society of Australia. "Queensland sugar cane railways today".