Pioneer Sugar Mill Pioneer Sugar Mill Archive. [Archive] (Unpublished)
Summary
The huge company of today, with interests in three sugar mills, a steel reinforcing and fabricating operation, mining, liquid petroleum and pastoral estates, had its origins in 1883, when a partnership was formed to acquire 5,064 acres to cultivate sugar. The original partners were: John, George, Alexander, Arthur and William Drysdale, John Bell, Robert Tullis and David and Arthur Russell.
By 1884 five plantations had been opened up and a mill established. Prospects for the infant industry did not then appear as bright as when the venture was undertaken - annual rainfall had proved less than anticipated, world sugar prices had fallen substantially and transport of sugar to the nearest ports (Bowen or Townsville) was difficult.
The partners on site realised that the main obstacle to development was the lack of adequate rainfall. Fortunately, the Pioneer estates had access to a number of open water lagoons and irrigation schemes were initiated utilising these, but the heavy expenditure involved severely strained partnership finances.
In 1886 a turning point in the business operations came, with the arrival of John Drysdale, an experienced engineer and administrator. His discovery of the vast underground aquifers, and an economical method of tapping them, ended dependence on the few large lagoons and allowed smaller holdings to enter the industry.
Other landmarks in early mill operations included:
i) Completion of the Ayr - Townsville tramway in 1911;
ii) Construction of a new mill at Inkerman, to a design worked out by John Drysdale, in 1913;
iii) The incorporation of the business as a company in 1914;
iv) Government regulation of the industry in 1915;
v) The opening of mills at Babinda, South Johnstone, Invicta and Tully in the early 1920's, which saw Pioneer firmly established as one of the area's major trading establishments.
List of this archive's contents
List of this archive's contents
List of Pioneer letterbooks 1884-1942
List of plans, maps and schedules
Additional Information
Special Collection items may be used on the Library premises by visiting the appropriate Reading Rooms during opening hours. Digital copies of selected items from this Archive will be made available through the repository as copyright or other restrictions allow.
References
Related publications in the NQ Collection, JCU Library:
Australian Sugar Producers Association. (1909-1985). Australian sugar journal. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Sugar Producers Association.
Connolly, R. (1964). John Drysdale and the Burdekin: Including Burdekin River Sketchbook by Russell Drysdale. Sydney, Australia: Ure Smith.
Manning, K.W. (1983). In their own hands: A north Queensland sugar story. Farleigh, Australia: Farleigh Co-op Sugar Milling Association.
Peake, J.H. (1954). A history of the Burdekin. Ayr, Australia: Burdekin Shire Council.
Pioneer Sugar Mills. (1983). Pioneer Sugar Mill - 100 years. Milton, Australia: Pioneer Sugar Mills.
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