brandon

Afternoon tea in a tree house, Brandon, ca. 1880-1890

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  PIONEER ESTATE John Spiller of Mackay started the Pioneer Estate in 1882 named after a property that he held on the Pioneer River in the Mackay district. Henry Brandon had selected the adjoining block of land and soon joined in with Spiller. When the two partners had sufficient land planted with a cane, they placed an order in the Old Country for milling machinery. Mr. George Russell Drysdale, a Scot who reached the Burdekin in 1883 went to Mackay and negotiated with Mr. Brandon who was the manager of the Joint Stock Bank there, for the purchase of the Pioneer interests, and he acquired them for Drysdale Bros. Mr. David Donald who had been connected with Mr. MacKenzie at Seaforth joined Mr. Drysdale with whom he had traveled from Melbourne. Mr. Donald's first job was to receive the milling machinery and see it erected, and it commenced crushing in 1884. the sugar manufactured was carted to the landing at Baratta Creek by horse and bullock teams, where it was shipped by lighter to Townsville. Mr. Donald took over the management of the factory and Mr. Louis Hoey, father of Mr. L. W. J. Hoey, at present chairman of the Ayr District Canegrowers Executive tendered to the plantation work and cane cultivation. Mr. Donald later retired from the mill to become an accountant at Townsville and an agent there for Pioneer. Source: Townsville Daily Bulletin 01 Sep 1938 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62169472