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In north Queensland, the Cassowary Coast region, including Tully and Innisfail is the major banana-growing region – not only for north Queensland but for all Australia. Other major growing areas are the Atherton Tablelands and Lakeland. The first banana plantations were started by the Chinese migrants working on the goldfields. In the Tully area, bananas were shipped to market via the Tully River and, in Innisfail, on the South Johnstone River. The trade in north Queensland bananas stopped during World War I when there were restrictions on local shipping and outbreaks of plant disease. The banana industry re-established in the area at the end of World War II in 1945. Stan MacKay and a number of other growers began farming in the Mission Beach area near Tully. Bananas were packed in 40kg wooden boxes and transported to market by rail up until the 1960s when road transport was introduced. Today bananas are packed in cardboard cartons and transported by both road and rail in refrigerated containers. The industry has grown substantially and the total farm area producing bananas in north Queensland in 2016 was 11,800 hectares. Source: abgc.org.au/our-industry/tropical-bananas/

Bingera, a sugar-industry locality, is midway between Bundaberg and Gin Gin. In 1883 William Gibson, a sugar grower who had started in Hemmant, Brisbane, purchased some land on the north side of the Burnett River. His sons were partners in the venture, and another Hemmant planter, John Howes and Bros, contributed financial backing. The Bingera Plantation (named after a pastoral station) was established, and a large crushing mill was operational by 1885. 'Bingera' is thought to be derived from an Aboriginal word indicating bream (fish). Gibson and Howes had a railway siding to their mill, and Gibsons Siding was renamed Bingera in 1897. Bingera was the biggest mill in the Bundaberg area and its plantation was not subdivided into farms. Source: queenslandplaces.com.au/bingera-and-south-bingera#:~:text...(named%20after,was%20renamed%20Bingera%20in%201897

Australian camels? You are surprised? Yes, there is a camel history in Australia. The camel story began in the early 1800s. Explorers of Australia's vast inland recognized that horses are not very suitable to explore the harsh unknown inland. In 1840 "Harry", the first camel arrived in Australia. He was the only survivor of a small group of camels imported from the Canary Islands. Harry's life in Australia didn't last too long. During an expedition to the northern parts of the Flinders Ranges Harry accidentally bumped his owner just in the moment as he was loading a gun. The owner died a month later, and Harry was executed afterwards. Despite Harry's bad luck, introduced camels made their way into the Australian Outback. Source: www.ritas-outback-guide.com/AustralianCamels.html