sugarmills

On Dixon Road in central Buderim is a timber homestead built by the pioneer Joseph Dixon who first selected land in the Mooloolah area in 1869. He was initially in partnership with a friend in a sugar plantation that flooded. He then selected land on Buderim plateau in June 1870 and erected a slab hut, which he occupied with his bride Elizabeth Fielding following their 1873 marriage. In 1875, Dixon and his father-in-law John Fielding established the first sugar mill on the mountain, using equipment purchased from Fountain's Burpengary mill. Between them, Fielding and Dixon owned numerous adjoining properties so the exact date of construction of this house is difficult to confirm. Dating to the early 1880s, it remains one of the oldest surviving sawn timber residences on the plateau. Its exposed-frame construction is typical of the era. Local beech timber has been used in the floors, wall lining and ceilings, with cedar joinery and hardwood framing. As the sugar industry declined from the early 1890s, farmers diversified into banana and orange cultivation and later dairying. Dixon moved to Flaxton, while his Buderim property was transferred to John Burnett. ‘Canambie’ remains a private home and is not publically accessible. Source: apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/explorer/detail/?id...

One of the sugar cane train's locomotive was Invicta (Leeds Fowler 0-6-2T) Purchased new in 1907 for the Invicta Sugar Mill, it spent all its working life in Sugar Mills in the Bundaberg area. Restored and returned to service with ASCR in November 2008, currently under complete restoration again. The loco was purchased by Mr Buss of the Invicta Sugar Mill, then located near the Kolan River. At the end of 1918 the mill was sold and moved to Giru in North Queensland, while the rolling stock was sold to Gibson and Howes (Bingera). When Invicta Sugar Mill was dismantled in 1918, Invicta was used to marshal the sugar cane from the Invicta area to Ralphs Siding where other locomotives transported the Sugar Cane to Bingera Sugar Mill. Invicta worked in the Bingera area until the early 1960s when it was sold to Millaquin Sugar Company during the sugar industry expansion program, to work at Qunaba Sugar Mill. Invicta was retired in 1978 before the steam era ended. In 1981 it was donated to the HMAS Nirimba Navy Training College at Quakers Hill Sydney. In July 1993 BSTPS made a submission to the Australian Navy for the return of Invicta to Bundaberg. The locomotive was returned and an official handover took place on 20th November 1993. The loco was dry stored until restoration started in 2003. A team of 20 members worked over four years to complete the restoration, with most of the work undertaken by the members themselves Invicta was recommissioned 17 November 2007 with a 100th birthday celebration attended by roughly 200 members and guests. Source: www.bundabergcanetrains.org.au/history/

City's oldest mill to close THE 123-year history of Fairymead Mill has come to an end, with Isis Central Sugar Mill and the state government blamed for its closure. THE 123-year history of Fairymead Mill has come to an end, with Isis Central Sugar Mill and the state government blamed for its closure. Bundaberg Sugar general manager Grant Maclean, who started at Fairymead himself in 1967, said the mill had "a lot of wonderful history''. Hundreds of workers have been employed at the mill since it was established in 1882 and at least 80 people will lose their jobs following yesterday's announcement. "Closing the mill is not something we wanted to do, but when the cane supply went down we had no option,'' Mr Maclean said. Source: www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bundaberg/citys-ol...