sugarrefinery

Racecourse Mill after a cyclone in Mackay 1918

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  There had been an enormous loss of sugar in the mills and on the wharves. The association estimated the loss at over 12,000 tons and the damage to the mills and buildings al over £26,000. The details of the loss and damage to the mills were : —Plane Creek. 1500 tons of sugar. £2500 damage: Homebush. 1400 tons of sugar, £1000 damage: Fairleigh. 1500 tons of sugar, £7500 damage; Racecourse, 1000 tons of sugar. £3000 damage ; Palms. 1500 tons of sugar. £5000 damage: Pleystowe. 1500 tons of sugar, £2000 damage: Marian, 1800 tons of sugar, £5000 damage: North Eton, 1000 tons of sugar, £1000 damage: Cattle Creek, 500 tons of sugar. £1000 damage: town wharves. I500 tons of sugar, £900 damage. Mr. Peele personally estimated the loss at slightly less. The report of the appalling disaster and flight of the residents was confirmed. There was ruin over a thirty miles radius of Mackay, he said, and the damage was estimated at £1,500,000. Everything possible was being done by the Police Magistrate and officials to relieve the situation. Yesterday was the first fine day after ten days of continuous rain. Mr. Peele, who resides twenty-two miles from Mackay, in a further interview, stated that the cyclone commenced between eight and nine o'clock on the night of Sunday, the 20th instant, and it increased until it attained its maximum force at daylight on Monday. The wind roared like a furnace, and the rain swept across like steam. The barometer dropped to the lowest level known. The hurricane's velocity was easily 100 miles per hour. Buildings commenced to go about half-past two o'clock on Monday morning, and at daylight, the long series of men's barracks was stripped instantly. Source: Morning Bulletin 31 Jan 1918 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/53836149#