Mills - Wilmar Sugar

Our eight sugar mills are located in the Herbert, Burdekin, Proserpine and Plane Creek regions of Queensland. Each mill operates 24/7 during the crushing season, which typically runs from June to November. This is when mature sugarcane is harvested and transported to our mills, where we crush it to extract sugar juice. Our mills then process this juice to create raw sugar.

Our factories have long been an integral part of Queensland’s landscape and economy. Macknade Mill near Ingham is the oldest raw sugar mill in Queensland, having started production in 1873. Our other factories were established between the 1880s and 1920s.

Today, our factories have high levels of automation. Ongoing investment in new plant and technologies has ensured they are among the most efficient in the world.

Our mills are major employers and economic contributors in their communities. During the crush our factories employ about 2,000 people.

Outside the crush, our teams are involved in an intensive maintenance, capital and innovation program to ensure our sugar mills continue to be safe, reliable and efficient.

Wilmar map QLD mills 2019

Our mills

Macknade Mill

Herbert region
The oldest sugar mill in Queensland, Macknade Mill started up in 1873 and has run continuously since. It is situated on the banks of the Herbert River, 12km north-east of Ingham. Under different owners, the mill has had several major upgrades over the years. The mill crushes an average of 1.5 million tonnes of sugarcane a year, to manufacture about 191,000 tonnes of raw sugar.

Victoria Mill

Herbert region
Victoria Mill is a dual-milling-train factory and vies with Invicta Mill for the title of Australia’s largest sugar mill. When it was established by CSR in 1883, it brought new milling standards to North Queensland. The factory crushes an average of three million tonnes of sugarcane a year to manufacture about 400,000 tonnes of raw sugar. It is located about 3km east of Ingham.

Invicta Mill

Burdekin region
Invicta Mill was established at its current site in Giru in 1921. It was originally located on the Richmond River in New South Wales, then moved to South Kolan, near Bundaberg, for a short time before being moved to Giru. A dual-milling-train factory, it crushes about three million tonnes of sugarcane a year to manufacture about 440,000 tonnes of raw sugar.

Pioneer Mill

Burdekin region
Pioneer Mill is near Brandon and its single large chimney is usually visible from the Bruce Highway. It was established by sugar industry pioneers George Drysdale and Edmund Young in 1884. It crushes an average of 1.7 million tonnes of sugarcane a year, to manufacture about 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar. It also has Australia’s largest biomass generator.

Kalamia Mill

Burdekin region
Kalamia Mill is located near the picturesque Lilliesmere Lagoon, about 7km north of Ayr. The smallest of our four Burdekin mills, it began production in 1884 and today processes about 1.5 million tonnes of sugarcane a year. Its annual raw sugar production averages 230,000 tonnes. Its twin concrete stacks are usually visible from Beach Road.

Inkerman Mill

Burdekin region
Inkerman Mill is in Home Hill, on the southern end of the Burdekin River Bridge. It was established by Burdekin sugar industry pioneer John Drysdale and commenced crushing in 1914. Its centenary celebrations were held in 2014. The dual-milling-train factory crushes an average of 1.7 million tonnes of sugarcane a year, to manufacture about 260,000 tonnes of raw sugar.

Proserpine Mill

Mackay region
Proserpine Mill was established in 1897 and led to the development of the town of Proserpine. The mill was owned by a grower cooperative from 1931 until 2011 when it was purchased by Wilmar Sugar Australia. The mill crushes an average of 1.7 million tonnes of sugarcane a year, to manufacture about 240,000 tonnes of sugar.

Plane Creek Mill

Mackay Region
Plane Creek Mill is located at Sarina, south of Mackay, and started operations in 1896. It crushes an average of 1.2 million tonnes of sugarcane a year, to manufacture about 180,000 tonnes of raw sugar. Plane Creek Mill’s boilers supply power to the adjoining Wilmar Bioethanol Distillery, where molasses is processed into industrial and fuel ethanol.