The Golden Mile

Ian Scougall, Janice Downman and Ann O'Loughlin

Checking research

Fifty-six people attended the talk at the Maryborough Library on the 14^th August, 2015 to hear well known researchers Ann O’Loughlin, Ian Scougall and Janice Downman talk. The trio took us for a chronological meander along Maryborough’s Golden Mile.

Ian introduced the talk to the people eagerly waiting in the library seating to hear about the town of Maryborough, which was established at the current site in 1852.

The decade from 1870 to 1880 was recognised as the most profitable and prosperous period in the short history of the township. Fuel tankers would be brought down by train. Loads of sugar, timber, coal and other goods, such as bagged flour from the flour mill, were continually being carried along this most valuable asset. This ultimately led to the area being referred to as “The Golden Mile”

Ann brought humour and knowledge to the tale of the sugar industry. In 1859 the first sugar that was grown in the area was in Edgar Aldridge’s garden at the Old Township. This  proved that sugar cane grew in the area. In 1864, a demonstration of sugar making was held using John Eaton of Rosehill’s cane. This was a very primitive effort. First the cane was cut into quarters, put through a household mangle and the juice then boiled up in saucepans. Eaton was so enthused with the result that he offered 500 pounds to set up a commercial plantation.

The crowd recollected memories of their lives in Maryborough

Central Mill on the west side of the Mary River was the first mill to operate in 1867. The Yengarie Mill was on higher ground and survived the floods but was getting such a large consignment from the Isis area that they were working almost beyond capacity.  The second Maryborough mill crushed its first cane in 1896 and was funded by 400 shareholders, mostly from the 12 thousand strong population of Maryborough. For 119 years from 1896 to 2015 the mill has operated on the same site and is still a vital part of Maryborough’s economy.

The timber industry began in 1861 with Gladwell and Greathead building a steam driven saw mill near the corner of Kent and Guava Streets, close to the river.  Janice and Ian’s unique story telling enlightened us about the timber industry and the many mills that were in Maryborough. The Hyne sawmill is the only surviving mill and opened in 1883. The Forestry Department emerged to compliment this industry. Timber was first sourced from Fraser Island until it was declared a National Park in 1992. The timber is now grown at Tuan and is a mainstay of Maryborough industries.



Aerial view of Walkers Limited Shipyards, Maryborough, Queensland, ca. 1972.

Original photograph Evans Deakin Industries, Maryborough.

The copyright holder for this image was not identified/identifiable.

The firm known as John Walker and Co or the Union Foundry was established in 1868 and originally produced equipment and machinery for the new Gympie gold field. It has supplied machinery for sugar mills and was a ship yard. From 1896 to today the trains for the Queensland government are built here. It is now called Downer EDI.  This was one of the main employers of the town and at knock off time five hundred or more workers on pushbikes would surge into the five ways from this and other industries on their way home.

The railway line was built in Maryborough in 1878 and reached Gympie in 1881.

The intriguing Powell’s Brewery Towers opened in 1882 and overlooked Maryborough for years with its 80ft, 7 storey high tower, giving a “birds eye view” claimed Janice. Steindl and Son bought this in 1901 and it was demolished in 1936. It can be seen in the background of many old photographs of the city.

Remembering the glory days of The Golden Mile

The talk reminded all of the listeners of the glory days of Maryborough, when industry thrived.  The move to road transport and the decision of industries to move operations after the 1974 floods ushered in the end of these days.  As you walk down the Golden Mile today, it is like a memory of a lively industrial area that is fading.

The notes from this talk can be found in the vertical files in the Maryborough Library Local History Room.

This has been published with the consent from Janice Downman, Ian Scougall and Ann O’Loughlin.

Tags #MaryboroughLibrary #Frasercoastlibraries #Qldheritagetourism #Maryborough

Sources:

Kerr, John & Kerr, John & Maryborough Sugar Factory (1987). Sugar at Maryborough : 120 years of challenge. Maryborough Sugar Factory Ltd, Maryborough, Qld

Maryborough Chronicle Microfilm

Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/