Mossman Central Mill Company Limited started life as a grower owned Co-operative sugar mill back in 1894.   In 1897, Mrs Annie Rose fed the first sugar cane into the mill and the Company went on to produced its first sugar after crushing 27,905 tons of cane for the intial season. In 1906, Mossman Mill became the first Queensland mill to crush over 100,000 tons of cane. That season lasted just under 8 months extending from June, 1906 to late January, 1907.

Mossman Mill circa 1930

Initially, sugar was shipped from Port Douglas however, in latter years road transport came to the forefront and sugar was road transported to the bulk sugar terminal in Cairns.  L.J.F. Prince (General Manager) pioneered the use of computers for cane payment accounting and in 1971 Mossman purchased the first process control computer used in the world sugar industry.

The Company has always played a major role in the district’s economic future and diversified into aqua culture by establishing a prawn farm just south of Mossman.  The Company operated the farm until mid 2003.  Tourism was encouraged and Mossman started the Ballyhooley Steam train at a time before the region was known as a holiday area.  Both were sold in a restructure that occurred in 2003.

 © Mossman Central Mill Company Limited 2006