|
Sugarworld
was originally constructed by CSR at Hambledon
Estate on approximately 17 acres of land amongst 100 year old trees. Officially opened to
the public on the 9th September 1989. The complex was purchased by Cairns City Council in
1995. Today the waterslide and pool
complex is managed by a private lessee while the Hambledon Gardens and Swallow Park
section is maintained and run from the Flecker Botanic Gardens as part of the Parks and
Recreation Services Department.
Swallow Park which is contained within the Sugarworld
complex is named in memory of Thomas Swallow. In October 1881, Thomas Swallow selected the
first blocks of sugar land under the terms of the Land Act of 1868, and named the property
Hambledon Plantation after his birth place in Berkshire, England. |
Hambledon Mill prior to its
demolition |
Built in 1925 by Hudswell/Clark in Leeds,
England, this steam
Loco remained in service until 1958 when it was the last to be
replaced by the new Diesel Locomotives. |
By 1888 the
plantation comprised 6,000 acres of which 900 were devoted to sugar cane, while bananas,
coffee, pineapples, citrus, ginger, peanuts, rosellas and coconuts were grown on parts of
the remainder. Because of high labour costs and cane grub infestations the sugar industry
became uneconomical by 1888 and attempts to diversify failed due to distance from main
markets.
Thomas
Swallow died on January 25th 1890 and his estate was sold to R. A. Kingsford (the first
Mayor of Cairns). Swallow became known as the father of the Cairns district because of his
pioneering work which originally employed many people who stayed on after his passing and
settled in the area.
Cane
production in the Edmonton area peaked in 1966 with 10,541 hectares under production,
however this production was to fall to 8159 hectares and the Hambledon Mill (built to
replace Swallows Mill) crushed its last bin on the 28th October 1991. |
