An investigation of new settlement in the sugar industry as a result of post war expansions: a case study in the Herbert River district, North Queensland

Abstract

Since World War II, the Australian Sugar Industry has undergone two periods of major planned expansion. The first of these occurred in the early fifties and the second in the mid sixties. Together they were responsible for the creation of over 2,000 new cane farms, mostly in sugar districts north of the tropic. This study discusses the developments that occurred in the marketing of Australia's exports of raw sugar which resulted in the expansions, and examines the influence of government land settlement policies on the nature and pattern of the new settlement that occurred. By way of a case study in the Herbert River district the thesis examines the number of new settlers who managed to become permanently established on cane farms. Possible reasons for why those who left failed to become permanently established are put forward. Finally, changes in ownership of the new farms are investigated to determine the extent to which the creation of new farms has brought new settlers into the district or alternatively, strengthened the economic position of existing cane growers. For both expansions the increased prpduction deemed necessary by planners could have been achieved to a greater extent by existing farmers. However, land settlement policies of governments at the time were aimed very much at increasing agricultural settlement, especially in northern Australia. While governments were committed to placing more people on the land, the economic size of farms was beginning to expand due to increasing capitalisation and costs, this resulted in a trend towards larger and fewer farms. An examination of settlers in the case study area revealed that a substantial proportion of the new settlers had sold their farms. The reasons for the instability of the new settlers varied between the groups established during the two expansion periods, due to differences in living conditions after establishment, the location of the holdings, returns to the new farmers and the prior experience of the new settlers. Most of those who left, sold out to existing farmers with comparatively large holdings. Thus, the creation of the new farms during the expansions often enabled existing farmers with access to greater resoucres to benefit by enabling them to obtain more assigned cane land.