Bittersweet history: Museum to unveil updated book on the locomotives that drove sugar industry

Clive Plater with his book. Clive’s father outlasted the mill by a couple of months, passing away in February 2004. Hence the choice of February 2024 for this book launch.

On Saturday February 24 mayoral candidate Rosanna Natoli will launch the Nambour Museum’s book, Locomotives of the Moreton Central Sugar Mill by Clive Plater OAM. The book has been published in the wake of the 20th anniversary, last December, of the mill’s closure in 2003. 

This is an updated and much expanded second edition of one launched in 2013 by then-Governor Penelope Wensley AC for the 10th anniversary.

It contains many never before published photos from Clive’s family collection and fellow light railway enthusiasts. The book is no longer just about the locomotives but now includes sections about some of the major infrastructure associated with getting the sugar cane to the mill. The history and loss of the heritage listed lift span tramway bridge over the Maroochy River in the February 2022 flood is well presented.

As with the first edition 10 years ago the book is dedicated to Edgar Plater, Clive’s father. Edgar worked at the mill for 51 years on the locos and tramlines. Following his retirement in 1981 he maintained a keen interest as the mill’s honorary historian. His diaries relating to the tramlines and bridges from 1960 to 1981 were still being used for reference by mill staff 20 years after he retired.

These diaries that are in Clive’s custodianship have also helped with material for this book. Clive says his father just outlasted the mill by a couple of months, passing away in February 2004. Hence the choice of February 2024 for this book launch.

The books will be on sale at the Nambour Museum for $15 each with all proceeds to the museum. Purchase a book on the Launch Day and receive one free adult admission to the museum.

The Launch is scheduled for 1pm for invited guests but the general public are most welcome to come along during our special extended hours of 10am to 4pm.