Sugar Australia has marked 150 years of the Yarraville Refinery with a plaque unveiling ceremony and morning tea.
The Sugar Australia Yarraville Team was joined for the celebration by Footscray MP Katie Hall and Maribyrnong council mayor Sarah Carter on August 21.
The plaque was officially unveiled by four of Sugar Australia’s longest-serving team members Ray Clarke, Martin Speers, George Azar and Frank Kuczynski.
Now owned and operated by Sugar Australia the CSR Sugar brand, the heritage-listed Yarraville Refinery is Australia’s oldest sugar refinery.
Sugar Australia chief operating officer Paul Gregory said the day was full of reflection.
“Today presents an important opportunity to reflect on our rich history and acknowledge those who established this extraordinary site,“ he said.
“We also recognise and express our gratitude to our current team members whose hard work ensures we continue to deliver some of the worlds best refined sugar to customers around the country.”
Mr Gregory said it is also time to look forward to the next 150 years.
“As a business, we have a responsibility to ensure our actions today create a positive legacy for tomorrow, while always keeping safety top of mind.
“I’m very proud of our sustainability vision which provides a clear pathway to achieving a number of ambitious goals, including achieving carbon neutrality across the business by 2050.”
Originally the Joshua Brothers’ Sugar Refinery in 1873 before becoming the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) in 1887, the Yarraville site was one of the first riverside industries and the largest industry in the western region for most of the late 19th Century.
Beyond sugar, the refinery said it has had a significant impact on building the Yarraville community by bringing together workers through sport, music, and volunteering for the local fire brigade.
