Waterview, Queensland facts for kids
Waterview is a small area located in Bundaberg North, which is part of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. It sits on the northern side of the Burnett River.
Contents
History of Waterview
Early Industries in Waterview
In 1868, a man named Samuel Johnston started a sawmill in Waterview. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into timber. This sawmill was very important because it helped the area begin its timber industry, which meant cutting down trees and processing them for building and other uses.
After the sawmill was up and running, Samuel Johnston also built the Waterview sugar mill. A sugar mill processes sugar cane to make sugar. In 1872, Waterview started growing and producing sugar cane for sale. The sugar industry grew with the help of large farms, called plantations, owned by the mill owners and other farmers.
Waterview's Distillery and the Great Flood
In 1892, the Waterview sugar mill added a distillery. A distillery is a place where certain types of drinks are made from plants like sugar cane. The products made here were known as "Waterview rum." These products were sold and competed with similar items made by the Bundaberg Distillery.
However, in 1903, a big flood caused a lot of damage. The Waterview sugar mill was completely destroyed by the floodwaters and had to stop working. The Waterview sawmill was also ruined, losing a lot of valuable timber and logs. Even the Bundaberg Foundry, another local business, was badly damaged. Samuel Johnston, who owned much of the land, lost a large part of his property during this flood.
Waterview's Past Unearthed
On December 11, 2013, a team of people digging in the Waterview area found something interesting: a barrel of "Waterview rum." This discovery was part of a special event for a company called Waterview Distilling Company, which was launching a new line of products called "Unearthed." This finding helped connect the present day to Waterview's historical past in the sugar and distilling industries.
