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In 1889 Mr. H. H. Cordingley bought out the meatworks<ref name=":6" />. In 1904 he was listed as being the purchaser of the North Queensland Meat Export and Agency Company's Alligator Creek plant.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1904-02-13 |title=THE ALLIGATOR CREEK MEAT WORKS. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68864008 |access-date=2024-06-17 |work=Capricornian}}</ref> Cordingley’s location was reported to be [[Patagonia]].
In 1889 Mr. H. H. Cordingley bought out the meatworks<ref name=":6" />. In 1904 he was listed as being the purchaser of the North Queensland Meat Export and Agency Company's Alligator Creek plant.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1904-02-13 |title=THE ALLIGATOR CREEK MEAT WORKS. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68864008 |access-date=2024-06-17 |work=Capricornian}}</ref> Cordingley’s location was reported to be [[Patagonia]].


In 1914 while the old establishment continued to operate, a prefabricated meatworks was sent from America to Townsville<ref name=":5" />. More than 1200 workers lived under canvas during construction.<ref name=":5" />
In 1914 while the old establishment continued to operate, a prefabricated meatworks was sent from America to [[Townsville]]<ref name=":5" />. More than 1200 workers lived under canvas during construction.<ref name=":5" />


The main production was for the purposes of preserving meat by [[boiling down]]. Canned meat was loading onto trucks for transportation to [[Townsville]] where it would be available for general distribution from there.<ref name=":1" /> Refrigerated transportation was brought in in 1915.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alligator Creek meatworks history |url=https://stories.townsville.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/20737 |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Townsville City Council}}</ref> Later modern freezing equipment was installed and preserving meat used freezing technology at the plant, including refrigerated cartage in the 1960’s<ref name=":0" />.
The main production was for the purposes of preserving meat by [[boiling down]]. Canned meat was loading onto trucks for transportation to [[Townsville]] where it would be available for general distribution from there.<ref name=":1" /> Refrigerated transportation was brought in in 1915.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alligator Creek meatworks history |url=https://stories.townsville.qld.gov.au/nodes/view/20737 |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Townsville City Council}}</ref> Later modern freezing equipment was installed and preserving meat used freezing technology at the plant, including refrigerated cartage in the 1960’s<ref name=":0" />.

Revision as of 04:48, 17 June 2024

Alligator Creek Meatworks is an important historical business in Queensland contributing to processing of food for the growing population and processing meet while the meat and cattle industry expanded the economy of the local area and of Australia with the introduction of meat exportation.[1] Early meatworks included boiling down and preserving. Later meatworks used freezer technology and equipment[1]. The meatworks is no longer in operation, but the photos and historical accounts provide an insight into rural life in early Australia and Queensland.

The historical photos and references of the meatworks available and inclusions in early newspapers reports on production for investors and shareholders use highlight the importance of the meatworks industry to the growth of Australia.[2][3][4][5][6]

The meatworks was earmarked to be in approximately October 1920 because of a shortage of shipping[7]. It continued until 1946 under the management of the Swift Meat Co when it threaten to close because of employee strikes.[8] It was operational until 1966 when it shifted to Stuart[9]. The plant was dismantled for scrap metal.[9]

See also Ross River Meatworks for more details.

Location

Alligator Creek is a located about 20 km south-east of central Townsville. The meatworks was located at Cleveland Bay in a rural/residential district and no longer in operation.

History

In 1864 a group including Andrew Ball, Mark Reid and two persons of Aboriginal descent set out to find a suitable location for shipping and discovered Alligator Creek for the first time which would later become the site of the meatworks. Andrew Ball may have named the Creek, but it is unknown exactly when and by who[10]. By 1877 industry had come to the area and the first steam drive sawmill in the area was established.

A meatworks site was chosen by William Hann who was a pastoralist and explorer[11]. It was established in 1879.[1] It was started by the Queensland Meat Export Company[4] and restarted in 1889 by the North Queensland Meat Export Company[1]. In peak times there were 1500 workers.[12]

In 1889 Mr. H. H. Cordingley bought out the meatworks[12]. In 1904 he was listed as being the purchaser of the North Queensland Meat Export and Agency Company's Alligator Creek plant.[12] Cordingley’s location was reported to be Patagonia.

In 1914 while the old establishment continued to operate, a prefabricated meatworks was sent from America to Townsville[9]. More than 1200 workers lived under canvas during construction.[9]

The main production was for the purposes of preserving meat by boiling down. Canned meat was loading onto trucks for transportation to Townsville where it would be available for general distribution from there.[3] Refrigerated transportation was brought in in 1915.[13] Later modern freezing equipment was installed and preserving meat used freezing technology at the plant, including refrigerated cartage in the 1960’s[1].

The meatworks distribution was important for the economy and was assisted by the government building the Alligator Creek railway station, built in 1915[12][1]. Later the government upgrades of the Bruce Highway facilitated transportation of the business products. The Highway passed close by to the business.

The meatworks threatened to close in approximately October 1920 because of a shortage of shipping and changes in the economy[7]. In April 1930, the Swift Meat Co. started with a board of 6 later increasing to 12 members operating the Alligator Creek meatworks[14]. In 1930, the government purchased the Swift Meat Co[15]. The business continued until 1946 under the management of the Swift Meat Co. when 340 workers threatened to be were laid off because of leaving work early to catch the train which would taken them back to the city[8]. In 1954 there were issues with some people being accused of stealing meat from the meatworks[16].

Impact on the Environment

Effluent from the meatworks including cattle blood was being pumped into the local creek until 1966 having an impact on the local environment including fish stocks and the disappearance of Yankee whitening (Terraglyn) from the creek[17].

See also

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Alligator Creek (near Townsville) | Queensland Places". queenslandplaces.com.au. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  2. ^ "Powerhouse Collection - Meatworks, Alligator Creek, Townsville". collection.powerhouse.com.au. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  3. ^ a b "ALLIGATOR CREEK MEATWORKS IN 1895". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 1953-06-18. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  4. ^ a b "The Queensland Meat Export and Agency Company, Limited". Queenslander. 1896-03-28. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  5. ^ "Alligator Creek and the old Swift's meatworks, Townsville, aerial view". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  6. ^ "A view across the holding yards of the Alligator Creek Meat Works, outside the North Queensland city of Townsville | Queensland Places". queenslandplaces.com.au. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  7. ^ a b "MEATWORKS CLOSING". Cairns Post. 1920-10-01. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  8. ^ a b "MEAT WORKS TO CLOSE AT ALLIGATOR CREEK". Canberra Times. 1946-07-19. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  9. ^ a b c d "Alligator Creek meatworks history". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  10. ^ "Alligator Creek meatworks history". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  11. ^ "Alligator Creek meatworks history". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  12. ^ a b c d "THE ALLIGATOR CREEK MEAT WORKS". Capricornian. 1904-02-13. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  13. ^ "Alligator Creek meatworks history". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  14. ^ "SWIFT'S MEATWORKS". Brisbane Courier. 1930-04-30. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  15. ^ "SWIFT'S MEATWORKS". Barrier Miner. 1930-07-31. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  16. ^ "DECISION RESERVED OVER MEAT POSSESSION CHARGE". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 1954-11-05. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
  17. ^ "Alligator Creek meatworks history". Townsville City Council. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
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