Sugar Australia today marked 150 years of the Yarraville Refinery with a plaque unveiling ceremony and morning tea.
The Sugar Australia Yarraville Team was joined for today’s celebration by State Member for Footscray, Ms Katie Hall MP; Mayor of Maribyrnong City Council, Cr Sarah Carter; and, author of The Giant by the River, Carmel Taig.
Sugar Australia Chief Operating Officer, Paul Gregory welcomed the group and reflected on the refinery’s history while also looking towards the future of the business.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating 150 years of the Yarraville Sugar Refinery,” says Paul. “Today presents an important opportunity to reflect on our rich history and acknowledge those who established this extraordinary site. We also recognise and express our gratitude to our current team members whose hard work ensures we continue to deliver some of the world’s best refined sugar to customers around the country.”
“While we pause to reflect on the past, 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.”
The plaque was officially unveiled by four of Sugar Australia’s longest serving team members: Ray Clarke, Martin Speers, George Azar and Frank Kuczynski.
Today the heritage-listed site is Australia’s oldest sugar refinery. It remains at the heart of Yarraville and the wider Melbourne community, providing employment opportunities for approximately 150 Victorians who deliver 60% of the nation’s sugar needs.
