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‘Iconic piece of history’ levelled to make way for road upgrades

A long-abandoned historic building on Kamerunga Rd and a throwback to a bygone era of manual cane harvesting has been levelled to make way for much-needed road upgrades.

Seasonal labourer accommodation on Kamerunga Rd used by cane cutters of a bygone era were last week demolished to make way for extra lanes of the Cairns Western Arterial Rd. Picture: Michael Musumeci
Seasonal labourer accommodation on Kamerunga Rd used by cane cutters of a bygone era were last week demolished to make way for extra lanes of the Cairns Western Arterial Rd. Picture: Michael Musumeci

A long-abandoned historic building on Kamerunga Rd and a throwback to a bygone era of manual cane harvesting has been levelled to make way for much-needed road upgrades.

It’s unknown exactly when the Marino Barracks were constructed, but the buildings must have been erected sometime after the introduction of the Sugar and Shearers’ Accommodation Act in 1905.

The act outlined minimum standards of food and accommodation for Italian, Greek, Spanish and Croatian sugar mill and cane field workers who demanded better conditions than the indentured Melanesian, Chinese and Japanese labourers previously put to the back-breaking work of cutting sugar cane by hand.

Earthworks and preliminary roadworks have begun on the upgrade on a 4km section of the Western Arterial Road from two lanes to four at Caravonica. Picture: Brendan Radke
Earthworks and preliminary roadworks have begun on the upgrade on a 4km section of the Western Arterial Road from two lanes to four at Caravonica. Picture: Brendan Radke

The mechanisation of the harvesting industry in the 1960s gradually led to onsite worker accommodation not being needed and the old barracks near the old Smithfield town site fell into a state of disrepair.

Despite being entered into the Cairns Regional Council Places of Significance register, the first set of barracks sitting on land resumed by the Transport and Main Roads was demolished on October 31.

Founder of the Cairns History Facebook group Michael Musumeci was there to document the loss of the barracks, which was made up of five bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry and a skillion.

“I recognise the barracks was an iconic piece of history for Far North Queensland and it has been a centrepiece of sugarcane history for so long and although it has seriously deteriorated it was sad to see it disappear the way it has,” he said.

“There is no such thing as sugarcane quarters anymore.”

One of the historic cane barracks was demolished last week. Picture: Michael Musumeci
One of the historic cane barracks was demolished last week. Picture: Michael Musumeci

The demolishing of the barracks, houses and relocating of telecommunication, electricity services and tree removal are part of preparation works for Section 1 of the $300m four-lane Cairns Western Arterial Road upgrade.

In August preparation works began on the Lake Placid Road to Captain Cook Highway section however no contract has been awarded by TMR for the actual building of the road due to lack of federal government approvals.

The project was reverted back into the planning phase in December 2023 following the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program Review.

Trees and buildings on the right of this image will be removed to widen the road between Lake Placid Road and the Captain Cook Highway. Picture: Brendan Radke
Trees and buildings on the right of this image will be removed to widen the road between Lake Placid Road and the Captain Cook Highway. Picture: Brendan Radke

On the drawing board for more than five years, the last section of four lane road will remain in the planning stages while TMR “refreshes” business case details and construction milestones based on the program’s outcome.

“Construction scope and time frames for future stages will be determined once detailed design is complete and the outcomes of the planning refresh are approved by the Australian Government,” a TMR spokeswoman said.

Preparation works for the Lake Placid Road section are expected to be complete in late 2025.

peter.carruthers@news.com.au

Originally published as ‘Iconic piece of history’ levelled to make way for road upgrades

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/cairns/iconic-piece-of-history-levelled-to-make-way-for-road-upgrades/news-story/c697b2c7f35bd2e83b189c11d5fb1cf0