The Inkerman Sugar Mill at Home Hill

Home Hill
A town servicing the surrounding sugar cane growers.
Home Hill is one of those settlements, common in North Queensland, which are noted for their seemingly endless main street. The actual township exists behind the main street but it seems almost like an appendage to the activity which exists along the Bruce Highway.

Home Hill is located 1271 km north of Brisbane, 88 km south of Townsville and 12 m above sea level and was originally part of the Inkerman Downs Cattle Station.

The cattle station was converted to sugar cane in 1911 and the town developed quite quickly after the establishment of the Inkerman sugar mill in 1914. This inevitably attracted workers and sugar cane farmers to the area and a small centre grew up to provide the necessary goods and services.

It is said that the town was originally going to be named Holmehill after a battle in the Crimean War. However, so the story goes, the signwriter couldn't spell and the town became known as Home Hill. In fairness there is an alternative version of this story which says that the town was named after a certain Colonel Home who had distinguished himself in the Crimean War.

In many ways modern Home Hill has become a sort of suburb of Ayr.

Things to see:  

Ashworth's Rock Shop
Ashworth's Rock Shop is a gemstone factory which declares it has the 'Treasures of the Earth' and tha t it is a 'Fantastic Tourist Attraction' which seems rather incongruous given the fact that the town is surrounded by sugar cane and there isn't a gemstone in the immediate vicinity.

Silver Link
The remarkable bridge across the Burdekin River known as the 'Silver Link' is 1 097 m long, was constructed in 1958, and has ensured that Home Hill and Ayr are not cut off during the wet season when the Burdekin River is in flood. Far below the new bridge it is still possible to see the remnants of the old bridge. It's easy to understand how the old bridge got swept away with monotonous regularity. The Burdekin is a very wide river which would be prone to dramatic flooding.

Other Attractions
On the southern bank of the river near the bridge is the Inkerman Sugar Mill (tours are available in season) and to the south of the township there is the unusual St Stephens Greek Orthodox Church.

Perhaps the most interesting and unusual recent development has been the establishment of the large rice silos at the southwest corner of the town. Rice was first grown in the area in 1968 and production has now reached such a level that it is sold throughout Australia and actually exported to the South Pacific and South East Asia.

	Tourist Information
	Ayr - Burdekin Tourism Association, Queen St Ayr Home Hill QLD 4807 Telephone: (07) 4783 2888
	Motels
	Burdekin Motor Inn 14 Eighth Ave Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 1511 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Commercial Hotel 71 Eighth St Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 1078
	Crown Hotel 99 Eighth St Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 1007
	Malpass Hotel 145 Eighth St Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 1600
	Caravan Parks
	Bartons Caravan Park Eighth Ave Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 1101 Rating: **
	Home Hill Caravan Park Eleventh Ave Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 2498
	Restaurants
	Ho-Won Chinese Restaurant 71 Eighth Ave Home Hill QLD 4806 Telephone: (07) 4782 2099