Sugar was once so prized that people actually locked it up in a 'sugar safe'.

This was in the 15th century not long after the first sugar cane had been planted in the New World. It had been a gift from the Governor of the Canary Islands in 1493 to the most famous of New World explorers, Christopher Columbus. He planted it in the West Indies, which later became the centre of sugar production.

So, did sugar originate in the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa? Nope.

When the Crusaders returned to Europe in the 12th century from the Holy Land they brought with them 'sweet salt', and it became instantly popular. So is sugar of Mediterranean origin?

No, although the first documented use of sugar is from Ancient Rome where its crystalized form was used to treat indigestion and ulcers.

It arrived in Rome after its cultivation spread from eastern Africa. Ahh, so sugar is native to eastern, not western, Africa?

Wrong again!

It arrived in Africa thanks to having been grown widely in Sicily and Spain from the seventh century (back in the Mediterranean), where it was introduced after the Persian conquest. Oh right, so it's Persian in origin?

Apparently not. It turns out that the Persians actually learnt how to grow, harvest and process sugar from the Chinese, who'd been using it as a crop for thousands of years.

OK, OK, so we can assume then sugar is native to China? No, we can not.

By 6,000 BC the Chinese had become talented seafarers who plotted courses through the myriad of islands to the south. When they found something that might prove useful they'd trade with the locals. And on one such island immediately to the north of Australia they found villagers hacking off stalks from a tall grass and chewing on it raw. The Chinese gave it go, realising the sweet sensation was unlike anything they'd experienced before.

So where exactly can claim to be the origin of sugar? New Guinea!

I feel it's ironic then that this sweet crop arrived in Australia as part of the First Fleet in 1788, having been picked up in... South Africa!

It was transferred in the same year to Norfolk Island where it grew with moderate success, but certainly didn't thrive. That's why Captain Allman, Commandant of the Port Macquarie penal settlement, organised for some of that cane to be shipped to him in 1821 before directing a West Indies convict, James Williams, to start planting and tending to it. Soon men were experimenting with the manufacture of sugar, molasses and rum. Yep, Australia's first (non-commercial) rum distillery was in Port Macquarie.

That's not where our first commercial sugar mill opened though. That took another 43 years and occurred 500 kilometres further north on the shores of Redland Bay, between what's now Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

That opened the flood gates to the north, and the industry expanded rapidly. By the end of the 1860s the Visit Mackay Isaac, Queensland, Australia region boasted 16 mills, becoming Australia's first 'sugaropolis'.

About one-third of all sugar produced in Queensland still comes from this region. Plentiful sun, warmth and summer rain means five mills survive with a gob-smacking 1,200+ local sugar cane farmers 'feeding' them.

One of those mills is the 1896 Plain Creek Mill in Sarina. It crushes 1.2 million tonnes of cane a year to manufacture 180,000 tonnes of raw sugar.

For years the Mill welcomed visitors on tours to gain a first-hand insight into the process behind making life a little sweeter. However, increasing safety compliance and rising insurance costs put a stop to those tours 20 years ago.

That's when a group of passionate Sarina locals and mill workers, conceived an idea to develop a replica of the mill on adjacent Council-owned land. The Sarina Sugar Shed opened its doors in 2006.

In that same year it produced the first of its mouthwatering liqueurs, and starting winning state and national awards the next. That's also when the first range of chutneys, sauces and relishes were added to their range. Who knew?

These days the Sarina Sugar Shed, on the Bruce Highway in Sarina next to the Mackay Visitor Information Centre with good long vehicle parking, is home to Moonscoop Ice-cream (said to be pails of pure flavour and mouthfuls of delight), non-alcoholic brewed ginger beer and pineapple beer, and small-batch rums that are so delicious that they sell out within days. There's also Sugar Shed Tours, Rum Distillery Tours, Tasting Sessions and Cocktail Masterclasses.

Mmm, thinking I should plan on spending quite some time in Sarina this year!

In the meanwhile, let's wish the Sarina Sugar Shed well for our Awards as we acknowledge their double FINALIST success and participation in our #AlwaysAWinner campaign.

Winners will be revealed on March 8.

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