Until the 1950s, sugar was delivered to grocery stores in bags like this, and then weighed and put into brown paper bags by the grocer. The Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) was one of the defining industries on the penisula dominating the area from 1857-1973. "The CSR sugar works moved into stay and developed into one of the largest industries along the harbour foreshores" (68 City West Development Corporation). For the people of Pyrmont it was a major employer, as "most people in Pyrmont worked in CSR" (68 City West Development Corporation). Entire families would be employed at the CSR and work there for generations. As well as physically dominating the landscape the factory dominated the environment, and locals remember 'the sweet smell of molasses in the air' and 'a brown discharge in the water'.

The sugar bag along with photos, document a time when initially sailing ships then steam ships delivered the sugar to the Darling Harbour and Pyrmont wharves and the MCaffery horses delivered the larger bags between the wharves and the factory. Photographs of the sugar being unloaded and the workers are in photo album 95/274/1-3 and a Magazine clipping, advertisement re CSR byproduct, Cane-ite board, in the Australian Women's Weekly, 16 December 1953, page 56, 99/104/1-11.

References:
Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. South Pacific Enterprise: The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. 1956.

CSR Limited. The refining of cane sugar description of a model refinery exhibited by the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., Sydney. Sydney : Colonial Sugar Refining Co. 1930s.

Matthews, Michael R. Pyrmont and Ultimo: A History. Ultimo, N.S.W.: Pyrmont Ultimo History Project. 1982.

Anni Turnbull, curator with Michelle Reguly, intern, 2009

The sugar was poured "from bins to automatic weighing machines, which weigh and deliver the sugar into the 70lb bags of commerce, the mouths of which are then sewn with special packing machines." (CSR Limited 6). The grade IA sugar was acceptable for "table use." Anthony Horden's catalogue for 1911 listed it being sold for 13/ 1 bag of 70lbs.

The sugar itself was manufactured from sugar cane, which grows in tropical and subtropical locations in Northern NSW or Queensland. It is the primary type sugar in Australia. However in other parts of the world, USA and Europe, a combination of beet sugar and cane sugar are more common. The difference between the two types of sugar arises in their manufacturing processes, vegetation type, and climate. Once both types of sugar have been processed and refined the sugars are chemically 99.95 the same.

References:
Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. South Pacific Enterprise: The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. 1956.

CSR Limited. The refining of cane sugar description of a model refinery exhibited by the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., Sydney. Sydney : Colonial Sugar Refining Co. 1930s.

Matthews, Michael R. Pyrmont and Ultimo: A History. Ultimo, N.S.W.: Pyrmont Ultimo History Project. 1982.

The CSR opened its Pyrmont factory in 1878 and was able to produce 200,000 tons of sugar and sugar products annually, making it one of the biggest food processers in Australia. The bags were used to transport the sugar from CSR to the grocer, consumer or commercial manufacturer. Sugar was shipped and sold in bags, which were reusable and a good preserver for the sugar. The bags themselves were "usually manufactured in the refineries" (7 CSR Limited), enabling the whole process of filling, packaging and sealing the bags to take place all within the factory. The bagged product was delivered to stores or stacked in storage rooms. Grocers would weigh the sugar into much smaller amounts, selling it in brown paper bags.

One of the objects in this collection is a land deed between William Henry Harris and the CSR. Initially the CSR rented land from the Harris family on 7th March 1888, with a lease for seven years on block 68 of the Ultimo Estate. The rent was one hundred pounds sterling payable quarterly in the sum of twenty five pounds. This deed was surrendered in February 1891, for reasons not known.

This collection of material from Julie Harris includes 2 plates, a triangular bandage used in teaching first aid, The Lord Mayor's Patriotic and War Fund cloth sack, Colonial Sugar Refinery 70lbs sugar bag and legal documents including land deeds, declaration of marriage, a map and a will from the Harris family.

Julie Harris (1942-2003) was the daughter of William Henry Harris (1845-1893), son of John Harris (d.1846), who was the son of George Harris (d. 1843). George Harris was the brother of Surgeon John Harris, the original land owner and the person to name the Ultimo suburb. Harris owned 233 acres of land in Ultimo and Pyrmont. It stayed within the family for over 100 years. In the 1860s, it was divided into 70 blocks of land and Surgeon John Harris's descendants drew lots for ownership of the blocks. This event was known within the family as the "lottery". After this, the Harris family began renting out the land, and in effect helped to shape the identity of the peninsula. The Harris family owned and lived on the land; Julie Harris lived on block 15b, which is now 443 Wattle Street. The Julie Harris collection adds to the Power House Museum's collection of the Harris Family material. Each object adds to the understanding of Ultimo and Pyrmont and the significance of the Harris' family history.



Reference:
Cannon, Michael. Our Beautiful Homes, N.S.W. Melbourne : Today's Heritage, 1977.
References:
Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd. South Pacific Enterprise: The Colonial Sugar Refining Company Limited. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. 1956.

CSR Limited. The refining of cane sugar: description of a model refinery exhibited by the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. Ltd., Sydney. Sydney : Colonial Sugar Refining Co. 1930s.

Sugar bag, 'Colonial Sugar Refinery' (CSR), calico, made by Colonial Sugar Refinery Co Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, 1920-1950

A rectangular, calico bag, machine sewn, with 'Colonial Sugar Refinery Co Ltd 'Pure Cane Sugar' 70 lbs, Sydney 1A', printed in black on the front. The bag was used for transportation and storage of sugar.

Made: 1920 - 1950

Owned: 1942 - 2003

Printed on front 'COLONIAL SUGAR REFINING CO. LTD. / PURE / CANE SUGAR / 70lbs / SYDNEY / 1A'

2011/3/3

1920 - 1950

720 mm

420 mm