Editing Bundaberg Rum (section)

==History==
[[File:Queensland State Archives 324 Bundaberg Rum Distillery Burnett River Bundaberg c 1931.png|thumb|left|Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Burnett River, Bundaberg., Circa 1931.]]

Bundaberg Rum originated because the local sugar mills had a problem with what to do with the waste [[molasses]] after the sugar was extracted. Molasses was heavy and difficult to transport, and the costs of converting it to stock feed were rarely worth the effort. Sugar men first began to think of the profits that could be made from distilling. The key meeting was held at the Royal Hotel on 1 August 1885. W. M. C. Hickson served as the chairman, and other notables in attendance included all the big sugar mill owners of that time: W. G. Farquhar, F. L. Nott, T. Austin, J. Gale, S. McDougall, T. Penny, S. H. Bravo and A. H. Young. All became the first directors of the company, which started with a capital of [[pound sterling|£]]5,000 converted into $9,725.18.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Dunstan | first=Keith | title=Bundy : a centenary history | publication-date=1988 | publisher=Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty. Ltd | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/31673091 | access-date=4 December 2020 | archive-date=26 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826010022/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/31673091 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The Bundaberg Distilling Company began its operations in 1888, and Bundaberg rum was first produced in 1889.  Production ceased from 1907 to 1914, and from 1936 to 1939, after fires, the second of which caused rum from the factory to spill into the nearby [[Burnett River]].<ref>{{Cite book | last=Robinson|first=Julia| editor=Australian National Dictionary Centre | title=Voices of Queensland : words from the Sunshine state |year=2001| publication-date=2001 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0-19-551395-0}}</ref> Many fish were killed due to the liquor runoff into the river.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-30 |title=The 1936 fire at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery |url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/1936-fire-bundaberg-rum-distillery |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=State Library Of Queensland |language=en |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901062812/https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/1936-fire-bundaberg-rum-distillery |url-status=live }}</ref>

Christsen Pty Ltd operated their own Bundaberg Rum bottling plant in Bourbong Street, Bundaberg, at the rear of their large grocery and hardware business in the centre of town. The spirit was sold at [[alcohol proof|UP and OP strength]] from their business. {{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[File:BundabergRumFactory.jpg|thumb|right|Bundaberg Rum Factory, Circa 2014.]]

In 1961, the company introduced the [[polar bear]] as its unusual choice of mascot, to imply that the rum could ward off the coldest chill.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bundabergrum.com.au/explore/distillery/chapter/03 |title=Bundaberg Rum website – history section |access-date=26 March 2008 |work=Bundaberg Rum website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195147/http://www.bundabergrum.com.au/explore/distillery/chapter/03 |archive-date=23 September 2015  }}</ref>

[[File:Bundaberg Rum Original & Cola can.jpg|thumb|A 375mL can of Bundaberg Original with Cola]]

In 2000, the Bundaberg Rum company and the [[distillation|distillery]] were sold to British company [[Diageo]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.just-drinks.com/news/diageo-acquires-bundaberg-rum-from-bundaberg-sugar-group-ltd_id78650.aspx |title=Diageo acquires Bundaberg Rum from Bundaberg Sugar Group Ltd|author=Diageo PLC|publisher=Just-Drinks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213221626/http://www.just-drinks.com/news/diageo-acquires-bundaberg-rum-from-bundaberg-sugar-group-ltd_id78650.aspx |archive-date=13 February 2014|date=6 December 2000}}</ref> In 2014, a decision by Diageo to relocate the bottling operations of Bundaberg Rum to the western Sydney suburb of [[Huntingwood, New South Wales|Huntingwood]] resulted in job losses in Bundaberg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atfield |first=Cameron |date=2014-05-17 |title=Workers sacked as Bundaberg Rum bottling moves to Sydney |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/workers-sacked-as-bundaberg-rum-bottling-moves-to-sydney-20140517-38glq.html |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Brisbane Times |language=en |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503210640/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/workers-sacked-as-bundaberg-rum-bottling-moves-to-sydney-20140517-38glq.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The decision drew criticism from various levels of Queensland politics. The [[Premier of Queensland|Premier]], [[Campbell Newman]], said it was a disappointing move, particularly for a region that had suffered devastating floods in recent years. Bundaberg mayor, Mal Forman, was also disappointed and concerned about the tourism impact.<ref name="Atfield">{{cite news |last=Atfield |first=Cameron |date=18 May 2014 |title=Workers sacked as Bundaberg Rum bottling moves to Sydney |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/workers-sacked-as-bundaberg-rum-bottling-moves-to-sydney-20140517-38glq.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607175745/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/workers-sacked-as-bundaberg-rum-bottling-moves-to-sydney-20140517-38glq.html |archive-date=7 June 2014 |newspaper=Brisbane Times}}</ref>

A Diageo spokeswoman later clarified the situation, saying some premium products, such as the Master Distillers Collection, would continue to be bottled in Bundaberg. "This was not a decision we have taken lightly, however it is a necessary one to ensure the longer term sustainability of the distillery. We remain absolutely committed to Bundaberg and the distillery and will continue to invest and focus on our core business of distilling, maturing and blending great quality rum in Bundaberg as we have done for the last 125 years".<ref name=Atfield/>