Sugar Industry, Published 4 June 2026
The Old Homestead – Morayfield’s Hidden History
These ruins are believed to be part of the former homestead at Morayfield Plantation, established in 1866 by pioneering Queensland businessman and politician George Raff.
The remaining stone wall formed part of the homestead fireplace foundation, supporting the chimney brickwork above. Nearby brick surfaces mark former courtyards and outbuildings surrounding what was once described in an 1867 Brisbane Courier report as a “large mansion.”
Historical records and archaeological evidence show the homestead complex included kitchens, worker accommodation, workshops, stores and other service buildings enclosed within a fenced garden. The plantation became one of Queensland’s early sugar-growing and rum-producing enterprises and relied heavily on South Sea Islander labour - an important and difficult chapter of Queensland history.
After sugar production declined in the 1880s, the property gradually transitioned into dairying. The Raff family retained ownership until 1901. Local accounts state the original homestead was eventually demolished in the 1950s after severe termite damage.
Later generations used bricks and rubble from the old buildings to create hard-standing areas for cattle. Beneath the surface today are layers of history revealing how people lived and worked here over more than 150 years.
The site later became home to the Williams family, who began share-farming here in 1951. Today, these quiet ruins remain one of the Moreton Bay region’s most fascinating links to early Queensland settlement and plantation history.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vzy9fqrvdhGrTH9i6
Homestead building illustration is computer‑generated and created solely for educational, non‑commercial historical interpretation.
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