Mackay Haulage

Mackay Haulage Company is a family business that was founded by Giuseppe Sorbello referred to as George in the early 1960’s in Mackay, Queensland, in corporation with the local sugar industry. He started carting sugar cane and fertiliser with his Chevrolet Maple Leaf and then later the Bedford Truck in the crushing season. Giuseppe also carted cane for neighbouring farms.

Later, Angelo, the eldest son, followed by his brother Sam, when they were licence age, joined this sector of the business.

A new 1967 Bedford truck was purchased as a flat tray body for the purpose of carting hand cut whole stick sugar cane to the mill. After 3 years, the sugar cane began to be machine harvested by a chopper harvester, therefore it was necessary to transform into a tipper to carry the chopped cane.

As time moved on, cane bins pulled by locomotives were introduced at the mills, so the tip body was removed and replaced by rails for the bins to cart the harvested cane. In the off season, it went back to the tip body/tray top to perform as a delivery vehicle.

The Bedford is still being used as a water truck in the Mackay Depot yard and recently a water semi tanker was added.