General News
10 May, 2026
100 years of sugar display
A VIBRANT celebration of Far North Queensland’s sugar heritage has arrived in Ingham, with the ‘About Sugar Tully’ exhibition officially opened at the TYTO Regional Art Gallery on 24 April.
Showcasing the work of 34 Cassowary Coast artists, the exhibition brings together sculpture, photography, artist books, textiles and paintings that explore the people, history and industry that shaped the region.
The exhibition, initiated by the Tully Arts and Cultural Precinct, is part of a growing body of work leading into the Tully Sugar 100 celebrations in 2025, marking a century of the Tully Sugar Mill.
Dr Valerie Keenan, artist and chairwoman of the precinct, played a key role in connecting art with local history and storytelling.
She said the exhibition captured a wide range of responses to the sugar industry, from mill machinery and contemporary farming practices to the industry’s history, as well as environmental and cultural reflections.
“This exhibition spoke to the heart of the Tully community and it will have parallels for Ingham viewers,” Dr Keenan said.
“Both towns are shaped by farming, weather, floods and the people whose livelihoods depend on the sugar industry, a vital part of Far North Queensland.”
‘About Sugar Tully’ will remain on display at TYTO for one month.
Read More: Cassowary Coast