In the first decade of the twentieth century, production of fruit, dairy products and timber in the Blackall Range area greatly increased, and a regular transport service from Mapleton to Nambour became a necessity. The people of the Range required transport more comfortable than horse-drawn coaches and wagons, and more reliable than the new-fangled solid-tyred motor vehicles just starting to appear on local roads. By the end of June 1910 they had seen the benefits of the month-old tram service between Kureelpa and Nambour, and the Mapleton Farmers' and Fruitgrowers' Progress Association organised a public meeting at the local school on July 4 to discuss the issue. The people at the meeting felt that a tram plying daily between Mapleton and Nambour would greatly facilitate the transport of passengers and all kinds of produce and goods in both directions, and resolved to agitate for the tramway to be extended from Kureelpa up the Range to the top. Though the distance was only 2.4 miles as the crow flies, the train would need nearly 5 miles of winding track to reach Mapleton. Accordingly, they sent a deputation to discuss the subject with the directors of the Moreton Central Sugar Mill.

The Board of Directors of the Moreton Central Sugar Mill in 1910. Front row from left: Francis Michael Murtagh, John Reid (Chairman), John Currie, George Land Bury.    Photograph courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

Three days later, on 7th July 1910. The Chronicle reported on this meeting in its next edition: 

"Proposed Tramway to Mapleton

"An interesting deputation was received by the directors of the Moreton Central Mill Co. Ltd. at 2 p.m. on Thursday last on the occasion of their usual monthly meeting. The members of the deputation were Messrs. W. J. Smith (secretary of the Mapleton Progress Association), W. H. Rosser, W. E. Pope, W. R. Petrie, and H. Seccombe. The others who had been appointed were unable to be present.

"The directors present were Messrs. John Reid (chairman), J. E. Pedlar, G. L. Bury, and F. M. Murtagh. The manager of the company (Mr L. J. Cowley) and the secretary (Mr Jas. Edwards) were also present.

"Mr Smith opened the ball by informing the chairman that they were a deputation appointed by a meeting of Mapleton people held at that place on last Monday night, a meeting that was well attended in spite of rain, but which would have had twice the attendance only for bad weather. Those present had been most enthusiastic, and carried a resolution unanimously that the deputation should come and interview the Mill directors with a view to seeing what could be done about extending the tram line to a certain terminus at Mapleton.

"They had appreciated the running of the trams so far, but it had been only a foretaste of what might be done if the line was extended as they wanted it. The results would be doubled or trebled.

"They were not asking for it without being prepared to do their share in the way of taking the risks, as they were authorised to state that the residents were prepared to enter into a bond if the line was extended to the point they had agreed on, to secure so much freight for each individual signing. Up to that day the assurances were up to 440 pounds per annum, and they were quite sure that there would be no difficulty in getting it up to 700 pounds.

"Besides that, there was the Obi Obi traffic, which had not helped the tram at all so far, as the Obi people said that by the time they got to the tram, they were already two thirds of the way to Nambour, and they might as well go the rest of the way. The extension to Mapleton would secure the whole of the Obi trade.

"There would also be a big increase in the passenger traffic, as the line at present did not go to the top of the range. He had heard it said that the running of the tram had paid more off the Mill overdraft than the cane from thereabouts would pay in a month. (Mr Reid: Of course that would require proving.)

"It was evident at any rate that the tram must have done well, as it had to leave behind goods at both ends on several occasions. All the Mapleton people had stuck to the tram as they had promised to, and he did not know of a single case of fruit going down by road since the tram undertook to carry it, and if they got the opportunity they were now asking for, they would stick to it still further.

"Mr Pope said there was not much more to add, but he could say that no cream at all had so far come down by tram, as the running time did not suit. The tram came down in the afternoon, while the cream had to catch the morning train. And very little timber had been carried, only one man attempting it. (Mr Reid: What length of line would be required?) About 2¹/₂ miles, and there would be a climb of 400 feet.

"Mr Reid: Are you ready to mortgage your lands for the money?

"Mr Pope: I don't think so. The bond up to 700 pounds could be easily got. The directors would need to find out what the cost and the interest and expenditure would be, and they could then see what they would have to charge to make it pay.

"Mr Smith added that the 700 pounds guarantee was from Mapleton alone. The freights from Dulong, Kureelpa and Obi Obi would all be to the good. Mr Reid said the letter had reached them only the day before, and the board as a board had not had the opportunity of considering it. They were not like the Government, with a big revenue behind them.

"The mill and tramway had been built with money obtained from the Government by pledging the deeds to the Government. The concern had now come into their own hands, but the company's business was primarily to run a sugar mill. The directors were entirely in sympathy with the idea of utilising the trams for other purposes so long as it did not interfere with the sugar business which was their primary duty.

"Two or three years ago the board was induced to import the 'Shay' locomotive, which might have been regarded as more or less of a speculation, but it was really purchased on the ground of economy and had been successful. They would continue the present tramway service and arrange a timetable whereby they hoped to let them have three trips per week for general purposes during the crushing season, for they had to remember that the first duty was to the sugar.

"Other districts had asked for tram services and the reply had been insofar that if the applicants would pledge their lands, the lines would be built if the bank would advance the money.

"The directors had no money, no capital for such investments, behind them. If they extended the line they might be found fault with. Therefore they could say nothing else but that they must give some pledge on their lands.

"However much they might like to meet them, they had to deal with money put up for a certain purpose only, that of sugar. He told the Cooroy people the same, and if they pledged their deeds, the directors would apply to the bank for the necessary advance.

"Mr Pope: I am sorry, but that would block the whole thing. Mr Bury suggested that a pledge of part of the lands might meet the need.

"Mr Reid: The capital required must be found.

"Mr Murtagh said they should look squarely at the matter. The farmers had pledged their lands, and the directors were their trustees. On his recent visit north he had found that this central sugar mill was in as good a position as most of the other central mills, and 50 per cent better than the four other mills which had been taken over. He was very anxious to see the deeds released, and if they spent 4000 or 5000 pounds it meant putting back the release of the deeds another year or two.

"The directors had pledged themselves to release the deeds, and he believed that they would do so sooner than some expected. He believed also that the deputation's estimates would be exceeded (Mr Pope: The estimates are conservative.) and they would continue the present service. He advised them to continue to beat away with their efforts, as continued dropping would wear away a stone.

"Mr Pope: Could we arrange to borrow the money from the Government?

"Mr Reid: There would be nothing to stop that. We would give running rights and arrange one freight.

"Mr Pope was quite sure a good many would object to mortgaging their deeds.

"Mr Reid: If you think you can get the money elsewhere, we would be only too glad to help. The estimates were probably correct as the business would no doubt grow. As Nambour was closely associated with the proposed utilising of the tramways, he thought the Nambour people should show more interest in the matter. They had not shown much in connection with the Buderim proposal. The board could do nothing under present conditions, but they would give running rights and supply the motive power. Any extension must be at the expense of the people who ask for it, as the board had not the money. They were satisfied with the present traffic, and would keep it going, and if necessary would buy another engine. If the people at Mapleton could arrange for a local loan secured on a benefitted area, all the mill's rolling stock would be placed at their disposal.

"Mr Seccombe said if the line were extended, much cane could be grown. Samples now growing were as fine as anywhere. (Mr Reid: Would you undertake to grow cane?) No doubt a guarantee could be got.

"Mr Reid: You had better try for a local loan first.

"Mr Rosser said the position had been made clear, and he thought it the best way to try as Mr Reid recommended. He did not see why those growing sugar 'should be burdened with our debt'.

"Mr Bury: Make the road and we'll run it.

"Mr Reid: We want to encourage people to use the trams, and to arrange the freights so as to suit the people. Over 20 000 pounds is invested in the trams, and the board wants to use it to the best advantage. The growing of sugar would be an extra inducement.

"Mr Petrie said the Goru cane he saw growing at Mr Seccombe's was the best he had ever seen.

"Mr Reid said they could say no more, but that they were glad to have met the deputation and broached the matter. The deputation thanked him and withdrew."

The deputation returned to Mapleton and presented the results of their mission to a special meeting the next Monday night. This was the last public meeting held in the old provisional school building before it was dismantled, and subsequent meetings were held in the new Mapleton Public Hall (opened 27th July 1910). The Chronicle printed the notice for this meeting in its edition of 9th July, alongside the above report:

Image courtesy Sunshine Coast Libraries

The Mill's Board of Directors had made their difficult financial position quite clear, and anyhow the Mapleton land owners did not wish to hand over the deeds to their properties to guarantee a bank loan  to the Mill to extend the tramline. The Mapleton Progress Association, through its Secretary Mr William J. Smith, therefore abandoned its dealings with the Board, and decided instead to work through the Maroochy Shire Council and various members of the State Government. Their objective was to convince the Council to obtain a loan from the State Government, so that the Council could run the Dulong Tramway and build the extension to Mapleton itself.  

The Council preferred not to go into the tramway business, but sought a guarantee from the Board that if they decided that the Dulong branch were unprofitable and wished to close it, then the Board would hand the branch over to the Council. The Board refused to give that guarantee, but offered to sell the tramlines west of Nambour to the Shire Council for 10 000 pounds. The Shire Council was still rather dubious, but in March 1913 they wrote to the Beaudesert Shire Tramway for advice, inquiring about operational matters and running costs. On behalf of the Government, the Queensland Railways sent an engineer to Mapleton to report on the feasibility of the proposed route. 

After four years' persistent agitation on a number of fronts, the people of Mapleton were successful. The State Government approved the project, and agreed to make money available to the Maroochy Shire Council in order to proceed. The Council accepted the Mill's offer, and purchased the tramway network on the western side of the North Coast Railway, including the Dulong branch as far as western Kureelpa, for the asking price. Included in the sale were twelve miles of permanent track, the Shay locomotive named Dulong, two passenger carriages, eleven goods and livestock wagons and all the running rights through private properties. As the Shire Council did not wish to take over the eastern spur of the Image Flat branch, nor the last section of that branch's north-western spur, the Mill lifted those sections and used the rails elsewhere on their system. The Shire Council also did not require the line south from the Kureelpa Hall past Thrush's Road to Dulong Road and so did not purchase any of that branch. 

An authoritative source states that the branch to Dulong had already been closed and the rails lifted before the sale, but some local memories have an alternative viewpoint. They state that the Mill let the rails between the Kureelpa Hall and a point south of Thrush's Road remain in place, but removed some of the extension near the Dulong Road terminus. Why the Mill would agree to leave so much valuable rail in place is unknown, as there was no cane still growing in the area served by this branch. Yet two long-time residents of the area remember seeing Shays working this branch carrying cream and general goods until about 1938, when the bridge over the creek adjoining the Kureelpa State School became unsafe for the heavy locomotives. After that, they claim that for a time horses were again used on the branch, until the Mill lifted the rails between that bridge and the then terminus at Thrush's Road. 

The claim is also made that a remnant of the branch (a short section between the main line points at Kureelpa Hall, over the Mapleton Road to a dead-end and back to the unsafe bridge) was left as a spur until the Mapleton Tramway was closed in 1945. Wooden sleepers, box culverts and other artefacts found in this part of the route possibly support the residents' claims, as their condition is rather better than one would expect for timber buried in the ground for almost a century, but no further evidence has come to light one way or the other.

To provide funding for the Shire Council's purchase of the Dulong Tramline, a special Order in Council by the State Government set up a loan of 25 000 pounds from the Treasury to the Shire Council in 1914. The interest rate was 5 pounds, one shilling and one penny per centum per annum. This was the largest loan the Shire had ever raised, and it was sufficient to enable them to buy the Dulong tramline, the Shay locomotive and some rolling stock (10 000 pounds), to purchase extra rolling stock, resume land and repair the existing line (5250 pounds), and to subsequently extend the line to Mapleton (9750 pounds). 

This excursion into the railway business ended up costing the Shire Council an estimated 29 581 pounds, but by the time the final repayment involving interest was made in 1966, the total actual cost of the loan had risen to 66 000 pounds. As late as 1958, the Maroochy Shire Council through Councillor David Low was still trying to persuade the State Government of Premier Frank Nicklin to "write off the Council's indebtedness to the tune of 20 000 pounds in respect of the defunct Mapleton and Buderim tramways." (The Nambour Chronicle, 30th May 1958). 

The sale of the Dulong branch line was of great benefit to the Moreton Mill, which was again in dire financial straits, having over-extended itself in the purchase of new plant and equipment. In fact, closure of the Mill and liquidation of its assets were threatening once more. The 10 000 pound windfall enabled them to clear all of their pressing debts, and they returned to solvency. The Mill management spent some of the money on an Official Luncheon for 150 directors, shareholders and guests on 10th October 1914 in the Nambour Town Hall, to celebrate the release of mortgaged deeds from the London Bank of Australia back to the farmers.