Trading as Boyer, the Boyer Mill is a pulp and paper mill located in Boyer, Tasmania, Australia. Constructed in 1941 by Australian Newsprint Mills, it was the first producer of newsprint in Australasia. In 2020, the mill produced around of product and remains Australia's only manufacturer of newsprint and Magazine paper. The mill's operations contribute significantly to Tasmania's economy, generating an estimated in gross state product.
From 2000 to 2025, Boyer Mill was owned and operated by the Norwegian pulp and paper company Norske Skog. In February 2025, Norske Skog sold the mill to a company controlled by Melbourne businessman David Marriner, who established the Boyer Corporation as the new operating entity.
History
Situated on a site, the paper mill was constructed during World War II by Australian Newsprint Mills Pty Ltd (ANM) to produce newsprint for the growing Australian newspaper industry.
It was the first pulp and paper mill in the world to use
hardwood to produce newsprint.
[
]
Like EZ Industries’ Risdon zinc smelter at Lutana and Cadbury's Claremont, ANM chose to locate its mill along the River Derwent to take advantage of inexpensive hydroelectricity. Following the social standards set by Cadbury in the region, ANM established a model village for its 175 employees, featuring housing, recreational facilities and a football oval.
By the 1960s, the introduction of the chainsaw had replaced the crosscut saw, increasing timber extraction efficiency.
In 2000, the Norwegian paper manufacturer Norske Skog acquired ANM, integrating the Boyer Mill into its global operations. The site continued to supply newsprint and magazine-grade paper to domestic and international markets, with successive investments focused on efficiency and emissions reduction.
In 2010, the mill was recognised by Engineering Heritage Tasmania as a National Engineering Landmark for its pioneering use of hardwood in newsprint production.
In August 2024, of surplus land at the site was sold to Incat for the development of a new shipbuilding yard to meet demand for electric vessel production.[ Incat to double capacity with new site and shipbuilding facility Incat (29 August 2024)][
]
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Incat to build new shipyard in Derwent Valley to meet demand for electric vessels Pulse Tasmania (29 August 2024)[ News in Brief, Ships Monthly, October 2024, p.6.]
In February 2025, Norske Skog sold the Boyer Mill to Melbourne businessman David Marriner, who established the Boyer Corporation as the new operator.
Production
The Boyer Mill operates two paper machines and specialises in the production of newsprint and uncoated, high-brightness specialty grades suited for offset printing. The mill continues to play a significant role in the Australian market, with annual output accounting for approximately 40% of the nation's consumption of newsprint and related paper grades.
Coal source
The Boyer Mill utilises approximately of anthracite per annum to fuel its coal-fired boilers.
Upgrades
In 1985, Bis Industries constructed a plantation softwood chipping facility at the site, valued at A$22.5 million. The facility is owned, operated, and maintained by Bis and continues to be used by the Boyer Mill for processing plantation timber.
In 2013, Norske Skog invested A$84 million to convert one of the mill’s paper machines to produce lightweight coated paper. The project received a A$28 million grant from the Federal Government and a A$13 million loan from the Tasmanian Government.
In 2022, both the federal Labor and Liberal parties pledged A$2 million in matching funds for further site upgrades, alongside A$2 million from the Tasmanian Government and A$2.9 million contributed by the company itself.
During the 2025 federal election campaign, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged A$24 million towards the mill’s next major upgrade, including the conversion of its boiler infrastructure from coal to electricity.
Boiler upgrades
In 2023, the mill began a feasibility study to replace its ageing coal-fired boilers with electrode boiler technology. The proposed upgrade aims to transition the site’s energy source from fossil fuels to renewable electricity, reducing emissions and improving long-term operational sustainability. Boyer Corporation has continued these efforts in consultation with Hydro Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government, exploring options to nearly double the mill’s electricity usage through the supply of an additional of renewable power per annum.
As of 2025, the Boyer Mill, identified as Tasmania’s fourth-largest carbon emitter, is actively progressing plans to convert its coal-powered boilers to electric operation after several years of energy security concerns.
Transportation
From 1941 until 1986, finished paper products were transported by barge along the River Derwent to Hobart for distribution.
Pollution
The Boyer Mill has historically contributed to local pollution, affecting both the surrounding environment and human health. Emissions and discharges associated with the site have originated from various stages of the papermaking process, including pulping, bleaching, and wastewater treatment. In 1990, a Commonwealth taskforce was established to assess the mill’s environmental impact.
From 2001, under Norske Skog’s ownership, the mill operated within a certified ISO 14001 environmental management system, subject to external auditing and regulatory oversight. The mill also obtained Sustainable Forest Management and Chain of Custody certifications through the Australian Forestry Standard and the Forest Stewardship Council. Following the transition to Boyer Corporation ownership in 2025, the site remains subject to ongoing environmental regulation and compliance monitoring under Tasmanian and federal legislation.
Airborne emissions
The Boyer Mill's coal-fired boilers emit various air pollutants in the form of particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Released during combustion, particulate matter consists of fine particles and gases including resin acid, sulfur compounds and nitrogen oxides. VOCs, released during various stages of paper production, are associated with smog, acid rain, greenhouse gases and air quality degradation.
Estuary contamination
One of the primary concerns is the discharge of effluent into the nearby River Derwent. The mill releases wastewater in the form of sludge and wood residues that contain various pollutants, including organic matter, suspended solids, and chemical substances such as lignin used in the paper-making process. These chemicals deplete oxygen levels in the water, harming aquatic organisms and disrupting ecosystems. Pulp bleaching processes involving chlorine compounds generate toxic chlorinated organic compounds, which further contributed to water pollution. In recent years, the mill has made substantial progress in water conservation, achieving a reduction of over 60% in water usage since 1985.
Bridgewater causeway
Downstream from the Boyer Mill, the 1830s causeway at Bridgewater links Granton and Bridgewater via the Bridgewater Bridge. Constructed using convict labour, the historic causeway has long acted as a catchment point for sludge and wastewater pollutants within the upper Derwent estuary. Further downstream at Lutana, the Risdon Zinc Works has contributed to substantial heavy-metal contamination. Discharges of methylmercury and other toxic heavy metals into the estuary from the mid-twentieth century led to the Derwent being recognised as one of the most polluted river systems in the world by the late 1970s.
Environmental studies undertaken in 2009, 2012, and 2020 identified that heavy-metal contaminants, including cadmium, lead, zinc and mercury, remain present in sediments near the causeway. The construction of the new Bridgewater Bridge, completed in 2025, required careful management of dredging and piling works to avoid disturbing these contaminants.
Deforestation
Historically, Tasmania has faced significant deforestation and forest degradation due to various industries, including logging for timber and paper production. The expansion of the paper industry, including the establishment of the Boyer paper mill, greatly contributed to the demand for raw materials, such as pulpwood from native forests.
Maydena depot
ANM evaluated the development of a logging headquarters near Maydena in 1949,
Forest assets
In 2020, Norske Skog sold its remaining Tasmanian forest assets to the investment manager firm New Forests Pty Ltd for $62.5m. The sale encompassed plantations that traditionally accounted for approximately two-thirds of Boyer's annual consumption of pulpwood, totalling around . Following the completion of the transaction, Boyer entered into a long-term agreement with the buyer, guaranteeing an annual supply of of pulpwood.
Health risks
Pollution from pulp and paper mills can pose health risks to surrounding communities. Exposure to airborne pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been associated with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, while contamination of local waterways can affect both drinking water quality and the safety of fish and other aquatic species consumed by nearby residents. Historical concerns about dust, odour, and water pollution were raised by Boyer Mill workers and members of the local community throughout the mid-twentieth century.
Under Norske Skog’s ownership in the early 2000s, a Health and Safety Employees Fund was created through the amalgamation of individual employee initiatives into a unified mill-wide program aimed at improving workplace wellbeing and safety. Following the 2025 transition to Boyer Corporation, occupational health and safety standards at the site continue to be regulated under Tasmanian and federal workplace legislation.
Access
The Boyer Mill is accessible via Boyer Road, Boyer. There are no public transport routes servicing the Boyer Mill.
See also
Sources
Further reading
