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H V McKay Sunshine Harvester Works
1 Devonshire Road, SUNSHINE VIC 3020 - Property No 25

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Brimbank City
1777a - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
1777a - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
1777a - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
1777b - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1998
HO3 HV McKay Sunshine Harvester Wordks 1.JPG
HO3 HV McKay Sunshine Harvester Wordks 2.JPG
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Statement of Significance

The significance of the Sunshine Harvester works is derived from several areas. First is the association with H.V. McKay and the products manufactured by his company, particularly the Sunshine Harvester, which became the prime machine for grain harvesting and revolutionized the wheat industry in Australia. Secondly, the works was the largest agricultural implement factory in Australia and one of the largest manufacturing industries of any kind. The factory buildings reflect the growth of the company and changes and development in manufacturing methods. Thirdly, it is associated with the key 1907 'Harvester Judgement' by Justice Higgins which established a 'fair and reasonable' national minimum wage. The McKay workers were also key players in further industrial action in 1911 and 1946 where the metalwork unions were involved in major strike action against the Company management. A remnant of the 1950s administration block is the clock tower which symbolically stamped upon the Sunshine works the imprimatur of the Canadian corporate giant Massey-Harris-Ferguson Ltd (later Massey Ferguson (Australia) Ltd.), which absorbed the McKay company in 1955.

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    • Physical Description 1

      H V McKay Sunshine Harvester Works - Physical Description 1

      Now mainly a redeveloped site with incomplete building remnants. The former Bulk Store survives, recently repaired, to be incorporated into the new development. The complex was formerly an extensive factory of saw-tooth roof timber and iron buildings bounded by Hampshire and Devonshire Roads and the Bendigo Railway line with a mixture of steel-trussed timber and fabricated iron framing, the earliest dating from c. 1908-10. The Devonshire Road facade had a small section of the homogeneous 1920s development, including the Russell Street entrance gates and watch-house, along with the redeveloped show rooms, offices and clock tower of the 1950s. All of these were of brick. Most of these have been demolished, though the clock tower and gates still survive as physical reminders of those parts of the complex. The lower part of the clock tower has been rendered. The head office opposite also dates from the 1920s with the original 1909 office incorporated into the facade facing Harvester Road. See also citations for McKay offices, Scott Motor Works and the Railway Footbridge.

      Condition/Integrity

      Only fragmentary remains of the former extensive works survive. The clock tower has been drastically altered and has lost the original context of the adjoining office and showroom for which it was the focussing landmark.

      The renovated bulk store is still separate from the retail and entertainment complex which surrounds it. The gates have been relocated and the footbridge has been altered.

      Physical Conditions

      H V McKay Sunshine Harvester Works - Physical Conditions

      Only fragmentary remains of the former extensive works survive. The clock tower has been drastically altered and has lost the original context of the adjoining office and showroom for which it was the focussing landmark. The renovated bulk store is still separate from the retail and entertainment complex which surrounds it. The gates have been relocated and the footbridge has been altered.

      Historical Australian Themes

      H V McKay Sunshine Harvester Works - Historical Australian Themes

      3 Developing local, regional and national economies
      3.13 Developing an Australian manufacturing capacity

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Brimbank - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study

      Author: G. Vines
      Year: 2000
      Grading: State

      Brimbank - Melbourne Western Region Industrial Heritage Study

      Author: G. Vines & A. Ward
      Year: 1989
      Grading:

  • Notes See all notes

    2/3 A.H.S. CENTAUR ASSOCIATION, INC.NEWSLETTER MAY 2017

    26/05/17

    Major [Sarah] Anne Jewell was Matron of Centaur's AANS nurses. Born in Perth, Jewell trained and worked in Western Australia before moving to Melbourne where she was the welfare and accident nurse at the Sunshine Harvester Works for seven years. She was greatly respected by the 1,300- strong staff there. After Harvester, Jewell joined a rehabilitation doctor's practice in Melbourne. From 1940, Jewell served aboard various Sea Ambulance Transports, on HMT Queen Elizabeth, and Oranje

Public contributions

Notes See all notes

2/3 A.H.S. CENTAUR ASSOCIATION, INC.NEWSLETTER MAY 2017

26/05/17

Major [Sarah] Anne Jewell was Matron of Centaur's AANS nurses. Born in Perth, Jewell trained and worked in Western Australia before moving to Melbourne where she was the welfare and accident nurse at the Sunshine Harvester Works for seven years. She was greatly respected by the 1,300- strong staff there. After Harvester, Jewell joined a rehabilitation doctor's practice in Melbourne. From 1940, Jewell served aboard various Sea Ambulance Transports, on HMT Queen Elizabeth, and Oranje

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