Summary

Description of the Sunshine Harvester Works' Iron Yard.

Year established: 1934-1935

The Sunshine Harvester Works' iron yard housed steel used by the company to produce agricultural equipment. The iron yard covered three bays on the factory site. Many shapes, sizes and grades of steel were used to manufacture equipment. During peak manufacturing periods, the iron yard contained up to 10,000 tons of steel bars and plates. The storage facility was serviced by an overhead crane which traversed the whole area. The crane also went down to the factory railway line which delivered steel into the site. Steel came from the BHP steel mill. Some steel orders were placed up to 12 months in advance of delivery to meet the Sunshine Harvester Works' projected production schedules.

By the late 1960s, the factory was receiving an average of 65 tons of steel each day. In addition, it issued 15,000 tons of steel of more than 1,800 varieties. Workers in the iron yard included foremen, records clerks, crane drivers, storemen and labourers. Bill Hodge and Jim Higgins worked as storage foremen between the 1940s and 1960s.

References
Massey-Ferguson, late 1960s, Welcome to Sunshine. Held in H.V McKay Sunshine collection, Museum Victoria, registration no. HT 20127.
Ray Browne and Ken Porter (former Sunshine Harvester Works employees), personal recollections held at Museum Victoria, May 2000 and October 2002.

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