Summary
Black and white photograph of presentation to H.V. McKay by his employees. Photographed by Richards & Co., Ballarat, 4 February 1905.
Part of a collection of photographs, negatives, moving film, artefacts, documents and trade literature belonging to the H. V. McKay Sunshine Collection. The McKay collection is regarded as one of the most significant industrial heritage collections in Australia. The collection relates to the agricultural manufacturing firm, the Sunshine Harvester Works. The Australian operations of this company were originally founded by Hugh V. McKay in the 1890s in Ballarat. Between 1906 and 1907, McKay moved production to Sunshine where the firm became one of the largest industrial businesses in Australia. Change in ownership is a recurring theme in the company's history. In 1930, it merged with Massey-Harris to become H.V McKay Massey Harris. In the mid-1950s, the company was absorbed by Canadian agricultural firm Massey-Ferguson. Production in Sunshine ceased in the mid-1980s, following almost 100 years of manufacturing agricultural equipment.
Description of Content
Presented to H.V. McKay from his employees as a 'token on appreciation and esteem', it features eleven images, six are group portraits of H.V. McKay employees and five are solo studio portraits. The group photographs include: Braybrook Works, a Picnic Group, the Foremen, the Cricket Team, the Picnic Committee and the Ballarat Works. They surround solo portraits of H.V. McKay, Sam McKay Sales Manager, George McKay Factory Superintendent, Alex Lawson Inspector and George Bult Foreman Harvester Works. Photographed by Richards & Co. Photo., 4 February, 1905. The Braybrook Implement Works building consists of two sections of the Exhibition Building Temporary Annexes, sold to businesses following the closure of the 1888-1889 Melbourne International Centennail Exhibition, Carlton.
Physical Description
Black and white photograph. White handwritten text on front. Handwritten measurements on reverse. Stamped text on reverse in purple ink.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Sustainable Futures, Images & Image Making, Working Life & Trades
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Councillor Don McKay, Nov 1973
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Date Made
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Photographer
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Person Depicted
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Person Depicted
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Person Depicted
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Person Depicted
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Person Depicted
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Format
Photograph, Black & White
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Inscriptions
White handwritten text on front reads: 'Presented to / HUGH VICTOR McKAY ESQ. / By His Employees / As a token of Appreciation / & Esteem. / RICHARDS & CO PHOTO. / February 4th 1905'. Captions in white text below images read: 'BRAYBROOK WORKS. / PICNIC GROUP / FOREMEN. / SAM MCKAY / SALES MANAGER / GEORGE MCKAY / FACTORY SUPERINTENDENT / CRICKET TEAM / ALEX LAWSON / INSPECTOR / GEO BULT. / FOREMAN HARVESTER WORKS / PICNIC COMMITTEE. / BALLARAT WORKS. / RICHARDS & CO PHOTO. February 4th 1905'. Stamped text on reverse in purple ink reads: 'H.V. McKAY MASSEY HARRIS PTY. LTD. / SUNSHINE'.
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Classification
Manufacturing & industry, Agricultural & horticultural equipment, Workers
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
250 mm (Width), 170 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Managers, Photographic Studios, Staff, Workers, Workforce Management, Royal Exhibition Building: History, Royal Exhibition Building: Temporary Annexes, Exhibitions: Melbourne International Centennial, 1888-1889, Agricultural & Farming Organisations, Agriculture