Summary

A program for the opening of the new showrooms at the Sunshine Harvester Works, Sunshine, on the 22nd September 1921. The program includes a menu and a list of toasts and entertainments.

The menu included mock turtle soup, whiting fillet with tartare sauce, roast turkey and chestnut sauce, roast chicken and cress, roast sirloin of beef with horseradish, York ham, ox tongue, potatoes, green peas, Champagne jelly, caramel trifle, wine jellies, Charlotte Russe, apple meringue, cheese straws, devilled almonds, fresh fruits in season, almonds and raisins, and coffee and tea.

The toasts were led by H. V. McKay (to the King, and to the Federal Government) with response by Acting Prime Minister the Rt Hon. Sir Joseph Cook; Mr D. B. Ferguson (to our Agents), Mr. S. McKay (to our Branches) and Mr. J. McLean (to our Travelling Staff).

The entertainments included pictures of "Sunshine at Work" by Pathe Freres, songs by Mr Pat Coleman, monologues by Mr Neil McInnes, comedy & conjuring by Mr Will Hughes and piano by Mr Fred Delves.

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.

Physical Description

Folded pale yellow card with printed text in blue ink. Gold trim on edge of cover. Illustration on cover of the main entrance of a building and an illustration on the back cover of a Sunshine harvester. Handwritten text in blue pencil on back cover.

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