Summary
Photograph of factory workers in Argentina.
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
Group of factory workers sitting on and around a "La Australiana" (Sunshine) harvester probably located in the factory in Argentina.
Physical Description
Sepia toned photograph
More Information
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Collection Names
H.V. McKay Sunshine Collection, Old McKay Archive (Series A)
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Councillor Don McKay, 11 Oct 1960
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Place & Date Depicted
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Format
Negative, 6x7, Black & White
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Classification
Manufacturing & industry, Agricultural & horticultural equipment, Workers' portraits
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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References
[Link 1] Viewed 7.5.09. [Link 2] Viewed 7.5.09. Perry, Warren. 'The Science Museum of Victoria'.
[Article] Dale-Hallett, Liza, et al. 'The McKay Collection', in Rasmussen, Carolyn. A Museum for the People: A History of Museum Victoria and its predecesors, 1854-2000. pp.271-273., 2001
[Article] 2003. "Resurrecting the Sunshine Harvester Works: Re-presenting and Reinterpreting the Experience of Industrial Work in Twentieth-Century Australia", Labour History., 2003
[Article] Dale-Hallett, Liza. 2004. "Collecting by Stealth: the HV McKay Collection", Museum Victoria Magazine., 2004
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Keywords
Exports, Harvesters, Factory Workers, Export Trade, Manufacturing Workers, Workwear