Braybrook Railway Junction town alloments to be sold by auction 3 o'clok on the ground 18th September 1886land sale, braybrook railway junction

2317.01 - Typed Report Braybrook Junction|2317.02 - Photograph copy of Railway Station Sunshinebraybrook junction railway station, station, braybrook junction

The Braybrook Junction railway station was opened on 7th September 1885 at the junction of the railway lines to Ballarat and to Bendigo. In 1904 H. V. McKay purchased the Braybrook Implement Works nearby, and in 1906 he moved his Sunshine Harvester Works agricultural machinery business from Ballarat to Braybrook Junction. In 1907 the station and township were renamed Sunshine after the Sunshine Harvester Works. On 20 April 1908 (Easter Monday), Sunshine station was the scene of the biggest train disaster in Victoria, when 44 people were killed and 400 injured from the 1100 people that were aboard the two trains. A Melbourne bound train from Bendigo collided with the rear of a train from Ballarat. There is a memorial plaque on platform 1 at the present Sunshine station. Sunshine station has recently been undergoing a complete rebuild. On 20 January 2014 the station, although not yet completed, was opened for train use, after being closed for several weeks.This photograph is significant because it is a reminder that the present Sunshine station and the nearby area were once named Braybrook Junction. It also shows what the Station, the Signal Box, and the station personnel looked like in circa 1905.BRAYBROOK JUNCTNbraybrook junction station, railway, sunshine, train, transport, 1905, 1907, 1908, 7 september 1885

Timeline and pictorial history of the Sunshine Signal Box.Sunshine Signal Box. A book about railway and social history in Melbourne's western suburbs 1853 to 1997. Tom Riggsunshine signal box, railway, sunshine, tom rigg

Used to advertise 29 business and villa blocks that were up for sale near the Braybrook Junction Station.Mr. W. Smithers-Gadd|Gadd & Co., Limited|Braybrook Junction Railway Station|Devonshire Road|Extract from the Evening Herald, of Wednesday, 14th January, 1891|R. Henson Broadhurst|J. C. Stephensbraybrook junction

The model is an example of the type of goods wagons they manufactured at Wright & Edward Carriage Works, Braybrook Junction (Now Sunshine). The company also made passenger cars. Wright & Edwards was one of the earliest major industrial firms in what became Sunshine, operating in the 1880s–1890s as a railway carriage and wagon manufacturer. The company collapsed in the 1890s depression, but its legacy survives in street names and the Railway Station Estate. The factory stood near the Sunshine railway station area, later redeveloped as the Sunshine Reserve (Sports Ground), later to be renamed as the J.R. Pasons Reserve. This area became part of the Railway Station Estate, one of the earliest residential subdivisions in Sunshine and many of the streets are named after company directors or senior executive offices such as Wright Street, Standford Street, Morris Street, Chapman Street, Benjamin Street Couche Street (Couch Street).Plastic model railway goods wagonwright and edwards, railway, braybrook junction

St. Albans Railway Station|Tottenham Gravition Yard|Sunshine Railway Station|Braybrook Junction Railway Station|Sunbury Railway Station|Albion Railway Station|Sydenham Railway Station|Holden Railway Station|Diggers' Rest Railway Stationrailways

Collection of S&DHS photos that were provided to Victorian CollectionsIndustrial Agreement between Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australan and Imperial Chemical Industries|Quarter Mile Bridge (C1928)|Hugh V. McKay Receipt for Mr. M. Norton|Sunshine Districal Community Hospital brass sign|Braybrook & District Motorcycle Club cloth badge|Braybrook & District Motorcycle Club metal badge|Braybrook Junction Railway Station|Sunshine Town Hall (Memorial Hall) Hampshire Rd|Sunvale Primary School A Scrap Book of Memories1957 - 1997 front cover|Kevin Wheelahan WW1 Memorial Sigh|Framed Helen Kellet signature in wood frame|Close up off Helen Kellet signature|Hellenic Prince Ship|WW1 Medals|Sunshine & District Friendly Societies Dispensary Past Presidents Honour Board|Sunshine State School Swimming Pool Shire of Braybrook Chairmen & Presidents Honour Board|Sunshine High School pennant|Shire of Braybrook Coat of Arms|Spalding 25 Years Service Roll Honour Board|McPhersons Boly & Nuts display|4th Liberty Loan pennant|SSW Supermarket paper bags|Souvenir Programe Diamond Jubille of the Sunshine Harvester|H.V. McKay Factory Rules January 1913|H.V. McKay Factory Rules May 1926|Phoenix Fireworks Sold Here postersunshine & district historical society

Collected by Tom RiggUntil about 1884 the general area now occupied by Sunshine / Braybrook was known as CUT PAW PAW. The Melbourne to Bendigo railway was built in 1859 and the railway to Ballarat began first to Melton in 1884 to Parwan in 1886 and to Bacchus Marsh in 1887. The junction of the two lines was known as Bacchus Marsh Junction during construction and after completion the area became Braybrook Junction no doubt influenced by the nearby settlement of Braybrook. In 1907 the Braybrook Junction Progress Association petitioned the Victorian Railways Commissioners requesting that the station name be changed to Sunshine Junction possibly recognising the dominating presence of the Sunshine Harvester Works. Approval was very promptly granted by the Commissioners and in the Victoria Gazette of July 17 1907 page 3419 the Victorian Railways gazetted that on and after Monday 15th July the name of Braybrook Junction station will be changed to Sunshine.sunshine railway station, railway

h.v. mckay

The Shire of Braybrook (1871–1951) was a vast, semi‑rural municipality stretching from Melton to West Melbourne, centred on the old Braybrook village at Solomon’s Ford. It transformed dramatically with the arrival of railways, the rise of Braybrook Junction/Sunshine, and the industrial boom driven by H.V. McKay’s Harvester Works. The area was first organised as the Braybrook Road District on 28th May 1860, after a public meeting at the Shamrock Hotel in Albion. The district was enormous, extending from Melton to Dynon Road on the West Melbourne swamp. Early settlement clustered around Solomon’s Ford on the Maribyrnong River, a key crossing for travelers heading to Geelong, Williamstown, and the goldfields. On 23rd January 1871, the Road District became the Shire of Braybrook. Council meetings were initially held in Maidstone, reflecting the early population centres. The Braybrook Shire Hall in Deer Park was built in 1885. That 1885 building was the first official hall and council offices for the Shire of Braybrook, long before the municipality shifted its centre of gravity toward Sunshine. It stood near the Deer Park Hotel and served as the administrative heart of the shire during the late 19th century. The Braybrook Shire Hall at Deer Park effectively closed as a council headquarters in 1930, when the Shire of Braybrook shifted its administrative centre to Sunshine. In 1951, the Shire of Braybrook was renamed the City of Sunshine, reflecting the shift of population and industry eastward. In 1994 - 1995 the Kennett Government reduced Victoria’s councils from 210 to 78, the largest restructuring of local government in the state’s history and this part of the City of Sunshine became the City of Brimbank. It is believed this extension table came from the Shire of Braybrook Shire Office located in Ballarat Road, Deer Park, opposite the Deer Park Hotel. Over the years this extension table was used in the Shire of Braybrook Shire Office Ballarat Road Deer Park, the Shire of Braybrook and City of Sunshine Memorial Hall Hampshire Road Sunshine and in the City of Sunshine Municipal Offices Alexandra Avenue Sunshine. When the City of Sunshine Municipal Offices in Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine closed down, this table was were presented to the Sunshine & District Historical Society by the City of Brimbank. The table is still in use by the staff at The Hunt Club Community Arts Centre, Ballarat Road, Deer Park.This table is one of the few remaining items that still connects us to the early days of the Shire of Braybrook.Wood extension table with two extension leaves and carved legs.shire of braybrook, shire of braybrook offices, ballarat road, deer park

The Shire of Braybrook (1871–1951) was a vast, semi‑rural municipality stretching from Melton to West Melbourne, centred on the old Braybrook village at Solomon’s Ford. It transformed dramatically with the arrival of railways, the rise of Braybrook Junction/Sunshine, and the industrial boom driven by H.V. McKay’s Harvester Works. The area was first organised as the Braybrook Road District on 28th May 1860, after a public meeting at the Shamrock Hotel in Albion. The district was enormous, extending from Melton to Dynon Road on the West Melbourne swamp. Early settlement clustered around Solomon’s Ford on the Maribyrnong River, a key crossing for travelers heading to Geelong, Williamstown, and the goldfields. On 23rd January 1871, the Road District became the Shire of Braybrook. Council meetings were initially held in Maidstone, reflecting the early population centres. The Braybrook Shire Hall in Deer Park was built in 1885. That 1885 building was the first official hall and council offices for the Shire of Braybrook, long before the municipality shifted its centre of gravity toward Sunshine. It stood near the Deer Park Hotel and served as the administrative heart of the shire during the late 19th century. The Braybrook Shire Hall at Deer Park effectively closed as a council headquarters in 1930, when the Shire of Braybrook shifted its administrative centre to Sunshine. In 1951, the Shire of Braybrook was renamed the City of Sunshine, reflecting the shift of population and industry eastward. In 1994 - 1995 the Kennett Government reduced Victoria’s councils from 210 to 78, the largest restructuring of local government in the state’s history and this part of the City of Sunshine became the City of Brimbank. It is believed this extension table came from the Shire of Braybrook Shire Office located in Ballarat Road, Deer Park, opposite the Deer Park Hotel. Over the years this sideboard was used in the Shire of Braybrook Shire Office Ballarat Road Deer Park, the Shire of Braybrook and City of Sunshine Memorial Hall Hampshire Road Sunshine and in the City of Sunshine Municipal Offices Alexandra Avenue Sunshine where it was used in the Mayoral's council chambers. When the City of Sunshine Municipal Offices in Alexandra Avenue, Sunshine closed down, this sideboard was presented to the Sunshine & District Historical Society by the City of Brimbank.This sideboard is one of the few remaining items that still connects us to the early days of the Shire of Braybrook.French renaissance styled carved walnut sideboard with mirrored backplate.shire of braybrook, shire of braybrook offices, ballarat road, deer park

The Tottenham Yard began as a modest goods yard supporting local industries in Braybrook, Tottenham, and West Footscray, the Sunshine industrial belt and the nearby munitions and explosives factories Key features of the early yard included a small number of sidings, a goods shed, a basic loading / unloading facilities and a connection to the Tottenham triangle (Sunshine–Footscray–North Melbourne junction). As the yard expanded with additional siding and larger marshalling areas, there was a requirement to maintain the Ashley Street North – South access route for private and commercial travel. The work involved to solve this problem was to elevate the railway yard and place Ashley Street through a tunnel. This railway underpass for many years was simply known as the Ashley Street Tunnel. By the 1970s, the Tottenham Yard had become one of the largest freight yards in Victoria, second only to Dynon. In the 1982, the level crossing gates at the southern end of tunnel were removed, the tunnel extended southwards and the former Tottenham Railway Station was replaced with an elevated one above the new tunnel extension. During these works the road surface level was lowered to allow for higher trucks to pass through. At this point of time, the reference to tunnel was replaced with underpass. During the 1990’s and 2000’s, there was a decline in the use of the Tottenham Yard and many sidings were removed, shorten, converted to storage or left unused. Today the yard is used for wagon storage, crew changes, light shunting and providing access to the Tottenham triangle and Sunshine corridor.These photographs were taken shortly after the tunnel was completed.5335.01 - Ashley Street Railway Underpass Looking North Photo 01.jpg 5335.02 - Ashley Street Railway Underpass Looking South Photo 02.jpgashley street, railway line, tottenham

Postcard Railway Museum North Williamstown|List of Railway Stations from Footscray - Sunshine and when they opened and closed|Letter regarding historic railway wagons dated 24 July 1979|Letter from Victorian Railways regarding QR wagon donation Dated 20 August 1979|Letter from Historical Society regarding wagons manufactured at Qright and Edwards Works. Dated 24 July 1979|Letter and Photocopy of Steam Locomotive 3801 at Anderson Road Level Crossing 23 April 1973|Drawing of Footscray Junction to Sunbury listing opening and closing dates|Large Drawing of Braybrook Junction Signal box tracks|Brochure for Steamrail Victoria The Vintage Train Mystery Tour on 1 July 1984|Bridge Inspection report for Devonshire Road Foot Bridge dated 26 March 1992|Complaint about goats tresspassing dated 7 July 1868|Drawing Footscray Junction Proposed alterations to Signal Arrangements 19 February 1900|Newspaper article Brimbank Messenger 8 September 1998 Technology signals new rail era about the closing of Sunshine Signal Box|Letter for amendment to 1994 Book of rules and Operating Procedures for Sunshine. Drawing of signalling Diagram included dated 19th May 1996 Sunshine Issue of Caution Orders|Photocopy of The Victorian Railways Magazine dated Aug 1929 Australias Highest Railway Bridge|Photocopy of Spencer Street - Sunshine showing extra train commencing Tuesday 3 May Dated 30 April 1921|Correspondene from Secretary of the Victorian Railways Books Series 422|Photocopy of Special Train Circular S2966 Special Funeral train for HV McKay funeral on 22 May 1926|Newspaper Article The Advocate Tracking History showing photograph of Tom Rigg dated 29 April 1998|Photocopy of Victorian Railways Timetable Dec 1865|Newspaper Article about Paddy Doyle an old locomotive Dated 20 May 1925|Extract from a book about the Big Bridge across the Maribyrnong River September 1927|Newspaper Article about Project Albion Maltese Club Dated 2 September 1992|Newspaper Article about Paddy Doyle and Patsy Dooley Dated 1925|Letter and a list in chronological events for the Braybrook Junction in 1908 smash dated 12 April 1988|Photocopy of the persons employed by the Melbourne and Hobsons Bay United Railway Company on 30 June 1878|Photocopy of Tom Riggs speech as a guest speaker at the Sunshine Historical Society dated 14 August 1988|Newspaper Articl e remembering Australias second worst rail disaster 90 years after dated 13 May 1997|Photocopy of the List of the Dead and addresses for the Rail disaster 27 April 1908|Photocopy of Selection of Names for S Class Locomotives|Photocopy of Maroona to Ararat Station Details|Notes about railway guages in Australia|Photocopy of a Letter regarding Main Road St Albans Railway Station Crossing Dated 6 May 2001|Brochure St Albans to Sydenham Rail Electrification Project Bulletin 2 May 2001|Brochure St Albans to Sydenham Rail Electrification Project Bulletin 3 December 2001|Brochure St Albans to Sydenham Rail Electrification Project Bulletin 4 January 2002|Newspaper Article Star Plainly its Keilor showing photograph of Keilor Plains Dated 18 December 2001|Newspaper Article Brimbank Leader showing All aboard for Keilor Plains Dated 18 December 2001|Media release regarding St Albans to Sydenham dated 12 December 2001|Brochure Its Steam Day Tours 1984|May of Victorian Railway|Brochure of North Williamstown Railway Museum|Photocopy of Map from Footscray and Bacchus March Line 12 June 2003|Newspaper Article Brimbank Independent Residents angry over freight rail decision dated 3 February 1998|Newspaper Article Advocate Greater respect urged for dead and rescuers Dated 16 December 1998|Extract Railway intercommunication Between Werribee and Braybook Junction|Newspaper Article Star Mixed Blessings for the HV McKay building in Devonshire Road added to Victorian Heritage register dated 16 April 2002|Newspaper Article Star Sydenham rail its electifying dated 18 December 2001|Newspaper Article Herald Sun Rail Horror at Sunshine Dated 27 May 1999railways

Red covered booknon-fictionOlwen Ford’s “Harvester Town” refers to her major historical study of Sunshine, Victoria during the years 1890–1925 — the era when the suburb transformed from a quiet railway junction into Australia’s most famous industrial ‘company town’ built around H.V. McKay’s Sunshine Harvester Works. sunshine, history

Photograph of a railway carriage now at Williamstown Railway Historical Museum The factory where this railway carriage was built was called Wright and Edwards in Sunshine It employed 400 men in 1891 The factory closed when it ran out of money The site was at that time called Braybrook Junction about 1890wright & edwards, railway, train

H.V. McKay’s Advertising Signs H.V. McKay’s advertising signs were more than just promotional tools—they were visual emblems of industrial pride and rural transformation. His company, famous for the Sunshine Harvester, used signage to reinforce the brand’s identity across Australia and beyond. Characteristics of H.V. McKay Advertising Signs • Brand Name “Sunshine”: This was McKay’s flagship brand, stamped on everything from machinery to buildings. The name itself evoked optimism, productivity, and Australian ingenuity. • Bold Typography: Many signs featured large, serif lettering with high contrast, often in red, yellow, or black colors associated with vitality and visibility in rural landscapes. • Imagery of Machinery: Some signs depicted the Sunshine Harvester or other agricultural implements, emphasizing innovation and reliability. • Materials: Signs were typically made of enamel, tin, or painted wood. Enamel signs were especially durable and popular for outdoor use. • Placement: Signs appeared on factory walls, railway sidings, rural supply stores, and even on the sides of barns and sheds across farming regions. Sunshine’s Historical Context • The H.V. McKay Pty Ltd, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Harvester Works, in Braybrook Junction (later renamed Sunshine) was located on this site. The factory became a hub of local industrial activity, and signage played a key role in branding the town itself. • By the 1920s, the H.V. McKay Harvester Factory had become the largest manufacturing enterprise in the Southern Hemisphere. • The Sunshine Harvester Works employed thousands of people from both Sunshine and the surrounding suburbs. • In 1930, the company merged with the Australian arm of the Canadian manufacturer Massey Harris, forming H.V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd. • In 1953, Massey-Harris merges with Harry Ferguson Ltd, forming Massey-Harris-Ferguson Ltd and in 1958 renamed to Massey Ferguson Ltd • The Massey Ferguson Factory closed in the 1980’s and the demolition of the site started in 1988. • The site today is the home of the Sunshine Market Place, Brimbank Council Offices, Visy Cares Hub, Sunshine Police Station, Sunshine Magistrates' Court and a number of other shops and offices. • The only building remaining of the original factory is the Bulk Store, now the Visy Cares Hub. Note: These signs are reproductions except for one. Can you spot the original sign? 5684.01 - H.V. McKay's Advertising Signs Exhibition.jpg 5684.02 - H.V. McKay's Advertising Signs Exhibition.jpg 1013.01 - H.V. McKay Advertising Sign.jpg 1013.02 - H.V. McKay Advertising Sign.jpg 1013.03 - H.V. McKay Advertising Sign.jpg 1013.04 - H.V. McKay Advertising Sign.jpg 1013.05 - H.V. McKay Advertising Sign.jpg 2897 - Massey Ferguson Gate Sign.jpg 3041 - Sunshine Farm Machinery and Tractors Sign.jpgh.v. mckay