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

Ron Brons photographic study of Ringwood.

One of Australia’s most acclaimed printmakers, Grahame King originally trained as a commercial artist in the mid-1930s. The Design Archives holds a collection of embossed advertising showcards designed by King in the 1950s which reveal examples of graphic design and typography in post-war Melbourne. The showcards were used by iconic companies for advertising and promotion on shop counters and in window displays and were produced by Firestone Embossed Showcards. Megan Atkins, 2017 Sign shows centrifugal pumps, close coupled centrifugal pumps and self-oiling piston pumps.Printed text bottom left on verso, Firestone embossed showcards PTY. LTDshowcards, advertising, graphic design, commercial art, artist

Beiersdorf was founded in 1882 when Paul C. Beiersdorf registered the first patent to manufacture medical plasters. One form of plaster was elastoplast. The company formed an Australian branch.Advertising sign on tin for Elastoplast first aid. ELASTOPLAST / First Aidelastoplast, advertising signs

Advertising sign (probably a point of sale sign) for Federal Woollen Mills blankets.Advertising sign for Federal blankets.Federal / THE SUPERIOR BLANKET / 100% PURE WOOL / NEW "DEEP-NAP" FINISH GIVES / NEW DOWNY LIGHTNESS ... / NEW WONDERFUL WARMTH / MADE IN AUSTRALIA BY / FEDERAL WOOLLEN MILLS / MAKERS OF / Federal / Fabricstextile production, federal woollen mills ltd, sign

Advertising sign (probably a point of sale / counter top sign) for Collins Bros Mill 'Physician' brand blankets.Advertising sign for Collins Bros Mill 'Physician' brand blankets.Heavenly ... / cloud-soft luxurious warmth / PHYSICIAN / Chillproof / BLANKETS / Pure Lambswool blended in colours of fashion / guaranteed 20 years and mothproofed / COLLINS BROS. PPTY. LTD. GEELONG, VICTORIAtextile production, collins bros mill pty ltd

Metal sign advertising Shell Motor Oil. Painted yellow with black letters.Shell Motor Oils S.A. Number Zero ------- 60commerce, advertising, signs

The billycart was possibly decorated for celebrations associated with Empire Day. Image was originally copied by Chatham Primary School for inclusion in their pictorial history "A Patchwork of People - Chatham Past and Present" [ISBN 0 646 29370 2], by Susan Barnett and Julia Ashby, published in 1996 for the school's 70th anniversary. Copied for the SHNCHC with the school and donor's permission. There is also a laminated copy of it for display purposes.Black and white image of four boys and their billycart. Two are identified as Bruce Hansen, standing behind the flag and Jimmy Boyd, seated in the billycart, which is decorated with streamers, an English flag and advertising signs promoting Australian sultanas and the export of Australian dried fruit to the [British] Empire. The photo was taken in the grounds of Chatham Primary School. In the background can be seen some of the cypress trees that were planted along the side of the oval, a remnant eucalypt from the time when the land was part of J B Maling's farm and part of the shelter shed.chatham primary school, billycarts, advertising signs, empire day, bruce hansen, jimmy boyd

11 photographs of Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick, from horsedrawn carriage days to the 1980s: A black and white photograph (200mm x 253mm) of Hulbert Gorrie standing outside the shop front of Rankin and Eyval Chemists at 35 Glen Huntly Road Elsternwick. Date and photographer unknown. Three black and white photographs (107mm x 130mm; 88mm x 140mm; 88mm x 88mm) of shop fronts on Glen Huntly Road taken in different eras. A horse drawn vehicle and women in long dresses are shown in one of the photographs. The other two most likely date to the 1960s. Exact dates and photographers unknown. Seven colour photographs of advertising signs revealed when a building on Glen Huntly Road was demolished in the 1980s to build the Bank of New South Wales.gorrie hulbert, rankin and eyval chemists, cast iron work, pharmacies, balconies, chemists, architectural features, advertising signs, selwyn street, p calandro and co, estate agents, elsternwick, chinese café, j higgins, glen huntly road

Located in High Street, Wodonga, this hotel underwent many modifications and name changes. It was built c1859 by James Bambrick close to the intended rail terminal in Huon Street. The site of the rail terminal actually changed but the name remained. James Bambrick served three terms as Wodonga Council president and was it was commonly referred to as “Bambrick’s Hotel”. It included 30 rooms as well as dining facilities. James Bambrick ran the hotel until 1902 when it was sold to J. Donnelly for £3,000. In 1912, whilst operated by T. J. Weller, the residential section of the hotel was almost completely destroyed by fire but only the ceiling of the bar was damaged and it continued to operate. Over the ensuing years the licensee changed hands frequently. By 1952, John Perry, owner of the “Stump” Junction Hotel also had the freehold of the Railway Hotel At some stage in the mid 1980’s the hotel was renamed as the “Murray River Hotel”, but still displayed the sign of the Railway Hotel. In 2009, it was closed for a short time whilst renovations took place to convert it into O’Maille’s Irish Hotel. It was demolished in 2020. These images document changes to an important local building first established c1868. It was an important meeting place and also the location of the earliest Council meetings in Wodonga.A set of photos both black and white and colour depicting changes to the Railway Hotel, Wodonga over timeA variety of names and advertising signsjames bambrick wodonga, bambrick's hotel, railway hotel wodonga, murray river hotel wodonga, o'maille's hotel,

Advertising sign for the Physician Blankets Manufactured by Collins Bros Pty Ltd. Black and white photograph showcasing the Physician Blanket advertising road sign above a two story building in a landscape format. The road and moving cars are in the foreground.Front centre - Physician Chillproof Blankets. Sign Rear - Physician Brisbane (?) (?) Signwool, woollen mills, wool manufacture

Two black and white photocopies of a photograph of Vermador Private Hospital at 761 Glenhuntly Road, corner Watson Grove and Glenhuntly Road, taken c. 1920, Sr. Mary Stuart.glen huntly, vermador, hospitals, watson grove, stuart mary, streetscapes, glen huntly laundry, drapers, advertising signs, glenhuntly road, glenhuntly

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown. From Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan by Andrew Ward (1996) Vol 2 p78: In Murrumbeena Road, the shops which form part of the estate are a simple cream brick row relieved by manganese bricks in bands across the upper storeys. City of Glen Eira’s Heritage Management Plan Vol 2 p79 (this is p84 of the pdf version) – HO12 Beauville Estate and environs, Murrumbeena: The Beauville Historic Area is important at the State level as the first large housing estate undertaken by the AV Jennings Construction Co, later Jennings Group Limited, Victoria’s largest home builder. It is important also as a very early estate development incorporating a range of features other than houses and including made roads, shops and recreation facilities. In this respect it was the forerunner of the comprehensively planned housing estate of the post war era. The estate is distinguished by its aesthetic values, as is the earlier and comparable Hillcrest Estate, which are formed by a combination of restrained diversity in house styles, with the exception of no. 30 in the emerging International style, and by a landscaped garden environment. Colour photograph of a section of a double storey, unpainted brick, commercial property containing shops at ground level all with awnings over the footpath. This specific property is a milk bar on street level with plate glass windows and door, colourful advertising and "229' in the top right section of the window. Shop signage says "MURREMBEENA MILK BAR". The upper storey brick residence features a large window, a flat roof and decorative two tone banded brickwork. MURREMBEENA (sic) MILK BAR / PK's / SANDWICH / BAR / MILK BAR & Sandwich Bar / 229 / SUB NEWSmurrumbeena, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, beauville estate, murrumbeena road, milk bars, commercial establishments, flats, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, beauville historic area, shops, brick features, window displays, advertising signs, murrembeena (sic) milk bar

Originally labelled "Beauville Estate, Established 1936, Still Thriving 65 years on, 10th March 2001", the Beauville Estate Album contains colour photographs of houses in the Estate. They were taken around the time of the Beauville Estate’s 65th Heritage Celebration held on 10/03/2001 and donated to the Caulfield Historical Society shortly afterwards. Photographer unknown. No. 235 is NOT covered by the Heritage Overlay HO12.Colour photograph of a supermarket. The property features a flat roof awning, corrugated parapet, irregular multi-coloured slate tile and brick facade and extensive advertising over the front and side of the building plus on the gate to the right.Murumbeena FRIENDLY GROCER IGA / OPEN 7 DAYS / NEWSPAPERS / COLD SOFT DRINKmurrumbeena, architectural styles, 1930's, inter war style, a.v. jennings, av jennings, jennings, beauville estate, murrumbeena road, commercial establishments, shops, supermarkets, sir albert victor jennings, a v jennings construction co, beauville estate heritage area, glen eira city council, architectural features, jennings group limited, land subdivision, beauville historic area, brick shops, parapets, advertising signs, murumbeena friendly grocer iga

This file contains two items: 1/Twelve photographs of the Glen Huntly, Neerim Road hand-operated railway gates, dated 1983 and November 1985, photographer unknown, and two black and white copies of two of the original photographs. Four photographs are in black and white and eight are in colour, all picturing the Gatekeeper’s shelter and/or the railway gates. Six photographs dated 1985 include the Gatekeeper, unidentified, in some photos operating the gates. 2/A three-page pamphlet dated 03/05/1979 promoting a public meeting at the Caulfield Town Hall to debate Road Grade Separation proposals for the Neerim Road and Glenhuntly Road railway crossings. Document details the proposed VicRail improvement and four alternative improvements as we as a blank questionnaire for the submission of ideas regarding the proposals to the Caulfield City Council Urban Planner. A short summary of other concerns held by two councillors and an engineer regarding the proposal is also included, as is a Railway Noise Level. Railway Pamphlet also includes a map of the area surrounding the railway crossings under discussion 1977.glenhuntly road, neerim road, caulfield, railway gates, gates, hand-operated railway gates, railways, roads and streets, railway crossings, architectural features, town halls, official buildings, vicrail, meetings, public meetings, caulfield town hall, gatekeepers, caulfield city council, elsternwick, glen huntly, caulfield park, caulfield racecourse, normanby road, dandenong road, railway buildings, railway stations, land transport, transport establishments, hordern a.g., dunstan don, hordern bill, needham j.g., advertisements, graphics, advertising, advertising signs, signs, estate agents, business people, stockdale and leggo, buildings structures and establishments, occupations, united signs, signs, communication devices, motor vehicles, glenhuntly railway station, town planning, civic and landscape art, engineers, professionals, traffic, road transport, transport, maps, documents, plans

The train is headed towards Surrey Hills station. In the background are the Hamilton Street shops with advertising posters on their rear walls. The donor George Lister Coop was about 27 years of age when he took this photo. It is one of a small series of photos donated by him that relate to Mont Albert and Surrey Hills stations. He has always had an interest in railways and there are other examples of his documentation of railway history in other collections contributing to this database. A black & white photo of a Harris train destined for Flinders Street that has passed through Mont Albert station, which can just be seen in the background. Behind the train on the rear walls of buildings are advertising for Haydn Real Estate and K&M Murray selling Toppa Ice Cream.advertising signs, george l coop, mont albert station, trains, haydn real estate, toppa ice cream, k & m murray, hamilton street shops

Sign on south side of Whitehorse Road opposite Dunlavin Road, Mitcham, looking east. Early 1940s. Note in 1870 the area was known as Air Hill. Center of shot shows shop on west side of what later became Alexander Street and further east house on the corner of Peel Street. These signs are very similar to those erected in nearby Vermont.advertising signs, whitehorse road, mitcham, dunlavin road

View of the south side of Whitehorse Road Shopping Strip looking west from median strip towards Tait's corner store. Shows traffic including vehicles FJ Holden, Morris Minor, Morris Oxford.B&w photowhitehorse road, station street, tait's corner store, national self service, grocers, ron r. watkins mens and boys wear, clothing shops, ezywalkin, shoe shops, milk bars, coles, advertising signs, motor vehicles

Hudson's Soap Powder, was the first satisfactory and commercially successful soap powder and was made in Liverpool by Robert Spear Hudson. He was also an innovator in using advertising, commissioning striking images from professional artists and paid for publicity , something which few other businesses did, and as such Hudson's soap became a household name. Horse, steam and electric tramcars, print periodicals and chemist shops carried his advertisements. This sign was manufactured by Patent Enamel Co Ltd was a company built in 1889 at Selly Oak, Borough of Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom. The business was the first factory specifically devoted to enameled iron sign making. It had twelve furnaces for fusing the enamel, two scaling furnaces, and a large printing room, plus a huge area for steampipe drying. The company also smelted its own enamels and colour oxides. It is believed that the factory was decommissioned and demolished in the 1960's.the first factory specifically devoted to enameled iron sign making. It had twelve furnaces for fusing the enamel, two scaling furnaces, and a large printing room, plus a huge area for steampipe drying. The company also smelted its own enamels and colour oxides.The factory was decommissioned and demolished in the 1960s.The signage demonstrates the increasing demand for domestic soap products and new forms of advertising. The soap business was apart of the flourishing export trade between Australia and Britain during the height of the British Empire.Enamel advertising sign for Hudson's soapflagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, hudson's soap, advertising signage, patent enamel co ltd, selly oak, borough of birmingham, robert spear hudson

Example of local business signagePainted and Stenciled advertising sign Refer to NP4377Cottle Fencing & Gates 877 1590

Ron Brons photographic study of Ringwood. Showing advertising sign.

Sign was used for the exhidition display Sunshine photographs bu Nora O'Connor & is part of that collection. Possibility from Bruce White who was manager of Westpac Bank and used in association withgroup.Colored advertising sign with Sunshine Central printed in front of an image of the sunSunshine Centralsunshine plaza, hampshire road, sunshine