HORSE -POWERED 4 wheeled timber and steel treadmill used as a power source to drive winnower which removed chaff from grain - photo 0019none

The Stripper was invented by John Ridley in 1843, while trying to overcome harvest labour shortage. In the early ays of Colonial South Australia a labour force was essential to harvest the wheat crop quickly before the grain shook out and fell to the ground. The stripper solved this problem, as t could strip 10 acres [4 hectares], handling approx. 180 bushels [5 tonnes] per day. This replaced 14 men using scythes.Strippers were used in this area between 1870's to the early 1900's.Then the Stripper Harvestors took over this processprinciple of the stripper----The wheat heads were knocked off the straw by a fat revolving beater ,and the grain, mixed with the husks and short straw, was propelled to the rear tin box. When the box became full, the contents were emptied into a winnower for cleaning. Recorded as Mitchell Stripper

William McKay came to Australia in 1851 with three sons and four daughters. He selected land at Drummartin and the family farmed extensively. Williams grandson, Hugh Victor, was only sixteen and helping his father with the wheat harvest, when he had the idea to make a machine that would both strip and winnow the wheat, thus saving time and effort. His first machine was ready by February 1884. Hugh Victor subsequently started a small factory in Ballarat before moving to the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine. Thus became what is known as the Sunshine combine harvester.Bendigo Advertiser from Saturday May 9, 1970. The article is titled: "McKay of Drummartin, he began a new era for the world". Several photographs complement the article.drummartin, mckay

As a youth while working on his father's farm, Hugh Victor McKay became tired of the labour involved in winnowing wheat by hand. In 1884 he built the first machine in the world which did the winnowing in conjunction with the reaping. On Monday 21st August 1944, which coincided with the birthday of the late H. V. McKay, more than 2000 employees and friends of H. V. McKay Massey Harris Pty Ltd were entertained at the Melbourne Town Hall, in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the Sunshine Harvester Works.The event was planned to "turn it on for the boys' in a manner befitting the occasion." The compere was Eric Pearce (of later TV newsreader fame) and the entertainment was provided by leading performers of song (W.M.Laird and Mary Miller), of music (John Robertson, W.M.King, and the Sunshine Brass Band), and of humour (Charles Sherman). The accompanists for some of the performances were Betty Miller and Eric Fox. Two films depicting the activities of the Sunshine Works were shown, and the managing director Mr C. N. McKay, was presented with a book by Mr Fred Bult who had 50 years service with the company. The book contained more than 1000 signatures from invited employees who had completed more than 10 years of service, Supper was provided in the Lower Hall, and the MC for dancing to the Synco-Harvesters Dance Band in the Main Hall was James Patrick. The committee which organised the function were Messrs. L.W. King (Chairman), G. Baker, J. Downing, R. Stewart, F. J. Lee, V. Armstrong, F. Fields, J. Aird, G. Wilson, J. G. McKay, T. N. McArthur, and R. Webb, with secretaries Messrs. G. Shaw and D. J. McKay. The above information was compiled from the Souvenir Programme, and from The Argus of Tuesday 22 August 1944 which can be viewed at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11357700, and from the Sunshine Advocate of Friday 30 June 1944.The Souvenir Programme provides a historical record of how the Diamond Jubilee was celebrated, as well as the type of entertainment and the names of the entertainers and other people involved. It also lists the types of dances such as the 'Fox Trot' and the 'Pride of Erin' that were normal entertainment in 1944. The Souvenir Programme is also significant in what it does not tell us. There is absolutely no indication of what would be considered to be a supper for an event like this in 1944, especially in the Melbourne Town Hall. From a historical point of view it would be interesting to know.Beige coloured cardboard document which is folded in two, and has brown coloured printing on three of the four sides. The document provides a detailed list of the entertainment and the presentations held in the Melbourne Town Hall, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Sunshine Harvester Works.1884 1944 / SOUVENIR PROGRAMME / DIAMOND JUBILEE of the SUNSHINE HARVESTER / MELBOURNE TOWN HALL / Monday 21st Aug.sunshine harvester, diamond jubilee, h. v. mckay, massey harris pty ltd, 21 august 1944, 1884, 1944, melbourne town hall, sunshine harvester works, sunshine harvester, diamond jubilee, h. v. mckay, massey harris pty ltd, 21 august 1944, 1884, 1944, melbourne town hall, sunshine harvester works

This booklet is a souvenir of St. John’s Young Women’s Association (St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Spence Street, Warrnambool) and was printed about 1910. It contains the favourite sayings or quotations of over 200 people living in the Warrnambool district at the time. A young women’s group commenced at St. John’s in 1892 and church groups for both young men and young men were well-organized and popular in the 20th century. It is presumed that the booklet was sold as a fund raiser for the youth group. The identity of ‘C.McLaren’ is not known. This booklet is significant because it contains not only the names of over 200 people living in the district at the time but also their contributions to the booklet. These contributions give us some small insight into the philosophies of these people when we study the quotations they chose to contribute. The contributors include the well-known names of Younger, Forrester, Tyers, Mainland, Dickson, Davidson, Swinton, Goodall, Battarbee, Salamy, Shaddock, Newcombe and Uebergang This is soft cover booklet of 40 pages (the pages are not numbered). The cream-coloured cover overlaps the printed pages. The front cover has black printing and two black scrolls at the top and bottom of the cover. The book has been bound with one staple and tied with white cord. There are two blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society at the front and the back of the booklet and the inscription is handwritten in black ink. The cover is a little stained and slightly torn at the left bottom edge. ‘C. McLaren, Merri St., W’bool’. st. john’s presbyterian church, warrnambool, history of warrnambool