Historical information

Contractor with steam engine often travelled to district farms as required.
Further history of this engine has come to hand from Nev Scobie: There are very few McLaren tractors worldwide and this is the only one known to have worked in Central Victoria. A few worked along the Murray River in N.S.W. McLaren had a family connection to the Chaffey brothers who set up irrigation around Mildura. This engine was bought new by McMillan brothers and used in the Forbes N.S.W. area. It pulled a record load of wheat 57 tons 21 miles in a day, its top speed was 7 km per hour. It was sold to someone in Central Victoria and is known to have been owned by Ray Jones of Kyenton who worked it until early 1950's. It was reconditioned at Trentham by Trewhella Bros. and sold to Nev Scobie's family in 1966. The driver in the photograph is Henry Carr who drove for Ray Jones and continued to drive it after it was sold to Scobies. The Scobies had it restored and it worked into the 1970's. Nev Scobie and his brother began restoring it again around 2020 a project which is ongoing.

Significance

The life of an engine tells a story of agriculture

Physical description

Black and white enlarged photograph of a large steam traction engine showing container at back holding wood for boiler and smoke stack. Driver on board is Henry Carr.