Historical information

The H.V. McKay factory— known as the Sunshine Harvester Works, was a landmark of Australian industrial history and a cornerstone of Sunshine, Victoria’s development.

Founded by Hugh Victor McKay, inventor of the Sunshine Harvester, which revolutionized wheat harvesting in Australia.

Originally based in Ballarat, McKay moved operations to Braybrook Junction in 1906, renaming it Sunshine Harvester Works after his flagship product.

The factory became the largest industrial enterprise in the Southern Hemisphere by the 1920s, covering over 30 acres and employing nearly 3,000 workers.

The McKay Harvester 1906 was one of the first machines in the world to strip, thresh and winnow grain ready for bagging.

Physical description

Postcard of a 1906 McKay Harvester on display in a museum

Inscriptions & markings

On Back: The McKay Harvester 1906. The McKay Harvester was one of the first machines in the world to strip, thresh and winnow grain ready for bagging. From a small beginning in 1884, Hugh Victor McKay became the largest manufacturer of harvesters and other agricultural machinery in Australia