Historical information

The book When the Whistle Blew explores the social history of Sunshine between 1920 and 1950, a period when the Sunshine Harvester Works and other major industries were profoundly shaping the daily life, community identity, and social fabric of the town.

The Author, Prue McGoldrick was a Victorian historian, journalist, and author best known for writing this book. She produced several major works on Gippsland, Yallourn, Morwell, and Sunshine, and is widely recognised for documenting the lives of working‑class communities, industrial towns, and the social fabric of 20th‑century Victoria.

The keynote speaker at the launch was Barry Jones, an Australian politician, writer, historian, and public intellectual whose historical work spans biography, world history, political history, and cultural analysis.

Significance

The launch of When the Whistle Blew marked an important moment in preserving Sunshine’s industrial and community heritage, celebrating the stories of workers, families, and the broader social history connected to the Sunshine Harvester Works.

The event brought together former employees, local historians, and community members to recognise the legacy of the factory and the people who shaped the suburb.

Physical description

Digital scans of black and white negatives

Inscriptions & markings

Launching Of Book By Prue McGoldrick By Barry Jones Sunshine Townhall 145.1