Museum of the Riverina
P.O. Box 20 Wagga Wagga NSW, 2650
Phone 0269 252 934 Fax 0269 255 720
E-mail museum@wagga.nsw.gov.au
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In Australia's agricultural history there were many significant farming inventions that led the world in ploughing and harvesting.
Three of the more famous inventions are
The Ridley Stripper
McKay Stripper Harvester
Sunshine Harvester
The Museum has on display these three machines, which changed the way farmers throughout the world worked their crops.
The Ridley Stripper
The Australian or Ridley Stripper was designed by J W Bull and made by John Ridley in Adelaide in 1843.
This was the principal method of harvesting wheat into the 1910's.
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The Ridley Stripper 1834
The Mckay Stripper Harvester
Combines stripping and winnowing in one machine. Invented by H V McKay 1880's, and was manufactured in Ballarat.
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Mckay Stripper Harvester 1880's
Sunshine Auto Header
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Sunshine Auto Header 1927
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Above is a collection of household implements. In the foreground is an original Victa Moter Mower, a Victor 18 made by Qualcast in Footscray.
Behind the Victor are three lawn mowers which had to be pushed by hand, and the turning of the wheels turned the gears which made the cutting blades rotate.
To the left of the mowers is a Singer, foot operated Boot Makers Sewing Machine.
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Above you can see an unusual Wooden Barrel Washing Machine, with Hand Operated Agitator. This dates back to 1890.
By placing the clothes, water and soap into the barrel, and closing the lid, the operator turned the wheel on the side, which turned the driveshaft, and in turn the gears which turned the wooden agitator in the barrel.
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On looking inside the barrel the bottom half is simply the area to hold the water and clothes. Underneath the opened lid you can see the agitator, shaped like a small wooden table with 5 legs. The centre leg is the shaft rotated by the wheel, and the four legs turn the clothes around in the water.
When finished the wet clothes were squeezed through the rollers on the right hand side, termed a wringer, to squeeze most of the water out of the clothes, which were then hung on the line to dry.
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