Timeline – McKay Gardens
1904, MCKAY FACTORY RELOCATED
Hugh Victor McKay moves his factory from Ballarat to Braybrook Junction (later Sunshine)
1907, CHURCH BUILT
A timber Presbyterian Church was built on the other side of the railway to the factory
1909, GARDENS CREATED
H.V. McKay establishes the Sunshine Gardens for the use of the workers at the McKay Harvester factory
1911, FOOTBRIDGE BUILT
A timber footbridge is built across the railway, providing a direct link from the Gardens to the entrance of the Harvester factory site
1918, BOWLING GREEN OPENED
Official opening of the Sunshine Bowling Green
1926, HUGH VICTOR MCKAY DIES
Diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1925, McKay dies at home in Rupertswood Mansion, Sunbury
1928, BRICK CHURCH OPENS
With land formally donated by McKay, building of a brick Presbyterian church commenced in 1926 and was completed in 1928
1930, FOOTBRIDGE EXTENDED
McKay footbridge is extended to span across Harvester Road in addition to the railway tracks
1930, BUSINESS MERGER
The firm known as Hugh V McKay merges with Massey Harris to become H V McKay Massey Harris
1930, NEW HEAD GARDENER APPOINTED
James Willan is appointed as head gardener
1940, NEW HEAD GARDENER APPOINTED
Harold Gray is appointed as head gardener, his tenure becoming particularly well known for floral displays of Chrysanthemums and Dahlias
1953, GARDENS GIFTED TO COUNCIL
Gardens given to the City of Sunshine by Hugh McKay’s son, Cecil and became H.V. McKay Memorial Gardens (coll. Sunshine Gardens)