McPherson's Pty Ltd

McPherson's Pty Ltd was an Australian hardware firm, for many years a leading merchant of woodworking and metal-working machinery.

Foundation

Thomas McPherson (c. 1823 – 27 December 1888),[1] who had a home "Dudley House" at 142 Dudley Street, West Melbourne, founded an ironmongery business in 1860,[2] at 149 Spencer Street, Melbourne. Merchandise carried included bells, lathes, horseshoes,[3] and steam engines.[3] The business suffered a severe setback in the depression of the 1890s, but was able to honor all its debts and avoid insolvency.[4] He was mayor of Melbourne 1870–1871. He was married to Jessie McPherson, née Fulton (c. 1823 – 27 June 1901). Three sons survived childhood:

  • Hunter Kerwin McPherson (1851 – July 1932) was independently successful as a businessman in Sydney.[5]
  • Edward Clayhills McPherson (1863 – 16 November 1896) He inherited his father's business along with his younger brother —
  • William Murray McPherson (19 September 1865 – 22 March 1929) inherited the business on the death of their father.[4] He had a notable career in politics. He was treasurer of Victoria 1917–1923 and knighted in 1923. He was Premier of Victoria 1928–1929 and a noted philanthropist.

William Murray McPherson became sole proprietor in 1896 after Edward killed himself by gunshot[6] but it was not until 1898 that the business name was changed – to Thomas McPherson and Son.[7]

In 1908 the business was operating from premises at 582–588 Collins Street, Melbourne.[8]

In 1913, having embarked on a career in politics, he restructured the business as a private company, McPherson's Pty Ltd.

Development

By 1917 the Collins Street premises was augmented by the addition of 554–566 Collins Street.[2] Freehold on this property was finalized in 1946, also a property on Jeffcott Street, West Melbourne, by which time the company also had factories in Tottenham, Kensington and Richmond, Victoria.[9]

In 1937 the company purchased 76 acres (31 ha) at Sunshine, adjacent the railway line.[10]

By 1946 the company had controlling interests in several Australasian industries, including Ajax Bolt and Rivet Pty Ltd of New Zealand (established in 1939),[11] F. W. Hercus Manufacturing Co. Ltd, manufacturers in South Australia of lathes, guillotines and other heavy machinery; also of Patience and Nicholson (P & N), manufacturers in Maryborough, Victoria, of twist drills and thread-forming tools;[9] also Wiltshire Files on Sunshine Road, Tottenham,[12] manufacturing files and rasps.

The catalogue

A key promotional tool for the company was its catalogue, extensively detailed with prices, available free of charge to farmers and other businesses. In 1908 it had 148 pages.[13] By 1937 it had grown to 372 pages,[14] The 1960 catalogue, of which a copy is held by Museums Victoria,[15] had 510 pages.

People

William Murray McPherson married Emily Jackson on 19 May 1892. Emily was a daughter of Sydney merchant William Marshall Jackson, managing director of Lassetter and Co. They had one son and two daughters

  • William Edward McPherson (12 December 1898 – 17 January 1950).[16]

Oliver James Addison (died 13 June 1947) was managing director of McPherson's from [17]

In 1935 W. E. McPherson was governing director (later termed chairman); O. J. Addison, managing director; with M. T. W. Eady and K. C. Bainbridge, directors.[18]

Expansion

New South Wales

In September 1913 Acme Machine Tool Company[19] at 51–65 Bathurst Street, Sydney, became a branch of McPherson's Proprietary Limited.[20]

McPherson's claimed to have supplied, from their own manufacture, all five million rivets (some 3,500 long tons (3,600 t)) used in building the Sydney Harbour Bridge.[21]

By 1946 the company also had a factory in Alexandria.[9]

In 1935 O. W. Hastie was Sydney director.[18]

South Australia

The company built a new store and showrooms on 102–130 Waymouth Street, Adelaide (bisected by Gilles Arcade), having demolished a row of houses and part of Shannon's Horse Bazaar,[22] previously known as Queen's Theatre.

Western Australia

At first McPherson's product line was available to Perth customers through Burkett's Agencies[23]

Showrooms and offices were at 532–534 Murray Street, Perth.

A factory which the company established at Bayswater for local manufacture of nuts and bolts proved uneconomical due to unavailability of cheap labour, and closed in 1940.[24]

In 1935 A. T. Johnson was Perth director of the company.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Family Notices". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 13, 270. Victoria, Australia. 2 January 1889. p. 1. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "A Place of Interest". Mortlake Dispatch. No. 9599. Victoria, Australia. 19 September 1917. p. 15 (Supplement). Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b "Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 4, 244. Victoria, Australia. 18 January 1860. p. 7. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b "Men of the Moment". Table Talk. No. 1258. Victoria, Australia. 2 September 1909. p. 14. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Obituary". The North Western Courier. Vol. XIV, no. 63. New South Wales, Australia. 4 August 1932. p. 2. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "The West Melbourne Suicide". North Melbourne Courier and West Melbourne Advertiser. No. 55. Victoria, Australia. 20 November 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 16, 148. Victoria, Australia. 5 April 1898. p. 8. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Thomas McPherson and Son". The Camperdown Chronicle. Vol. XXXIV, no. 5445. Victoria, Australia. 29 August 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ a b c "McPherson's to Spend £500,000 on Expansion". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 21, 522. Victoria, Australia. 13 May 1946. p. 11. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Finance". The Sun News-pictorial. No. 4684. Victoria, Australia. 24 September 1937. p. 48. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Bolt Making". The Age. No. 26372. Victoria, Australia. 25 October 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "New Factory for File Making". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 19, 475. Victoria, Australia. 16 October 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Thomas McPherson and Son". The Tarrangower Times and Maldon Advertiser. No. 4635. Victoria, Australia. 29 August 1908. p. 7 (Supplement). Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "McPherson's Catalogue; Fine Publication Free". The Land. No. 1373. New South Wales, Australia. 24 September 1937. p. 20. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Museums Victoria Collections:McPherson's catalogue". Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  16. ^ "McPherson's Chairman Dies at 51". The Sun News-pictorial. No. 8523. Victoria, Australia. 19 January 1950. p. 21. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "O. J. Addison". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 446. Victoria, Australia. 14 June 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ a b c "McPherson's Pty 75th Anniversary". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XXV, no. 3, 819. South Australia. 17 October 1935. p. 14. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Mail. Vol. III, no. 76. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1913. p. 42. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Mail. Vol. III, no. 77. New South Wales, Australia. 17 September 1913. p. 39. Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "McPherson's Machinery Exhibit". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 11 September 1928. p. 30. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Real Estate News". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 21, no. 1, 060. South Australia. 17 September 1932. p. 6 (Magazine Section). Retrieved 27 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "McPherson's Pty Ltd". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 2[?]. Western Australia. 5 September 1937. p. 12. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "McPherson's Pty. Ltd". The Age. No. 26, 617. Victoria, Australia. 7 August 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 28 June 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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