The 1912 McDonald ‘EB’ Imperial tractor no. 140 on display in the Gandel Atrium. Photo: National Museum of Australia/Jason McCarthy
Photo by
Jason McCarthy
One of the earliest surviving tractors manufactured in Australia, the extraordinary McDonald ‘Imperial’ oil ‘EB’ tractor is on display at National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
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The tractor, built in 1912, was acquired by the National Museum for $250,000, with the support of the Federal Government through the National Cultural Heritage Account grant program.
The McDonald ‘EB’ oil tractor is one of three complete examples manufactured in Australia by AH McDonald & Co of Richmond, Melbourne.
In 1908, Melbourne engineers Alfred and Ernest McDonald produced the first Australian-made, oil-powered tractor, known as the ‘EA’. The improved design of the ‘EB’ followed in 1912.
It provides a revealing insight into the global transformation in automotive and agricultural practices triggered by the invention of the oil-driven, internal combustion engine in the 1870s.
The tractor was originally purchased new in 1912 by Frank William Chilcott for use at Lillesdon Park, his 163ha farm located on French Island in Victoria’s Western Port Bay.
It was likely used for land clearing as part of the local chicory cultivation industry, which was a prolific industry on French Island until the mid-1960s.
“Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the early tractors produced by AH McDonald & Co was the relative sophistication of their engineering, which included coil ignition, a three-speed gearbox and automotive rack-and-pinion steering,” museum curator Ian Coates said.
“This reflects Alf McDonald’s capacity to improve the contemporary design of imported American tractors.”
It was acquired with the support of an anonymous benefactor.
The tractor will be on display at the National Museum of Australia until July 23.
Three men with the ‘EB’ tractor at French Island, 1926. Photo: Museums Victoria/G Bennetts
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