McPherson's Pty Ltd
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hardware, woodworking and metalworking machinery |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Founder | Thomas McPherson |
| Fate | Renamed Thomas McPherson and Son in 1898; reorganized as McPherson's Pty Ltd in 1913 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
Key people | Thomas McPherson (founder), William Murray McPherson (owner and director), Oliver James Addison (managing director) |
| Products | Woodworking and metalworking machinery, ironmongery products, rivets, nuts, bolts, lathes, guillotines, twist drills, thread-forming tools, files, rasps |
McPherson's Pty Ltd was a prominent Australian hardware company, widely acknowledged for its expertise in supplying woodworking and metalworking machinery.
Foundation
The enterprise was established in 1860 by Thomas McPherson (circa 1823 – 27 December 1888) at 149 Spencer Street, Melbourne. Initially, the firm specialized in ironmongery, offering products such as bells, lathes, horseshoes, and steam engines. Despite the economic downturn during the 1890s depression, the company managed to fulfill all its financial obligations and avoided bankruptcy. Thomas McPherson also held the position of Melbourne’s mayor from 1870 to 1871. He and his wife Jessie raised three sons who survived into adulthood:
- Hunter Kerwin McPherson (1851 – July 1932), who became a prosperous businessman based in Sydney.
- Edward Clayhills McPherson (1863 – 16 November 1896), who shared ownership of the business.
- William Murray McPherson (19 September 1865 – 22 March 1929), who took over the enterprise following Edward’s death in 1896; he later served as Treasurer of Victoria (1917–1923), Premier of Victoria (1928–1929), and received a knighthood in 1923.
After Edward’s suicide in 1896, William Murray McPherson assumed sole proprietorship. The company was renamed Thomas McPherson and Son in 1898.
By 1908, the firm's operations had relocated to 582–588 Collins Street, Melbourne. In 1913, coinciding with William Murray McPherson’s political engagements, the business was reorganized as the private entity McPherson's Pty Ltd.
Development
Expansion continued by 1917 with additional premises acquired at 554–566 Collins Street. The company secured freehold ownership of these properties by 1946, along with a site on Jeffcott Street in West Melbourne. By that time, manufacturing facilities were established in Tottenham, Kensington, and Richmond within Victoria.
In 1937, McPherson's purchased a substantial 76-acre tract at Sunshine, Victoria, situated adjacent to a railway line.
By mid-1940s, McPherson's held majority stakes in various Australasian industrial companies including Ajax Bolt and Rivet Pty Ltd of New Zealand (founded in 1939); F. W. Hercus Manufacturing Co. Ltd based in South Australia, known for producing lathes, guillotines, and heavy machinery; Patience and Nicholson (P & N) located in Maryborough, Victoria, which specialized in twist drills and thread-forming tools; and Wiltshire Files in Tottenham, which focused on files and rasps.
The catalogue
One of the company’s major promotional tools was its comprehensive catalogue, which was distributed without charge to farmers and commercial clients. The catalogue expanded significantly over time—from an initial length of 148 pages in 1908 to 372 pages by 1937. By the 1960 edition, it had grown further to encompass 510 pages, illustrating the widening scope of products offered and market penetration.
People
William Murray McPherson wed Emily Jackson—daughter of Sydney merchant William Marshall Jackson and managing director of Lassetter and Co.—on 19 May 1892. They had three children: one son and two daughters:
- William Edward McPherson (12 December 1898 – 17 January 1950).
Oliver James Addison (deceased 13 June 1947) served as managing director at McPherson's.
In the year 1935, W. E. McPherson held the position of governing director (later chairman); O. J. Addison was managing director; while M. T. W. Eady and K. C. Bainbridge served as directors.
New South Wales
In September 1913, the Acme Machine Tool Company located at 51–65 Bathurst Street, Sydney, was incorporated as a branch of McPherson's Proprietary Limited.
McPherson's manufactured all five million rivets (around 3500 long tons) used in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
By 1946, the company had established a manufacturing facility in Alexandria, New South Wales.
O. W. Hastie held the position of Sydney director in 1935.
South Australia
McPherson's developed new retail and showroom spaces at 102–130 Waymouth Street, Adelaide, replacing several residential buildings and part of Shannon's Horse Bazaar on the former site of the Queen's Theatre.
Western Australia
Initially, McPherson's products were distributed to Perth customers via Burkett's Agencies. The company maintained showrooms and office space at 532–534 Murray Street, Perth.
A factory was set up by McPherson's in Bayswater for local production of nuts and bolts; however, it was closed in 1940 due to high labor costs making operations unviable. In 1935, A. T. Johnson was the Perth director.