Historic Sites of Manitoba: Steam Tractor Monument (Austin, Municipality of North Norfolk)

A steam tractor belonging to the Manitoba Agricultural Museum is located at the west end of Austin at the junction of Highway 34 and Manitoba Avenue. It was installed here in 1991.

The tractor was purchased in 1911 by Malcolm Solomon Joseph McMurachy and operated in the Green Bluff School District in the Rural Municipality of Strathclair. From 1911 to 1929, it did custom threshing but, due to poor crops caused by rust, McMurachy was unable to meet his financial commitments and, in 1937, he moved to the McConnell district. In 1935, this engine and a 40-60 Case Thresher harvested the McMurachy wheat from which Selkirk wheat was developed.

Austin Steam Tractor Monument (October 2017)
Source: George Penner

Austin Steam Tractor Monument (June 2020)
Source: George Penner

Austin Steam Tractor Monument (June 2023)
Source: Glen Toews

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.95043, W98.94903
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

This page was prepared by George Penner, Glen Toews, Gordon Goldsborough, and S. Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 October 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba

This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.

SEARCH the collection

Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other

Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.

Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.

Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.

Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ

Help us keep history alive!