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

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

Austin Steam Tractor Monument

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

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

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Malcolm Solomon Joseph McMurachy (1878-1960)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: McMurachy Monument (Strathclair, RM of Yellowhead)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Agricultural Museum (Austin, Municipality of North Norfolk)

Sources:

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

Page revised: 2 July 2023

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