David Shearer Limited and the Australian Farmer

Towns

Categories

Images © Shane Strudwick

The story of David Shearer Limited and Mannum dates back to the year 1877, when the brothers David and John Shearer started a blacksmith business in Mannum.

The two Shearer brothers made stump-jump ploughs and introduced to the Australian farmer the one-piece steel plough-shares which are renowned for their strength and tough wearing quality.

The present-day factory still incorporates a special ploughshare section where a large range of steel ploughshares are produced for many different makes of ploughs.

In the years 1898-1900, Mr. David Shearer made a steam car which featured Australia’s first differential. This steam car (portions of which have been rebuilt) is one of the town’s river front recreation reserves. It is in the care of the South Australian National Trust and is available for visitors to inspect. David Sharer’s association with the people on the land has ben, and will remain, a very close tie. The present-day modern factory is in a decentralised area and is right in the heart of a farming community and this is undoubtedly the reason why David Shearer Limited is so aware of the farmer’s needs. They have supplied Australia’s pioneer farmers with – horse drawn implements with as Wagons, Ploughs, Fire Rates, Strippers and Harvesters.

During both world wars, David Shearer Limited turned their attention to munitions work and applied their equipment and skills to all-out efforts to meet the need of our country and the soldiers, some of whom had been the farmers who had been the users of Shearer Farming Equipment in peace time.

The advent of the tractor enabled David Shearer Limited to make bigger and better Power-take-Off Headers and a comprehensive range of hydraulically operated Harrows.

Now the Company employs over 400 people all the year around in a modern factory where expansion is always taking place. the S.A. Housing Trust are building new homes in Mannum to accommodate more families.

The present-day Power-Take-Off ‘Type CS’ and ‘CS 105’ Headers are the largest capacity P.T.O. machines on the Australian market. They are used by farmers in all States of Australia and are renowned as Australian made for Australian conditions. They enjoy the highest reputation for their construction and efficiency in fulfilling the requirements of the farming community.

In recent years, David Shearer Limited have released a Self-Propelled Header named the ‘XP88’ and in 1968 this machine won the ‘First Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design’. A substantial number of these ‘XP88’ Headers were purchased and operated by farmers in all States of Australia last harvest.

Excerpt from Murray Valley Reference Handbook
_Published by Murray Valley Development League, 1968 _

No Feedback Yet