First Internal Combustion engine in Moruya
c1904 6hp "YORK"
The York,.......1st restoration complete
Our club's signature piece.....................
Mr Hedley Luck purchased this 6hp "YORK" engine second hand, in 1906 from a Mr. Stan Nelson for use on the family dairy farm "Myrtle Bank" at Yaragee, on the Moruya River. It was used to drive a peg toothed drum thresher & winnower to make chaff for stock feed and it also processed crops for many of the small farms in the area.
Ray Luck, remembered it running in 1936 when he was only 6 years old. He recalled it was last started by Frank Campbell in 1946. Ray recovered the engine in 1983 from the paddock where it had been abandoned.
He replaced the wooden transporter and mechanically overhauled the engine.
Subsequently the engine was obtained for preservation by Steve Clark of "Moggendora Farm", Moruya, who recognised its unique place in the history of Moruya as it was reputed to be the first internal combustion engine to come to the town. Also of great interest is that the engine was manufactured prior to the "Flinchbaugh Manufacturing Co." of York, Pennsylvania, being granted the patents for the design. Castings on a plate covering the engine's governor states, "Patents applied for", indicating the engine to have been built prior to 1906.
Original Restoration.........
Sadly Steve Clark passed away in 2007, but his widow, Beverley and their daughters wished to keep the engine in Moruya as a memorial to Steve and his foresight. They kindly passed the engine into the guardianship of our club, which completed a full restoration in order for it to be displayed at rallies and shows around the region.
To ensure a high quality restoration, we did a great deal of research into the Flinchbaugh company and the York engines, however, we didn't find much information at all. We found even less on the 6hp variant and it appears that this one is the only known example in Australia. There are a handful of smaller hp variants scattered around the country, one, we found, to be at the bottom of Bermagui Boat Harbour! Because of its rarity, it was difficult to know just how it looked originally, and we based most of the process on the only decent photo we had of a 6hp, which you can see below.
We couldn't have completed this restoration by ourselves so we enlisted the help of some local craftsmen who were eager to help because they recognised that it was indeed a community project. Likewise the "Eurobodalla Shire Council", acknowledging the historical importance of the engine, granted the sum of $1,000 to help towards the cost of its restoration.
The York is now "Heritage Listed" with both the NSW government and the local council and was seen regularly at community gatherings throughout the region. It was quite a hit with the general public.
To ensure a high quality restoration, we did a great deal of research into the Flinchbaugh company and the York engines, however, we didn't find much information at all. We found even less on the 6hp variant and it appears that this one is the only known example in Australia. There are a handful of smaller hp variants scattered around the country, one, we found, to be at the bottom of Bermagui Boat Harbour! Because of its rarity, it was difficult to know just how it looked originally, and we based most of the process on the only decent photo we had of a 6hp, which you can see below.
We couldn't have completed this restoration by ourselves so we enlisted the help of some local craftsmen who were eager to help because they recognised that it was indeed a community project. Likewise the "Eurobodalla Shire Council", acknowledging the historical importance of the engine, granted the sum of $1,000 to help towards the cost of its restoration.
The York is now "Heritage Listed" with both the NSW government and the local council and was seen regularly at community gatherings throughout the region. It was quite a hit with the general public.
Below are some photos of the YORK undergoing original restoration.......
Pictured below are the only other 6hp York's we've been able to find.
Both have been sold at auction in the USA.
Both have been sold at auction in the USA.
After being securely stored in a private garage for many years, the York was on permanent display in the Clubs HQ at The Goldrush Village, Old Mogo Town, until devastating bushfires on New Years Eve 2019 destroyed our clubhouse and severely damaged the York.