The Little Grey Fergie

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The photo shows a ‘little grey Fergie’, a Ferguson tractor which was, and often still is, a much treasured piece of farm equipment. Officially, it is the Ferguson TE20, designed by Englishman Harry Ferguson. It was produced from 1946 to 1956. It was small, lightweight, manoeuvrable and versatile. It also featured the hydraulic three-point hitch system which quickly became very popular with all makes of tractors. It was more affordable for the average farmer. Being small and light, it often took the place of the draught horse and took away some of the manual drudge of the small farmer. Many are still in use, as this one appears to be, and they are also very popular with collectors. Some more interesting points: • In 1956, a fleet of little grey Fergies were used to build levee banks to save the town of Wentworth from flooding. There is a monument at the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers to commemorate the event. • Seven modified Fergies were used on the 1955-58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. • Betsy, a diesel Fergie, is in the Guinness Book of Records for its trip of 3,176 miles (5,111 km) around the coastline of Britain. • Between 1992 and 2015, a Fergie was shown on the NZ five-dollar note. • A Fergie starred in a TV series for preschool children, which premiered in the UK in 2013. • Australian folk musician Peter Pentland released an album in 1979 entitled Me Beaut Little Fergie Tractor. The photo was taken by me in the shed of our house-sit.