Wheat has been a facet of Australian agriculture since the First Fleet arrived in Sydney in 1788. Wheat can be grown in a variety of soils and conditions but early varieties were susceptible to diseases and many difficulties are experienced with its production. Wheat grading machines were used to separate the finer wheat seeds from the inferior and substandard seeds. The substandard seeds were used for chicken feed while the better seeds were saved for the next years sowing. One of the general rules for a good seed was a larger size. The grader helped measure the seeds into a uniform size. Wheat graders distilled the large seeds from smaller ones, as well as separated out weed seeds, other crop seeds, damaged seeds, straw, and dust.

This photograph shows a steel-wheeled farm wagon carrying a seed grader made by The Clyde Engineering Co. Ltd, a large Australian firm in Granville, a suburb of Sydney. This firm made agricultural machinery, engineering equipment, and railway rolling stock during the first half of the twentieth century.