Heather McKay celebrity print 1974

Summary

This concrete handprint was formerly located as a part of the iconic McEwans celebrity pavement. Between 1972 and 1994, scores of celebrities had their handprints and footprints immortalised in cement at the entrance to the McEwans hardware store on Bourke Street. The City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection acquired a number of these impressed concrete slabs from the original celebrity pavement in 2005.

"Heather McKay (born 1941) was a champion squash player. During the 1960s and ’70s she dominated the women’s competition, winning 14 consecutive Australian titles (1960-73), 16 consecutive British Open titles (1972-77) and two World Championships (1976 [the first women’s world title] & 1979).1 She was named ABC Australian Sportsman of the Year in 1967." - Robyn Annear, 2023