WG Harris and Sons Garage

DESCRIPTION

NameWG Harris and Sons GarageTypeBuildingBusinessComplexGeolocation^[1]Source NSW SHI Last edited by: Will Chittick

DescriptionWilliam (Bill) Harris purchased two blocks of land in Tongarra Road Albion Park, and built a garage to house his hire car service, before venturing into car repairing and eventually selling petrol from his established garage in 1923.

They used hand operated bowsers which held 5 gallons of Shell or Plum brand. The petrol was hand pumped up into a glass cylinder, and sold at approx one shilling, seven pence and a halfpenny per gallon.

Bill’s father William Snr. was the Post Master at the Post Office opposite where the family lived in premises at the back of the Post Office from 1913. Bill married Elizabeth May Timbs of Albion Park in 1925, and built their house ‘Jenolan’ next to the garage. In the 1940s Bill and May’s sons Jack and Claude, served their apprenticeships as motor mechanics, attending Wollongong Technical College.

The Harris family, were owners of the model T Ford, a 1923 seven- seater Hudson, Rugbys, Durant, Hudson and Dodge cars. Their car-hire and taxi service was popular in the town, and at times transporting school children until Bill purchased a 14 seater 1930 White bus. Claude remembers many of the school children now grown up with families of their own that travelled to school on the Harris bus. Many parents of Albion Park and Oak Flats recognise Claude from their school days.

In 1945, they purchased an International 31-seater bus to transport the mine workers at Tongarra Coal Mine, and later in 1947 a new White WB20 37 seater bus for general transport use. Bill’s son Claude started driving the miner’s bus in 1945, and relates some anxious moments negotiating the steep hill and having to back up when the fully loaded coal trucks needed to pass. Over the years the bus remained in service until 1973, covering over 300,000 miles.

Bill, and sons Claude and Jack drove the buses, taxis and hire cars as well as working in the garage, training apprentices, and repairing all types of vehicles from PMG push bikes to cars, trucks, farm machinery, boats, motor bikes and lawn mowers, and on odd occasions, a farmer would bring the bulls in to be branded.

Claude and Jack would meet the trains at Albion Park and transport passengers, as well as freight and mail, in the era of the Tongarra mail run from Albion Park to the foot of Macquarie Pass. According to Claude, good times were had with the locals dropping in for a chat and morning tea provided by his mother May, and the enjoyment of the community spirit of the town folk. The Harris Garage of over 86 years establishment, is still run by a member of the Harris family at the same location in Albion Park. The business was a family affair with Bill, May and their sons and wives all helping. Now Bill’s eldest grandson runs the garage, and not uncommon to see Bill and May’s great grandsons when calling in to the garage. (Claude’s memories excerpts Tongarra Heritage Soc. Newsletter)

External LinkBrevities 1923Albion Park 1931Albion Park News 1949

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