Item Type: Family

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Families

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Albion Park

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Harris, Claude

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Harris

DESCRIPTION

NameHarrisDescriptionWilliam Harris was born in 1875 at Ironbark, NSW to James and Ellen Harris (nee Muldoon).

William married Florence Australia Stibbard at Orange in 1901 and they had the following known children;

William George (Bill) b. 1901
Claude b.1902
Sydney Roy b. 1905

In 1925, their son William George Harris married Elizabeth ‘May’ Timbs, daughter of David and Martha (nee Daley) of Albion Park.

William and May had three sons;

Claude James Harris b.1927-2019
John William Harris 1928-2003
Roy David 1937-1955

The following information was contributed by William and May’s son, Claude Harris.

William (Bill) George 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.

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 1940's 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 were 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 is still run by a member of the Harris family at the same location in Albion Park.

External LinkOur Soldiers 1917An Albion Park Case 1923Albion Park 1924Roy Harris 1924Wedding Harris - Timbs 1925Obituary Mr W Harris 1926Master Claude Harris 1942Roy Harris 1924

Photograph

Celebrating Claude Harris' 90th Birthday

WG Harris & Sons Garage

'Jenolan', Albion Park

School Children on Horseback at Albion Park

Opening of Wentworth Cottage Park

The former home of William & May Harris, Albion Park

Elizabeth May Harris 1902-1986

Object

Commonwealth Depositors Depositors Pass Book

Lucas Battery Filler Bottle

Place

Thomas Timbs' Coach Service

Jenolan

WG Harris and Sons Garage

Albion Park Post Office

Person

Harris, Claude

Brownlee, William

Family

Lyons

Timbs

Event

Marshall Mount Dance

William (Bill) Harris & May Timbs on their wedding day 1925.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesFamilyTimbsLyonsLocalityAlbion ParkPersonHarris, ClaudePlaceMay Harris ParkTongarra MineWG Harris and Sons GarageAlbion Park Post OfficeRelated ItemJenolanWilliam (Bill) Harris & May Timbs on their wedding day 1925WG Harris and Sons GarageW G Harris & Sons garage, Albion ParkElizabeth May Harris 1902-1986Doug Blow, Harris, Claude & Youll, John outside Tongarra MuseumBill Harris beside his 1948 Dodge TC516A 1936 and 1948 Dodge car belonging to W G Harris & Sons

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