John Harris

John Harris (1754 – April 1838) was a military surgeon, naval officer and landowner, who arrived in New South Wales on the second fleet and ultimately became one of the major landowners in New South Wales, Australia.

Early life John Harris, who was the son of John and Ann Harris was born in 1754 on the Moy McIlmurry farm in Moneymore, County Londonderry, Ireland. Harris lived a prosperous life, with his family working as tenant farmers on the Salters Company which received a grant from the Crown in 1611. In Harris’ early schooling years, he was taught Latin, mathematics and classics, however, there was no evidence in any higher education except studying at the University of Edinburgh for a medical profession. In 1789, Harris was appointed as a surgeon with the NSW Corps. Harris was promoted in 1791and was later made magistrate and given responsibility of the police establishment in September 1800. In 1801, Harris was ranked up as a Naval Officer, succeeding Surgeon William Balmain.

Community activity Harris participated in the community in addition to his role as a surgeon. Harris involved himself in road construction in addition to serving as a Naval Officer. Harris was additionally involved in establishing the Bank of New South Wales and was elected as one of the first directors in February 1817. By the end of a century, Harris owned were purchased himself. The Rum Rebellion was an act to depose Governor William Bligh by local critics. Before Harris attracted conspirators to arrest Bligh, Bligh accused the corps of corruption and ineptitude and the act that led to the rebellion was Bligh's arrest of John Macarthur, who was a former corps officer and leading entrepreneur. The Experiment Farm Cottage remained in the Harris family until 1923 and was then subdivided and sold.

The Experiment Farm Cottage has a symmetrical front with a low hipped roof covering its verandah with a 6 panelled entrance door and sidelights surrounding the exterior. The cottage sits on a small garden filled with lemon scented gum (Corymbia citriodora), jacaranda's (Jacaranda mimosifolia), fruit trees and cottage plants.

The Experiment Farm Cottage has been furnished by the National Trust of Australia in the early 200s to reflect Harris' home with the use of evidence from old paintings, sketches and photographs to create the best representation of the cottage.

Experiment Farm Cottage

In recognition of his devotion and time to communities of New South Wales, Harris was ultimately given the Ultimo Estate while his property Experiment Farm Cottage is kept as a part of New South Wales historical precinct which allowed members of the community to access the site for leisure and educational purposes. This precinct also includes the Hambledon Cottage, Elizabeth Farm and the Queen's Wharf. The Experiment Farm Cottage is now a museum located in Harris Park for the community to explore and embrace stories of past settlers.

Harris resided at the Experiment Farm Cottage until his death in 1836 and the property was left with his family until 1921 which the land was divided and Harris Park was established. In 1961, the land was the first land that was acquired by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and was restored and furnished with colonial pieces and became open to the public. It also became the first house museum that focused on Australian colonial furnitures.

The Experiment Farm Cottage is now refurnished with paintings, catalogues and photographs to reflect Harris home with an addition of colonial furnitures.

Ultimo Ultimo was named after Harris’, which the land is now occupied by the University of Technology Sydney in addition to Harris Park, a suburb in Greater Western Sydney and Mount Harris in New South Wales.

Ultimo House The Ultimo House was pressured by the Board of Technical Education to be opened to public in 1883 after Harris death. It was suggested that the Board of Technical Education to purchase 3.5 acres of Harris' land to develop and build a new Technical College. However, this was initially rejected by Joseph Currathers, the Minister of Public Instruction, though, the land was still purchased in 1891 and two high schools, a technical college and a technical museum was built.

By 1910, the technical college expanded twice its size, occupying the entire block, including the Ultimo House and an additional two acres of garden. This site was used by students as a lunch and recreational area and the Ultimo House itself was used as a classroom to teach dressmaking, millinery, flower making, veterinary science and agriculture. However, the stables ad coach house were demolished and transformed into classrooms teaching bricklaying, plastering, masonry, drawing and design. The transformation of the Utimo House was supervised by James Nangle, the head of an architect department.

However, by November 1932, the Ultimo House was demolished once again for the expansion of the Technical College, a new electrical engineering building.