George Harris
Baker, Tinakori Road
This drawing prepared by architect John Sydney Swan illustrate a proposed new row of shops and accommodation for George Thomas Harris (junior), located on Tinakori Road. George had been working as manager for Mr Leadbetter at the Star Bakery at 134 Tinakori Road for several years (the street numbers have changed). He purchased the business from Leadbetter in 1903. The bakery continued to be known as the Star Bakery. The business offered to cater for balls, picnics and weddings. The bakery would deliver bread daily to Kelburn, Creswick, Northland and Karori.
In 1905 George commissioned new premises for his business and his family home. The layout shown provided George with a shop and purpose-built bake house behind. Through the passage separating the shops is access to two stalls for his horses – a necessity for bread deliveries. Behind the bakery shop is a room with separate entrance. Perhaps this was somewhere to conduct matters of business or rest with a cup of tea between serving customers?
A staircase takes you up to the family accommodation over the bakery. There was a sitting room facing Tinkaori Road, a kitchen (where you would also eat) and four bedrooms. There was also a bathroom, indoor toilet and washhouse at the rear, connected to a yard at the upper level. A flour store was located above the horse stalls.
As part of the same development, two further shops with their own yards and family accommodation were built with 14” thick party walls. They are much smaller with only three bedrooms and all the living / kitchen work taking place in the room behind the shop.
By 1907, Alfred Bowden (greengrocer) and James Russell (draper) occupied the other two other shops in the new building. That same year George was sued by the Flourmillers’ Cooperative for outstanding payments of £82 12s 5d. He was bankrupted and moved to Woodville, although the newspaper noted that he had considerable assets which would pay a substantial dividend. Presumably this made reference to the shops on Tinakori Road he owned.
Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936. Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936 :Buildings, Tinakori Road, Wellington, N. Z. Sketch plans. G. T. Harris Jun. Baker etc. July 1905.. Ref: Plans-80-0502. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23232197
Detail from: Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936. Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936 :Buildings, Tinakori Road, Wellington, N. Z. Sketch plans. G. T. Harris Jun. Baker etc. July 1905.. Ref: Plans-80-0502. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23232197
Google street view of the building today. The passage to access the horse stalls is still apparent.
George and Margaret Harris with their children Madge, Jake, Rene, Lena and Ivy. Photo from Ancestry trees.
New Zealand Mail, 19 July 1905, p73