Harrison Family

George Herbert Harrison was born in Canterbury in 1879. From 1901 onwards, he lived in Petone, where he would live the rest of his life. He worked for the Hutt Railway Workshops and was a turner.

George took a keen interest in boating and was a member of the Petone Naval Volunteers. He owned a 12-foot canoe named Shamrock which he paddled across Cook Strait in the early 1900s. He lobbied the council to make improvements to the local boat sheds.

Although already living on the Hutt Road, in 1909, he applied for a Building Consent for a new house at 63 Hutt Road. It was described as a 6-room dwelling and the construction value was £475. Just a month after applying for his building consent, George married Myrtle Olive May Neill at St Augustine’s Church in Petone. Myrtle Neill lived on the Hutt Road too and so perhaps they were neighbours. This photo is of two people standing outside No. 63 Hutt Road, and they are most likely George and Myrtle.

In 1913, their first son named Roy was born. As WWI progressed, George was placed on the Army’s Reserve Roll. But he was not called up. In 1921 their second son named Stuart was born.

George was a foundation member of the Hutt Valley High School Parent’s Association and following his retirement from the Railway Workshops, he devoted considerable time to patriotic work. George died in 1943, while both of his sons were serving overseas in WWII.

When Roy and Stuart returned from the war, they lived in the family home until Stuart married in 1953. Myrtle died in 1966 and Roy, who never married, died at 63 Hutt Road in 1976. The same family owning the house for over sixty years.

George and Myrtle are interred at Karori Cemetery in Plot: *Ch Eng 2/G/1020.

References:

Hutt City Historic Property Index Card
Probate Files, Archives New Zealand
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Paperspast