Harry Andreas (born Ehenriech Phillip Andreas; 1879–1955)
Birth and education
Harry Andreas was born in Sydney, the first son of Australian-born Hannah (née Denning) and English-born Phillip Ehenriech Andreas. His younger brother, Charles Denning Andreas (18801882), died as an infant.
[ BD&Ms – NSW Deaths. Retrieved 8 September 2012] During his childhood, the Andreas family lived in Palace Street, Petersham, New South Wales.
Andreas was educated at Newington College (18911895)
[ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 4] where he was a talented sportsman and shot.
[ The Newingtonian 1992 (Syd, 1992) pp 237] In 1893, he competed in the Queen's Rifle Shoot at Bisley, England whilst still at Newington.
[ Australian Fishing Museum Retrieved 25 November 2018.]
Sportsman
From his earliest years out of school, Andreas is notable as a sportsman with his activities chronicled by the
Sydney Morning Herald and other newspapers.
Leura and Kirribilli
Leuralla was Andreas's house in Leura. In 1903 a house was built on the current site but was destroyed by bushfire in 1909. Between 1910 and 1914 the present house was built and is a notable example of an early 20th Century holiday residence for a wealthy family.
The property is being sold by the family and previously housed a toy and railway museum.
[ New South Wales Toy & Railway Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2012.] Andreas also maintained a family residence on
Sydney Harbour at Elamang Avenue, Kirribilli.
Inventor and businessman
In 1905, Andreas Applied to the Commonwealth Commissioner of Patents to register his improvements to an
acetylene generator.
Only 46 of his "Fortuna Reel Andreas Pat. No 123405/18 & 19 Ex Wide" were produced between 1934 and 1936 and one was sold at auction in London on 14 July 2012 for £5,200.
[ Mollock's – LOT 300 – REEL: Hardy Fortuna Andrea's Patent 9" Ex Wide. 8 September 2012.] His friend and fellow Old Newingtonian, George Harker, was the inventor of a
patented system of extinguishing fires at sea and
fumigation[ Collection of Booklets about the Harker Patent Fire Extinguisher and Fumigator. Retrieved 8 September 2012.] and in 1908 when the Harker Fire Extinguisher and Fumigator Company was formed Andreas became a director.
Royal connections
During the 1927 Royal Tour of
Australasia, Andreas acted as a fishing guide for The Duke and Duchess of York (later
George VI and Queen Elizabeth) in the Bay of Islands.
Whilst her parents were fishing with Andreas the young Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) was at home in London but during the 1954 Royal Visit to Australia, Andreas welcomed
Majesty and
Royal Highness Duke of Edinburgh as guests at Leuralla.
[ Leuralla – Guests . Retrieved 8 September 2012.]
Old Newingtonian
From as early as 1906, Andreas was the Country Vice-president in Leura for the Old Newingtonians' Union (ONU) and he continued to serve in that position until his death in 1955.
Andreas presented annually a
Hardy Brothers medal to the Newington College boy who was the highest scorer in the AAGPS shooting competition. From 1956 until 1969 the Andreas Medal continued to be presented in his honour by the ONU.
[Newington Across the Years, A History of Newington College 1863 – 1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 347] In 1994 the Andreas Medal was funded in
perpetuity by his grandchildren.
[Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) Part 2 – The Lists]
Family and death
In 1902, Andreas married Alice May Burton, the daughter of William Henry Burton
of Leicester, England.
The marriage produced two sons and two daughters:
[ BD&Ms – NSW Births. Retrieved 8 September 2012] Marjorie, Mrs.
Clive Evatt;
Phillip Andreas; Lucy, Mrs. Erling Aargaard;
and William Andreas. Alice Andreas died, aged 73, in Leura in 1952.
Harry Andreas died in Bowral, New South Wales, survived by his four children.
