[1] 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.

[2] 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.

[2] In 1789, an opportunity arose for Harris to join the 102nd army regiment and travel to New South Wales on the Second Fleet and included an instant promotion.

[2] The Second Fleet was a stressful voyage due to sickness and loss of life and Harris was caught in disputes between officers and masters of the Neptune.

[1] In the later months of 1801, Harris accompanied James Grant, a naval officer, Lieutenant Colonel William Paterson and artist John Lewin to further investigate the Hunter River and Port Steven's in the Lady Nelson.

[1] Harris community activities, specifically helping with the liquor trade won the admiration and respect from Governor Philip Gidley King and was employed as a deputy judge advocate in courts martial.

[1] Harris kept his properties in control and devoted the final years of his life farming and stock raising while actively being involved in public affairs and served in many committees, including supporting the establishment of the Bank of New South Wales and became one of the first directors.

[1] In 1830s, Harris developed a hip problem which confined him to a wheelchair and he dropped out of community activities and began managing his pastoral and agricultural holdings and worked until his death on 27 April 1838.

[1] In 1804, John Harris expanded his developments and built himself a two-storey residence, known as the Ultimo House that consisted of 233 acres by 1818 with the assistant of architect Francis Greenway.

The Ultimo House was built for surgeon John Harris in 1804, a two-storey residence overlooking Blackwattle Creek and Cockle Bay.

[5] The Ultimo House was treated by Harris as a country seat by transforming its landscape into an English-style parkland with imported Indian deer.

[5] Harris returned to his Ultimo House with his newly wedded wife Eliza Jones and commissioned Francis Greenway, an architect that arrived to New South Wales as a convict in 1814 on the General Hewitt ship.

The Experiment Farm Cottage was built by Harris in c1835 to mimic an Indian style Bungalow that shows a new settler such as himself could start a life and family with minimal assistance.

[13] 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.

[12] The Experiment Farm Cottage is now a museum located in Harris Park for the community to explore and embrace stories of past settlers.

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

[5] By 1910, the technical college expanded twice its size, occupying the entire block, including the Ultimo House and an additional two acres of garden.

[5] 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.

[5] However, the stables ad coach house were demolished and transformed into classrooms teaching bricklaying, plastering, masonry, drawing and design.