Biography

He was so impressed with what he saw that, on his return to England, he set about raising enough capital to entitle him to a grant of land in the colony, under a special system then in operation.

On his return to Launceston, he found that the grant system had been abolished. Undeterred, he took up land at the foot of the Western Tiers in partnership with Charles Groom. The property was very remote and was frequently raided by bushrangers.

During 1853 Alfred Harrap became a business manager, taking charge of the produce business of Mr Rodham Douglas at Westbury, while that gentleman went to England for three years. In the same year Alfred married Amelia Tobin, the daughter of Commander Tobin, R.N., who had settled at Mount Portland, near Launceston. Alfred and Amelia had a son, George Edward who was born at Westbury in 1856. There were also three girls.

In 1854, Alfred, in collaboration with other residents of Westbury, drew up a petition requesting that Westbury be made a full police district. After several more petitions and appeals, the request was granted in 1858.

Alfred moved to Launceston in 1857 and established a business as a wholesale merchant. The first building occupied a site on The Esplanade. The business dealt in grain, produce, wool-broking, and exporting wool to England from 1869. The firm also provided a river steamer service for the fertile Tamar Valley.

Mr Harrap purchased the long established firm of W. T. Bell & Co. in Cameron Street in 1887, and this became the company's headquarters where George Harrap, Alfred's son, joined the business. By this time the company had expanded its interests to farm machinery and products, guano, and was also agent for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Co. There were also auctioneers' rooms.

Alfred served the community in many other ways. He joined the Launceston Artillery during the Crimean War, gaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was appointed extra aide -de-camp to several State Governors. He was Mayor of Launceston in 18'/1 to 1872, and 1875 to 1877, and was associated with the Launceston IHarine Board, being Master Warden on three separate occasions.      .'

He was on the Board of Directors of the Launceston and Western Railway, and was churchwarden of St. John's Church for fourteen years.

Alfred died in Launceston in 1893. In memory of Alfred and Amelia two stained-glass windows were given to St. John's Church depicting 'The Good Samaritan' and 'The Charity of Dorcas'. The inscription across both windows reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

IN MEMORY OF

ALFRED AND AMELIA HARRAP

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