Family background
Charles Harkness was born c1832 in Lanarkshire, Scotland, the son of John Harkness and his wife Margaret. He arrived at Sydney in 1834 with his parents and siblings on the ship ‘Othello’. Charles Harkness married Eliza Podger (1834-1903) in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1854. He died at his residence at 8 George Street, Redfern, on 15 April 1882, aged 50 years, and he was interred at Rookwood Cemetery. He left no Will but an Administration of his estate and assets was valued at £230. Charles Harkness lived at Ivy Street, Darlington.
Occupation & interests
Charles Harkness was an engineer in the Locomotive Department of the Sydney Railway.
Local government service
Charles Harkness was an alderman on Darlington Council in 1872-77 and he was the Council’s Returning Officer in 1877.
References
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 February 1871, p. 1, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28418597