The homes the Harris family had viewed seemed to fall short in one way or another: too big, too old, too far, or simply not quite right. Their search felt endless, with each house bringing disappointment. However, their persistence eventually paid off when they discovered a brand-new suburb on the southern side of Canberra that was still in the process of being developed. Here, at last, Mrs. Harris found the house that felt perfect for the family. Mr. Harris, after some deliberation, also saw its potential, and together, they made the decision to purchase a home on Storey Street in Curtin.

It was Monday afternoon when Mr. Harris came home from work, a smile on his face as he announced that Robbo, the former loader driver, had moved out of the house over the weekend. "It just needs a couple of days to give it a good clean, and then it's ours!" he said. The children erupted into a loud cheer, the excitement catching him off guard. The joy of the moment was overwhelming, and he couldn’t help but grin at their reaction. He continued, "We’ll need to get some furniture together, beds especially, and have them delivered by Thursday or Friday so that we can move in on Saturday."

Mr. and Mrs. Harris were engaged in what had become a rather familiar conversation, one that they had been having more frequently as time went on: where to move next for Mr. Harris’s employment. Mrs. Harris had grown weary of these discussions. It seemed that Larry Kime, Mr. Harris’s employer, had informed him that without the expected contract, there was no work available for the tug or the dredge. However, there were still two potential options: road construction near Gosford or a new project at the Vales Point Power Station.

The Harris family arrived at Day Street, Drummoyne, in August 1961, with mixed emotions. At first glance, the house appeared dingy and uninviting. From the street, it seemed like a narrow, worn-down building, the kind of place that didn’t inspire much confidence. However, as soon as they stepped inside and opened the front door, they were met with a surprising sight, a large vestibule, with a double staircase ascending gracefully to the next level. It was a moment of unexpected grandeur.

The next morning, Saturday, Mr and Mrs Harris were on their way back from Long Jetty, having just finished inspecting a property in Gordon Street. The property consisted of a three-bedroom house and a two-bedroom unit. Both were already furnished, which was a major bonus since the Harris family had yet to buy any furniture. Their life in the hostel and the caravan had made furnishing a home unnecessary until now.

The Harris family’s move to Buff Point was a big change. They loaded up the car, securing their two surfboards on a roof rack that Mr. Harris had expertly fitted himself, and drove the fourteen miles to their new home on Moola Road. As the family arrived, Peter couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment. The house, while full of potential, looked a bit run-down and ramshackle. His mother, though she had seen the home before renting it, shared his sentiments, though she kept her thoughts to herself. But Mr. Harris, ever the optimist, reassured everyone, saying, “Just wait until we clean it up a bit, and it’ll be great.”

In late January, Harold Harris, Peter’s father, casually mentioned to his deckhand at work that he was growing tired of ferry driving. The deckhand told him about a friend who worked on a tugboat in Pittwater. The tugboat’s skipper had recently fallen ill, and the owners were searching for a replacement.

Intrigued, Mr. Harris contacted the tugboat owner, Larry Kime, who ran a road construction and dredging company with his brother Dennis. Larry suggested they meet on Sunday at the Newport Arms Hotel in Pittwater.

Early in the morning on the eighth day after leaving Colombo, the Orontes finally sailed into Port Fremantle, gliding up to Victoria Quay. She docked in front of the customs shed, nestled among the cargo warehouses. The sight of solid ground should have been a moment of relief and celebration, the end of the family’s voyage. But for the Harris family, the journey was far from over.