Harry's - Sydney's Secret Spots

Harry’s Café de Wheels is a “quintessential Sydney icon” according to National Trust of Australia (NSW), who classified it for its contribution to cultural experiences in Australia.

Harry’s started in 1938 as a pie cart, before becoming a caravan. It sold pies n’ peas and crumbed sausages outside the entrance to the Woolloomooloo naval dockyards. It was popular with the sailors, soldiers, cabbies, starlets, as well as the police. Sydney City Council would not accept a fixed structure on the site and required the caravan to move, so Harry dutifully moved it 12 inches each day. That’s the typical Australian approach to regulations and authority. According to their website, in 1974 KFC’s Colonel Sanders had 3 pies at Harry’s, whilst leaning on his walking stick outside the caravan. Now that’s an endorsement from your competitor.

My connection – I’ve grown up with Harry’s. I first lived in Potts Point and went to Pre School in Woolloomooloo. My history includes living in Elizabeth Bay and my senior schooling was in College Street, so Harry’s has pretty much been a staple in my life. In 1979 I met its current owner, Michael Hannah and worked for him in real estate for 6 months. I go there when I’m in a hurry and I have a hot dog with hot English mustard and tomato sauce and grab a pie in bag to eat whilst driving.

On extremely short notice I took two good clients there for lunch and within 20 minutes we had had the fastest and most memorable luncheon experience. That’s what Harry’s has always been, a place to satisfy your appetite, rub shoulders with Aussies and travellers alike and enjoy looking at the war ships in Woolloomooloo Bay, whilst standing in the sun.

If you find yourself at Harry, the challenge is to order their signature, ‘Harry’s Tiger’.

https://www.harryscafedewheels.com.au/