William Harvey Christie

William Harvie Christie (1808 – 19 March 1873) was an Australian senior public servant.

Christie was born in Ceylon and arrived in Australia in 1836 as a captain in the British Army. He was appointed superintendent of convict gangs based at Liverpool. He was promoted to major in 1838 and a year later appointed as superintendent of the convict gangs housed at Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney. Christie retired from the army and in January 1847 was appointed as Sergeant-at-Arms to the New South Wales Legislative Council. He served as Postmaster-General of New South Wales from May 1852 to September 1865.

Early years

William Harvie Christie was born in 1808 in Ceylon, the third of seven sons of Thomas Christie and his wife Mary (née Tolfrey). His father was the medical inspector-general of Ceylon. The Christie family returned to England in about 1810 and settled at Cheltenham, county Gloucestershire. Six of the seven sons in the family (including William) joined the British Army.

Young William was educated at the Rugby School and later at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, where he qualified for the artillery (but afterwards opted for the infantry).

Military service

William Christie undertook military officer training at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and joined the 80th Regiment of Foot as an ensign. He was promoted to lieutenant in March 1827 and captain in May 1833. Christie "served for many years in Ireland".

Captain William H. Christie and Ellen Harrison were married on 28 July 1835 in Manchester Cathedral. The couple had four children, born in Australia between about 1837 and 1846.[A]