DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. George Kevin Lee was interviewed on 29 May 2002 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod. Interview SummaryGeorge Kevin Lee was born in March 1931 at Eton Street Smithfield and at the time of the interview he lived in Granville Street. His family had arrived in Smithfield in 1890 and his grandfather, also named George, started a tannery in Kenyon Street. Later the business was handed over to his two sons Percy and Arthur. The tannery moved to Victoria Street where they worked until the business was sold in 1949. In his interesting interview George describes in detail the process of obtaining and tanning animal hides and he also tells of other tanneries in the Smithfield area.
The Lee family were devoted Christians and attended St James Church of England in Smithfield. Georges mother came from the Kitchener family and his grandfather William Kitchener worked for the Water Board at Prospect. His aunt Florence Lee worked at Fairfield Council from 1916 to 1922, mainly in the rates section, and after her retirement she remained at home looking after the other members of the family. The family tannery closed in 1959.
George describes his life and the home in which the family lived which was made of board, the same as most homes built at that time. He describes the various tradesmen who delivered milk, bread and other commodities directly to his home as well as the churches, post office, police station and in particular the train which carried blue metal from the Widemere Quarry to Fairfield Station.
George was educated at Smithfield Primary School and moved on to Hurlstone Agricultural High School at Glenfield for another two years. He then moved to Liverpool Technical School as it better suited his needs.
He remembers life in Smithfield during and after World War Two. He tells of the air raid shelters and of the sirens when Japanese submarines entered Sydney Harbour. He, as most local children, climbed Prospect Hill and can remember the USA servicemen who were stationed there to protect Prospect Reservoir during the war. George also remembers well the old Greystanes House in which some of the Americans lived.
George talks about his social life in the Fairfield and Smithfield areas, the movies, dances and other entertainments. He also remembers the circuses which visited every year or so and sometimes camped in Smithfield.
In 1955 George married Patricia Ann who lived at Vaucluse and later moved to Toongabbie. They moved into a house in Granville Street Smithfield and had three children.
Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldAll Oral Histories
George Kevin Lee Oral History. Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 08/03/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1528
