Harold Christie

Harold Christie
Born(1896-05-30)May 30, 1896
Nassau, Bahamas
DiedSeptember 25, 1973(1973-09-25) (aged 77)
Frankfurt, Germany
OccupationReal Estate
Years active1922-1973

Sir Harold George Christie, CBE (30 May 1896 – 25 September 1973), known as H.G., was a Bahamian politician, realtor, developer and businessman. Christie is known as "The Father of Bahamas Real Estate".

Early life and real estate business

Christie was born into poverty as the eldest of four children and a descendant of Loyalist Adam Christie. Christie was enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in Canada during World War I. In 1922, he returned to the Bahamas to establish H.G. Christie Real Estate which began as a modest office, his brother Frank Homes Christie, CBE joined him in growing the company.

H.G Christie Real Estate was the first real estate company to capitalise on the luxury market in the Bahamas and had a hand in almost all real estate developments in the country during his career, most notably Windermere Island in Eleuthera and Lyford Cay in New Providence. Christie is also attracted well known investors to the Bahamas including Guy Baxter, Arthur Vining Davis, Wallace Groves, E. P. Taylor, Lord Beaverbrook and many others.

Political career

In 1927, Christie was elected as a representative for the Abaco District and in 1935 he became the representative for Cat Island; he served this district until he retired from politics in 1966.

Friendship with Harry Oakes

One person Christie invited to the Bahamas was Harry Oakes, an American millionaire who made his fortune in gold mining in Canada. The pair would become close business associates and friends.

Oakes invested in Bahamas Airways Limited and encouraged Collar to expand his fleet. In January 1949, British South American Airways, in which Christie had a stake, bought Bahamas Airways. Bahamas Airways was the first commercial airline in the Bahamas and would help to grow the tourism and real estate sector. Its flight cut what was once a five-day journey by vessel to the Bahamas to just a ninety-minute flight.

On the night Oakes died, Christie had been staying at his house and testified that he heard nothing during the night. He was questioned at length during the trial.

Personal life

In 1959, Christie was married for the first time at age 63 to Virginia Campbell Johnson. They had no biological children; Lady Christie had a son from a previous relationship.

Death

Christie died on September 25, 1973, in Frankfurt, Germany, while on a business trip.

Legacy

Christie was honoured with a CBE in 1949 and a knighthood in 1964. Currently, H.G Christie Real Estate is the oldest and largest real estate company in The Bahamas.

References

  1. ↑ "Harold G. Christie- Bahamians".
  2. ↑ Saunders, Gail (1998). Islanders In The Stream : A History of The Bahamian People Volume 2 : from the End of Slavery to the 20th Century. University of Georgia Press. p. 245. ISBN 0820319260.
  3. ↑ "Location, Location, Location - The Bahamas' Pioneering Real Estate Firm H.G. Christie".
  4. ↑ "Sir Harold Christie Dies at 77". The New York Times.
  5. ↑ Bethell, A. Talbott (2008). The Early Settlers of the Bahamas and Colonists of North America. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 115.
  6. 1 2 Boyd, William (13 November 2010). "The real-life murder case behind Any Human Heart". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 September 2026.Boyd, William (2010-11-13). "The real-life murder case behind Any Human Heart". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  7. ↑ Smith, Larry (2 February 2005). "Origins of Bahamian Aviation". The Nassau Institute. Retrieved 27 September 2026.Smith, Larry (2 February 2005). "Origins of Bahamian Aviation". The Nassau Institute. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "B.S.A.A. Acquire Bahamas Line". Gloucestershire Echo. 13 January 1949. p. 4. British South American Air-ways Corporation have, it was announced today, acquired the share capital of Bahamas Airways Ltd"B.S.A.A. Acquire Bahamas Line". Gloucestershire Echo. 13 January 1949. p. 4. British South American Air-ways Corporation have, it was announced today, acquired the share capital of Bahamas Airways Ltd
  9. ↑ Lowson, Allan (May 2011). "Bahamas Airways '59". Bluegrass Airlines. Retrieved 13 August 2026.Lowson, Allan (May 2011). "Bahamas Airways '59". Bluegrass Airlines. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Pan American Inaugurates New Plane Service To Nassau 1941". 21 March 2018."Pan American Inaugurates New Plane Service To Nassau 1941". 21 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "THE BAHAMAS: The Trouble with Harry". TIME. 1 June 1959. Retrieved 30 September 2026."THE BAHAMAS: The Trouble with Harry". TIME. 1959-06-01. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  12. ↑ "Murder In Paradise: Sir Harry Oakes, the Bahamian Yankee". Portland Magazine. Retrieved 30 September 2026."Murder In Paradise: Sir Harry Oakes, the Bahamian Yankee". Portland Magazine. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  13. 1 2 LeGrand, Cathleen. "Another Look at a Bahamian Mystery: The Murder of Sir Harry Oakes: A Critical Literature Review". The International Journal of Bahamian Studies. 16 (2010): 92–101 – via Research Gate.LeGrand, Cathleen. "Another Look at a Bahamian Mystery: The Murder of Sir Harry Oakes: A Critical Literature Review". The International Journal of Bahamian Studies. 16 (2010): 92–101 – via Research Gate.
  14. ↑ "Harold G. Christie- Bahamians".
  15. ↑ "Our History".
  16. ↑ "Location, Location, Location - The Bahamas' Pioneering Real Estate Firm H.G. Christie".