Now situated at Pendle Hill in Sydney's Western Suburbs, Harpers was originally established in 1854 under the name Coates and Harper, making it one of Sydney's oldest timber companies.

In 1858 a branch yard opened its door in George Street, Parramatta, (incidentally, now the current site of the Roxy Theatre), at that time a sleepy satellite of Sydney. The company, known as Coates Harper, in due course changed its name to L Harper & Co., and the first meeting of the new company was held on 12th October 1912 at premises situated in Darcy Street, Parramatta.

In June 1918 the Darcy Street mill was transferred to a site at Morton Street on the North Bank of the Parramatta River. At that time the river was quite navigable and the mill was ideally located for collecting timber transported up river and discharged from lighters. A lease of the wharf area was obtained on 27th September 1918, with the Darcy Street yard being retained as a holding area. The year was now 1920 and Sydney (and indeed the world) found itself thrust into an era of technology only previously dreamed about.

In 1929 the Great Depression struck, sending Harpers, like companies everywhere, into the gloom of economic disaster. Despite the severity of the times, the company managed to survive. By 1938, a flourishing building trade saw Harper Timber prosper and establish itself as one of the leading timber companies in Sydney. During this time, Mr. R.L. Harper took charge of the business and subsequently changed the trading name to Harper Timber Co. Pty. Ltd. Then came 1939 and the beginning of World War Two. During this period the yard almost ceased selling timber and was ordered by the Government to be used as a ready-cut plant to fabricate units for the armed forces.

At the conclusion of the war in 1945, Mr. Neil Harper, who had commenced working in the family business in 1926, was appointed Managing Director. With this new management came yet another new company name; Harper Timber Pty. Ltd.

In 1962, the growth of the Parramatta business district and the subsequent increase in rates and land tax in the area forced the company to seek a new site In due course, another mill was established at Wentworth Avenue, Pendle Hill.

The 4th July 1988 saw further changes at Harpers with the sale of the family business to Timber Corporation Pty. Ltd. (Trading as Harper Timber).

Harpers again expanded in 1989 opening a yard at Rouse Hill, then in late 1992 opened another operation at Narrabeen.

Today Harpers (a privately owned company) employ over 50 staff and continue the long established history of the company maintaining its reputation for Quality - Service - Reliability. 100% Australian owned.

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