When Stanton and Marie Najar settled in Sydney in 1926, they were looking for new opportunities for their family.

Stanton’s father & mother were Micheal & Anne Najar from Tripoli, Lebanon, an old established business family. Marie Najar’s father & mother were John & Lulu Khayat, a long established commercial family in Beirut, Lebanon.

Stanton Micheal and Marie Najar came from Tripoli, Lebanon. He was a top class bespoke tailor. His firm in Tripoli employed some 50 people and was well known for his hand made workmanship.

Stanton and Marie and five children (4 girls and 1 boy) came to Sydney on a passenger ship called Orvieto from Alexandria, Egypt in 1926. (Angelle 16, Pauline 13, Julliette 10, Alfred 8, and Evette 2).

Stanton set up a tailoring business combined with Marie’s ability as a dressmaker in Kingsford and Auburn.

Angelle married Michael Yarad of Taree; Pauline married Arthur Bitter of Lockhart; Julliette married Eli Melick of Sydney; Alfred married Joy Aboud of Sydney and Evette married George Lattouf of Sydney.

Stanton & Marie’s small clothing business developed into a small manufacturing business in 1936 when Alfred joined them. The business was originally Najar & Son, about 1938 Marie and Stanton retired and the business was managed by Alfred, thereafter. It was at this stage registered as A.S. Najar Manufacturing Pty. Ltd.

The first family home was built in 1939 at Kingsford.

The factory was taken over during 1939-1945 years by the Government, making essential service clothing for the armed forces.

ALF NAJAR & JOY ABOUD MARRY

In 1954 Alfred married Joy Aboud, the daughter of Abraham & Cissie Aboud. Abraham established Nile Industries Ltd and was a founder of St George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Redfern. Alfred and Joy have 2 sons, 2 daughters and 9 grandchildren.

NAJAR HOUSE

As the company grew Alfred purchased a building, “Najar House”, in Campbell Street, Surry Hills to accommodate the growth.

1978 Alfred & Joy both retired from the business. Alfred at that point was successful in trading and building property, which he continued until about 1990 when he fully retired.

ALF NAJAR’S SPORTING CAREER

Alfred has had an impressive sporting career. He was one of the instigators behind of the establishment  of the Bathurst Mount Panorama Circuit as a Grand Prix motor racing circuit. As owner-driver, he was very competitive and had considerable success in all motor sport in the 1945-1950 era and was three times Grand Prix winner: 1946 & 1947 in Bathurst  and 1948 in Melbourne at Point Cook.

Motoring writer Mike Kable noted in the Bathurst Story: “Alf Najar, driving in his first road race with a pretty, vivid red, special-bodied MG/TB prepared to perfection … took out the race title 26 seconds ahead of John Nind, also in a TB”. (1)

He was also holder of many Sprint & Hill Climb records, which included the 1946 first post-war Australian Hill Climb Championship at Bathurst.

Alfred was decorated with a Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, with the Australian Sports Medal for his development & success in motor racing sport in Australia. In 1946 he started the Water Skiing Sport in Australian together with the legendary “Gelignite” Jack Murray with a ski club continuing for some 20 years. In 1948 was a foundation member of the Australian Water Ski Association.

CHAMPION CLAY TARGET SHOOTER

In 1982 Alfred ceased more physical type of sport and took up Clay Target shot gun shooting. In the past 20 years at this sport he has held Australian & New Zealand national titles. He has been a member of the All Australian Five-Man Skeet Team for the past 16 years to compete overseas. In October 2001 he was winner of 4 gold medals in the eighth Australian Masters Games held in Newcastle in clay target skeet competition.

Alf Najar

Notes:

1. Kable, Mike, ‘The Bathurst Story’ in Jack Pollard (ed) One for the Road, North Sydney: Jack Pollard Pty Ltd, 1974 pp. 175-181.