Man with a cross-stich shirt.

[Ruskie]

OR and greensleeves - i was just about to post the same thing -  I agree that this chap certainly has a nautical look to him.
Might his sweater bear the name of a ship he worked on?

[Katharine75]

Thanks for the thoughts on the photo. It doesn't make it any clearer who he could be unfortunately. But will help if I come across a family member with links to boating perhaps.

[Rena]

The visible embroidery looks like it could be "VA" and as the previous letter only has it's "foot" showing, I'm guessing that it could be an "R" = "RVA"

I see there was (and still is) a "Harvard Yacht Club"/"Harvard Sailing Club" but that's an American club.

However, on the website of the National Library of Australia I searched for "Harvard" on Trove and came up with over 2,000 results - mainly concerning sailing competitions.  Surprisingly in some Sidney newspapers of the 1880s there are adverts/auctions for Harvard clothing.  This might indicate that your young man could have had an eye for fashion and not necessarily belonged to a sailing club.
.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=Harvard+yacht+club&sortby=dateAsc&s=120

[Katharine75]

Hi all. Just an update for anyone who may have a similar photo and be interested. I found out that it was a Salvation Army jumper. This helped me identify the man in the photo - turns out to be a family friend not ancestor!
Similar/same jumper: https://issuu.com/salvationarmynzftsheritage/docs/salvation_army_uniform_portraits_heritage_series_1

[japeflakes]

SPENCE William Morrison
Listed as a photographer at 101A Rundle Street, Adelaide, in the directory for 1894, and at Wivell’s Academy in Rundle Place for 1895. From 1882 to 1893, and from 1896 to 1900, his occupation was given as artist at various addresses in Adelaide and suburbs, and he may have practised photography in these periods.

[cockney rebel]

Truth will out....even after 10 years!
Well done on solving your own problem!
Rebel

[Neale1961]

Photo taken in Queensland. Sitter was born in 1860.

[maddys52]

What a great result, just goes to show that we should never give up on a problem.  Must say, I would never have thought of Salvation Army, though it's obvious when you know.

[Ruskie]

Well found Katharine!