Victoria were 9-282 when bad light forced an early stumps shortly before the scheduled close of play after Queensland won the toss and decided to bowl.
Harper made a flying start in his return to the Shield arena, scoring 63 from 89 balls in an opening partnership of 102 with Harris, who made a more sedate 56 from 122 balls.
Victoria then lost 5-57 after Harper was bowled leaving a ball from Cameron Gannon which jagged back into the right hander. Gannon was the pick of the Queensland bowlers with 5-60.
Victoria's innings was held together by a patient 64 from Campbell Kellaway, who lasted 156 balls. He and Fergus O'Neill added 89 for the sixth wicket.
Moving into the allrounder category, O'Neill scored his 10 half-century in 53 first class matches with a polished 52 from 74 balls, which included eight fours.
Captain Will Sutherland, batting low at No.8, was unbeaten on 22 from just 24 balls and will be looking for support from No.11 Matt Hennig.
After coming off a first class century for Australia A against India A on a recent tour of India, Harper played with freedom belying the swing and seam conditions on offer.
Promoted to open the batting last season in an effort to counter spicy Shield pitches with his aggressive nature, the wicketkeeper-batsman was the second leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield by the end of the summer.
He made 677 runs at an average of almost 36 and had a phenomenal strike rate of 83. All top 10 run scorers in Shield cricket last season averaged below 40.
