This page covers motorcycles and motorcyclists from both the land of the long white cloud and the lucky country.
Famous names like Phil Irving, John Britten, W.O. Bentley (born in UK to Australian parents), Jack Findlay and Harry Hawker are mentioned.
Malvern Star
Sun Motorcycles, mentions the Waratah and E.W.B.
Whiting Motorcycles, quite an extraordinary tale.
Pasco Motorcycles, a gallery.
Melbourne Show, 1924 gives a brief overview of Victorian dealers.
Osborne Louis de Lissa of Australia managed Motosacoche Ltd (GB).
Numerous Australian speedway machines are discussed in the pages of the Speedway Workshop
An account of the first motorcycle to reach Australia, in early 1896, a Hildebrand and Wolfmuller
There is mention of Alron, Pasco, Quirk's Mona, Simplex, Terry Prince, McIntosh, the Sixstroke, Drysdale V8 and Dryvtech 2-wheel-drive, the Favourite by Smith Brothers Garage in Peterborough, and of course the Aussie-Also.
For more information on Australian motorcycle history visit the following pages:
Murray Barnard's Ozebook.
Simon Fleming's Australian Motorcycles.
Elliot
Elliott Garage & Cycle Factory in Payneham, South Australia. Active 1915 to 1922, and possibly other years.
The Elliott of 1915 used a Villiers 146cc 2-stroke engine with a 2-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox.
1932 Models Arrive.
THE British Motor Cycle Company has received a batch of the new 1932 model Waratah motor cycles.
These machines are totally redesigned, having visible top rail, tapering away under the saddle, and giving an exceptionally low riding position, and gaining very high ground clearance
An interesting feature is the enclosed webbing of the front forks, making them exceptionally strong and practically unbreakable.
The machine, which is quite an attractive lightweight, is fitted with electric light, battery, and dimmer, soft top saddle, and balloon tyres. The engine is a Villiers 147 c.c. two-cycle type, giving remarkable brake horsepower. Petrol consumption is estimated at approximately 150 miles to the gallon The machine is quite suitable for Queensland road conditions.
All persons interested should not fail to inspect this impressive English lightweight machine, which is now on display at the showrooms of the British Motor Cycle Co., 205 Adelaide Street, Brisbane.
Trove NLA Brisbane Courier Dec 3, 1931
Mona
Quirk's Mona was built in Alexandria, NSW, during the early years of WWI. Everything including the 4½ h.p. flat-twin engine was built in-house, with the exception of the Druid-style forks which were sourced from Peerless in Melbourne.
An example was auctioned by Webb's in New Zealand in 2012. It had been part of the Paddy Ryan collection and is thought to be the sole survivor of the 90 machines built.
Source: justbikes.com.au
Zeta
Manufactured by Lightburn & Co. Ltd., Camden, South Australia
Based on the British Anzani Astra, the outlandish Zeta had a locally made fibreglass body powered initially by a Villiers 324cc two-stroke twin and then by an Excelsior three-cylinder engine. 28 cars were built from 1964 to 1966.
Source: Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum
A brief note about motorcycles represented on Australian Postage Stamps
