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 the UK to Australian parents), Jack Findlay and Harry Hawker are mentioned.
There are also pages on the early days of motorcycle racing in NSW, South Australia and Queensland.
Index of Australian & NZ Makes
Dealers
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
For more information on Australian motorcycle history visit the following pages:
Murray Barnard's Ozebook.
Simon Fleming's Australian Motorcycles.
Abbotsford
Manufactured by G.W.Revell of 301 Victoria Street, Abbotsford, Victoria, in 1912 and 1913.
Source: Saward via Wikipedia
ABW
A one-off custom, narrow-angle V-twin, Earles forks.
Exhibited at the Australian Motorcycle Museum, Nabiac, NSW.
Source: MxN
Absolom
Manufactured by J Absolom of 88 Brisbane Street, Launceston, Tasmania. At least one motorcycle under his own name around 1915
Source: Saward, via Wikipedia.
Advance (S.A.)
Manufactured by I.J. Mitchell of Blyth, South Australia.
Advertised motorcycles built to order in 1905-06. At least one machine was registered.
The British firm of the same name exported machines to Adelaide which were distributed by the Sphinx firm (in 1907), so it is possible that this was one of those.
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) Sat 26 Nov 1904
Advance (Qld)
The advertisements below would seem to indicate that there was another "Advance" brand, this one built in Brisbane. Advertisements for the machine do not appear before or after 1906.
MOTOR Cycles. - The Advance is the latest, cheapest, and best ; built of B.S.A. parts and fitted with a 2¼ horse power Minerva engine. Price, £40. Inspection invited. The Advance Cycle and Motor Works. 199 Elizabeth-street. Trove NLA: The Brisbane Courier Thu 10 May 1906
Aero
Manufactured by Aero Motor Works of Goodwood Park, Adelaide.
W. Ryal built motorcycles fitted with JAP engines from 1918 to 1920. See also Ascot.
Source: OTTW
A.J.T.
Arthur J. Tooze of Adelaide, South Australia built two motorcycles, the first with a
JAP 2¾ hp single, and a second machine with an 8hp V-twin JAP engine. The twin was found in the 1970s and appeared to have not been completed.
Source: Saward via Wikipedia
Alert
Alert Cycle Works of 36 Commercial Rd Prahran advertised in June 1912 "Side Cars built to order. £10 10/." Other than an advertisement for junior staff the following month, there is no further mention in the press.
Source: Trove, Simon Fleming.
Alexa
Alex Whitelaw of the Alexa Cycle and Motor Depot, 156 Ryrie Street, Geelong is referred to in Saward's book. Best guess is that he built one machine early in 1903 and died after an accident on it a few months later. His brothers testified to the coroner that they had ridden the motor cycle and that it was in good order.
The name of the firm was changed to Whitelaw Cycle and Motor Co, and then in 1905 to Whitelaw Bros., Electrical and Cycle Engineers with a new address in Malop Street.
The business was sold to D. T. Clarke around Sept 1907. There is no further mention of Alexa cycles in the press after that date.
The coroner. Mr G. W. P. Patterson, held an enquiry to-day into the circumstances surrounding the death of Alexander M'Farlane Whitelaw, who died on the 19th from injuries received in Ryrie street on the 12th inst.
The Ballarat Star (Vic.) Thu 21 May 1903
Sources: Trove, Simon Fleming.
Allison
Arthur Allison of Allison’s Motor Garage in Grenfell Street Adelaide built motorcycles from 1902 to 1906 using Minerva engines of up to 6 h.p.
MOTOR for Sale, Minerva, 3½-h.p. Allison, good order; £37. Address M. H. Hannaford, Millbrook
The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA) Wed 11 Apr 1906
3½ H.P. Minerva Motor Cycle, magneto ignition, B.S.A. frame, Allison; £85.-Brush Co. Grenfell-st
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) Tue 22 Oct 1907
...Deards drove a 6-h.p. twin cylinder Minerva cycle, built by A. Allison...
The Register (Adelaide, SA) Mon 12 Feb 1906
In 1911 Arthur Allison was head of the Motor and Cycle Department at Eyes & Crowe, Pirie Street.
Sources: Simon Fleming, Trove NLA
Alpha
Manufactured by W.G. Doley and Co., 17 Flinders Street, Adelaide in 1904 using Minerva engines.
Mr. Doley is also an engineer and will undertake repairs to any kind of machinery, sewing machines, etc., whilst he has had considerable experience in the repairs of typewriters. Drawing and designing is undertaken for inventors, and as he is a certificated draughtsman he is well qualified for commissions of this kind, All orders are executed promptly at reasonable prices.
Quorn Mercury (SA) Fri 26 Oct 1900
Sources: Simon Fleming; Trove NLA.
A.N.A.
Manufactured by Martin J Shelley at the ANA Cycle Works, 430 Rathdowne Street, North Carlton, Victoria between c.1910 and 1919. ANA fitted engines from Fafnir, JAP, Precision, King Dick, MAG and DeLuxe, driving through Sturmey-Archer gearboxes.
A restored 1919 V-twin exists.
A.N.A. CYCLES and MOTOR CYCLES built to
order, from £8 10/ to £36 10/-; J.A.P., Fafnir,
Precision; free engines to order; Side Cars from £8 10/; Inspection invited.
M. J. SHELLEY, 430 Rathdown-street, NORTH CARLTON.
A.N.A. Motor Cycles lead the way; ask any of the riders, from 1¾ h.p. to 4¼, and they will tell you; well and worthily built; Repairs a speciality. Address above,.
The Age, Sat 22 Feb 1913
Similar advertisements appeared throughout the years 1910 to 1918 in Victoria's leading newspaper, The Age.
Sources: Simon Fleming; Trove NLA, et al
A.O.B.
SA Registrations
9196, A. E. Tavender, Narracoorte. 3½ A.O.B.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA) Sat 20 Jan 1917
Source: Trove NLA
Arcade-JAP
Believed to have been built by Arcade Motor Cycle Exchange, Malop Street, Geelong in 1915
David Radloff writes, "Bike has 1915 650cc J.A.P. Motor with Sturmey Archer Chain Cum Belt Gearbox in an Australian Healing Built Frame and Forks. On closer Inspection there is very intricate Fine Pinstriping including Pansy Transfers. The Forks are Healing's copies of Druid Forks but with Tapered Tubes and are referred to as Peerless Forks."
The firm was an agent for G.C.S..
Sources: Trove, et al
MOTOR CYCLES.
Secondhand Triumph, 3-speed £35. Twin Swiss. £40.
Triumph, £30. Jap, 6 h.p., £65, and Twenty others to choose from the Cheapest
and Best Secondhand Motor Cycles in Geelong.
Sole Agents for the famous G.C.S. J.A.P
Arcade Motor Cycle Exchange, Malop-street, next Morris Jacobs.
Geelong Advertiser (Vic.) Sat 30 Aug 1919
MOTOR CYCLES, SECONDHAND.
We have a First-class Stock of Motor Cycles, Japs, Excelsior Indians, Rovers,
Triumph. and a First-class Stock of others
to choose from at prices that will suit everyone. Cash or Easy Terms. We are Repair Specialists and guarantee our work
MOTOR CYCLES BUILT TO ORDER
SOLE AGENTS FOR G.C.S. JAP.
ARCADE MOTOR CYCLE EXCHANGE, 113 MALOP-ST., next Morris Jacobs.
Geelong Advertiser (Vic.) Sat 27 Dec 1919
Ariel
Ariel Cycle & Motor Works, 114 Nicholson Street, Footscray. The firm was established by J. Anderson, who branded Healing machines as his own between 1911 and 1916.
The firm was later owned by EC Roberts, who does not seem to have marketed motorcycles. In 1925 they advertised that Ariel bicycles, built in Australia, had won a six day race in Chicago, gaining 1st, 2nd and 5th places at the hands of American champions Fred Spencer, Harris Horder and Harry Horan. These too were re-badged Healings.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) 25 Mar 1916
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Tue 30 Dec 1919
Sources:Simon Fleming; Trove NLA
Arion
Walter Chapman is believed to have built a motorcycle name "Arion" using a JAP V-twin.
Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic.) Sat 28 Sep 1912
Sources: Simon Fleming , Trove NLA
Ashfield
The Ashfield was built around 1907 or 1908 in the Sydney suburb of that name. It is believed they were powered by Buchet engines.
Source: OTTW
Astley
Manufactured by Astley Cycles and Motor Cycles, 537 Mt. Alexander Rd., Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
1911-1918
Motorcycles were built using single and twin-cylinder Fafnir, Precision and JAP engines mounted in Chater-Lea frames.
ASTLEY CYCLES AND MOTOR CYCLES
AND Agent for the FAMOUS "BROUGH" MOTOR CYCLES
and ENGINES.
MOTOR CYCLES built to Order from £45
B.S.A. CYCLES, with EADIE FREE WHEEL, £12 10s
Cash or Terms Arranged
537 Mt. Alexander Rd., Moonee Ponds
Phone, ASCOT 575 C. H. ASTLEY, Proprietor
The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic) Thu 2 Dec 1915
Sources: Simon Fleming; Trove NLA
Vee Two (Perth)
Veribest (Tas)
Victa (NSW)
Victor (SA) 1919-1921
Zeta S.A.
A brief note about motorcycles represented on Australian Postage Stamps
Rarer Australian Marques
