Australian Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Growden Motorcycles

Manufactured by George Growden of Port Pirie from 1904 to 1907 using Minerva engines. Around ten machines were built. Following the sale of his business in 1908 he moved to Hawker.

NEWS BY MOTOR.
Port Pirie, March 10.
A copy of to-day's Advertiser was left with the local correspondent at 12 35 p.m., by Mr. G. Growden, cycle maker, of Port Pirie, who left North-terrace (Adelaide) at 6 a.m. on a motor-cycle, travelling via Gawler, Clare, and Koolunga. He arrived at the Port Pirie Post office at 12.34 p.m. The trip from the city was done a fortnight ago by Mr. C. Kerrison, of Adelaide, by motor cycle, in ten hours.

Chronicle (Adelaide) Sat 18 Mar 1905 (Growden's machine had a 2¾ h.p. Minerva engine. Time taken was 10 hours, a record which was widely reported. A week earlier he had set another record, Adelaide to Port Pirie via Gladstone, in just over 7 hours including the time taken to repair a puncture.)


March 10, 1905... Shortly afterward Mr. Growden introduced to Pirie a motor cycle sidecar outfit, and was the first to maintain a motor car for hire locally.

Recorder (Port Pirie, SA) Mon 19 Mar 1945


The following is a list of local businesses sold during the last few days... Growden's cycle and motor works to Mr W. E. N. Laver

Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail (SA) Wed 10 Jun 1908

Sources: Trove NLA, vvmccsa.org.au newsletter June 2016.

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