Rhodes Motor Cycle Co

Rhodes Motors, 401-411 Elizabeth Street

Rhodes

Rhodes Motor Cycle Co of 109-113 Russell Street, Melbourne, was established by Mr. J.H. Rhodes, formerly partner in the firm of A.G. Healing and Co. Rhodes were agents for Indian for Australia and New Zealand from 1915 into the 1930s. They moved to Elizabeth Street in 1925, and by 1937 they were Triumph agents, now with the name Rhodes Motor Co. The large three-story building advertised numerous automobile brands including Cadillac and Oldsmobile.

In 1920 Harold Parsons took the World 24 hour record, along with numerous others, riding an Indian. In 1937 the Rhodes company was involved in a new world record.

A 1922 advertisment lists Indian prominently, and Goulding sidecars.

Rhodes was a keen rider. On one occasion he won a race with his wife as passenger in their Indian combination, the Weekly Times of Sept 30 1916 reporting:

"...Mr J. H. Rhodes, who. with his wife In the side-car of a 7 h.p. Indian combination, covered the 122 miles of heavy flooded roads In 5 hours 47 min., exclusive of an hour for lunch at Marysville. In the circumstances it stands out as a most meritorious performance."

Sources: Trove NLA, collections.museumsvictoria.com.au, oldbikemag.com.au, et al

OldBikeMag has a very readable article on Harold Parsons: harold-parsons-briefly-best

N.B. It may be that Rhodes is referred to by Simon Fleming as the Rhodes Record.

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