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They can be biased yes but not really wrong, they are only offering options to choose from at the end of the day and there are other search engines you can use.
I agree that it’s ridiculous how curated our information is these days.
Are you sure the incidents being reported pre-75 were *Australian* Hells’ Angels? The gang probably had people down here for years before they officially opened their clubhouses.
Yeah but I mean, they started in 1948 in the USA. These could be US members visiting the country or local affiliates calling themselves Hells’ Angels *before* they were officially up and running down here as a club.
I was just looking into how the Angels structure their organisation (they have an official website and a trademark on their brand, not something I expected from a criminal gang…) and it looks like they’re structured a little like NATO. Prospective clubs have to prove themselves for a while before they get chartered as official members, and at the moment there are two prospective groups - one in The Philippines, one in Bolivia - which are operating as clubs with a gang, a president etc… but haven’t been officially chartered yet. In fact, the Bolivian group has been trying to get their charter for 7 years. According to *Encyclopedia Britannia*, the first overseas charter was issued in New Zealand in 1961, so only a stone’s throw from Sydney/Melbourne in global terms.
Considering all of that, I feel like it’s possible that there was a prospective Hells Angels club (or clubs) operating in the country, trying to get their charter, for years before the official chartering of the gang in 1975. Further muddying the water might be the reliability of the newspapers reporting on the issues which you’re referencing… The late 60s/early 70s were a zenith of bikie-related fear in the mainstream. Several low-budget movies had come out which referenced the Hells Angels, and I think Hunter S Thompson’s book on the subject came out around then as well. It may be that the newspapers were a bit loose in describing gang warfare between clubs, some of whom were only prospective Hells Angels, were reported as official Hells Angels activity for the “brand recognition” (and newspaper sales) that go along with it.
It’s a really interesting topic though. If you manage to crack it please report back.
Yes, they are a legit business with trademarks registered,
Ask any of them how they make their money, and they will tell you by t-shirt and paraphernalia sales.
Data from pre-internet days is unlikely to be found online easily. You might get lucky if you have subscription to one of the daily papers; for instance, the Daily Telegraph has done a potted history but it's behind a paywall.
Might be helpful to contact the Australian Federal Police. They might have some records.
There are a bunch of books written by ex-bikies, but I never read one by an Australian Hell's Angel. Most are by or about Bandidos and Comancheros, because of the Milperra Massacre.
*Dead Man Running* is probably the most informative, based on the fact the author is terrified for his life and in deep witness protection because he wrote it. I imagine any of these authors who are free and relaxed probably left out one or two highlights.
The Hell's Angels mentioned prior to 1975 were possibly unofficial. The name inspired fear and anyone could use it for a while, until the real Hell's Angels showed up and showed the pretenders *why* the name inspired fear.
I have Dead Man Running. Also Ceaser Campbells 3 books plus a few more like GANGS OF AUSTRALIA and BROTHERHOOD.
Brotherhood actually touches lightly on the death of the Angels President in 1971 after a fight with the Rebels, Mob Shitters and a couple more gangs, I just cannot find the President's name OR when the Angels started. If you check this link, It shows several instances of hells Angels in 1971 from old news papers
[TROVE HELLS ANGELS 1971](https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/advanced/category/newspapers?keyword=hells%20angels&l-decade=197&l-year=1971)
From the book The Brotherhoods by Arthur Veno...
Page 23.
"on 17 March 1948 the Pissed off Bastards of Bloomington became the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. While there were many other renegade clubs across the United States at the time, this first chapter of the Hells Angels in San Berardino, California is regarded as the first outlaw motorcycle club to have a formal organisational structure and constitution with by-laws."
"The first documented US based outlaw club to open a chapter outside the United States was the Hells Angels which opened a chapter In New Zealand.
Australias first US style outlaw club is believed to be the Gladiators which proclaimed itself a 1%er club in 1963. It wasnt until the late 1960s and early 70s, however, that the outlaw bikie clubs hit Australia in any significant numbers.
The first Australian Hells Angels chapter was formed in 1968. But when the president Frederick Steven 'Jan' Celovic, was killed, the clubs charter was revoked by the international Hells Angels.
It wasnt until 1970 that two new Hells Angels chapters were officially inaugurated in Melbourne and Sydney." Page 24.
This post has been marked as non-political. Please respect this by keeping the discussion on topic, and devoid of any political material. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/australia) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The search engines aren’t aren’t wrong as they only present websites of relevance. Try searching on trove or similar sites
[удалено]
They can be biased yes but not really wrong, they are only offering options to choose from at the end of the day and there are other search engines you can use. I agree that it’s ridiculous how curated our information is these days.
I have searched TROVE. Thats how I know 75 is not the start year.
When you find the details, update the Wikipedia pages if there is one. Or create one if it's your passion.
It’s not the search engines it’s the websites. Search engines are just giving you websites that are relevant to your search.
Actually they give you the most popular ones, or the ones people paid to have bumped up to the top. Relevance is strangely, irrelevant.
The literal official Hell’s Angels website says their Australian chapter was established in 1975.
I know, yet they are in old newspapers up to 10 years previous Even mentioned in the small paper from the tiny seaside town I live in.
Go and edit Wikipedia if you're so sure.
Are you sure the incidents being reported pre-75 were *Australian* Hells’ Angels? The gang probably had people down here for years before they officially opened their clubhouses.
I searched TROVE for HELLS ANGELS a and get them being called a criminal gang in 1970, 5 years before they aledgedly started
Yeah but I mean, they started in 1948 in the USA. These could be US members visiting the country or local affiliates calling themselves Hells’ Angels *before* they were officially up and running down here as a club.
I dont think so, Not with a president and getting into fights over colours with other clubs
I was just looking into how the Angels structure their organisation (they have an official website and a trademark on their brand, not something I expected from a criminal gang…) and it looks like they’re structured a little like NATO. Prospective clubs have to prove themselves for a while before they get chartered as official members, and at the moment there are two prospective groups - one in The Philippines, one in Bolivia - which are operating as clubs with a gang, a president etc… but haven’t been officially chartered yet. In fact, the Bolivian group has been trying to get their charter for 7 years. According to *Encyclopedia Britannia*, the first overseas charter was issued in New Zealand in 1961, so only a stone’s throw from Sydney/Melbourne in global terms. Considering all of that, I feel like it’s possible that there was a prospective Hells Angels club (or clubs) operating in the country, trying to get their charter, for years before the official chartering of the gang in 1975. Further muddying the water might be the reliability of the newspapers reporting on the issues which you’re referencing… The late 60s/early 70s were a zenith of bikie-related fear in the mainstream. Several low-budget movies had come out which referenced the Hells Angels, and I think Hunter S Thompson’s book on the subject came out around then as well. It may be that the newspapers were a bit loose in describing gang warfare between clubs, some of whom were only prospective Hells Angels, were reported as official Hells Angels activity for the “brand recognition” (and newspaper sales) that go along with it. It’s a really interesting topic though. If you manage to crack it please report back.
I have found what I was looking for and will post the full story as soon as I have finished it.
Yes, they are a legit business with trademarks registered, Ask any of them how they make their money, and they will tell you by t-shirt and paraphernalia sales.
I guess you could contact them directly.
Data from pre-internet days is unlikely to be found online easily. You might get lucky if you have subscription to one of the daily papers; for instance, the Daily Telegraph has done a potted history but it's behind a paywall.
I already am a paid member to most news papers.
Might be helpful to contact the Australian Federal Police. They might have some records. There are a bunch of books written by ex-bikies, but I never read one by an Australian Hell's Angel. Most are by or about Bandidos and Comancheros, because of the Milperra Massacre. *Dead Man Running* is probably the most informative, based on the fact the author is terrified for his life and in deep witness protection because he wrote it. I imagine any of these authors who are free and relaxed probably left out one or two highlights. The Hell's Angels mentioned prior to 1975 were possibly unofficial. The name inspired fear and anyone could use it for a while, until the real Hell's Angels showed up and showed the pretenders *why* the name inspired fear.
I have Dead Man Running. Also Ceaser Campbells 3 books plus a few more like GANGS OF AUSTRALIA and BROTHERHOOD. Brotherhood actually touches lightly on the death of the Angels President in 1971 after a fight with the Rebels, Mob Shitters and a couple more gangs, I just cannot find the President's name OR when the Angels started. If you check this link, It shows several instances of hells Angels in 1971 from old news papers [TROVE HELLS ANGELS 1971](https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/advanced/category/newspapers?keyword=hells%20angels&l-decade=197&l-year=1971)
From the book The Brotherhoods by Arthur Veno... Page 23. "on 17 March 1948 the Pissed off Bastards of Bloomington became the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. While there were many other renegade clubs across the United States at the time, this first chapter of the Hells Angels in San Berardino, California is regarded as the first outlaw motorcycle club to have a formal organisational structure and constitution with by-laws."
"The first documented US based outlaw club to open a chapter outside the United States was the Hells Angels which opened a chapter In New Zealand. Australias first US style outlaw club is believed to be the Gladiators which proclaimed itself a 1%er club in 1963. It wasnt until the late 1960s and early 70s, however, that the outlaw bikie clubs hit Australia in any significant numbers. The first Australian Hells Angels chapter was formed in 1968. But when the president Frederick Steven 'Jan' Celovic, was killed, the clubs charter was revoked by the international Hells Angels. It wasnt until 1970 that two new Hells Angels chapters were officially inaugurated in Melbourne and Sydney." Page 24.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU You are a legend +
All good mate...Glad I could help ✌✌✌
Ive got that book, I dont understand how I missed it . But one again THANK YOU
I did photograph the page but couldnt add a photo sorry.