Sharpies: The Early Years, 1967-1969
“WHEN THE PURPLE HEARTS FIRST CAME DOWN TO MELBOURNE IN 1967, WE WERE A LONG-HAIRED BLUES BAND. WE STARTED PLAYING AT THE CIRCLE BALLROOM IN PRESTON AND I STARTED NOTICING THESE STRANGE PEOPLE. I’D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THEM AND THEIR DISTINCT STYLE! THEY HAD SHORT HAIR AND WORE BAGGY TROUSERS AND CARDIGANS; THE GIRLS WORE KNEE-LENGTH PLEATED SKIRTS, TWIN SETS AND PEARLS.” –LOBBY LOYDE
IN EARLY 1968, WHEN I WAS A 16-YEAR-OLD “MOD” WORKING AT THE MELBOURNE GPO (POST OFFICE), I BECAME MATES WITH A YOUNG LOUT FROM PRESTON. HE HAD SHORT HAIR AND ATTITUDE! ONE LUNCHTIME, HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO COME OVER TO THE “SEVEN LITTLE TAILORS” SHOP ON ELIZABETH STREET. HE WAS GETTING SOME “FLAGS” MADE.
“FLAGS?” I THOUGHT. “WHAT THE HELL!”
WHEN WE GOT THERE, I FOUND OUT THAT “FLAGS” WERE A NECESSARY ITEM OF CLOTHING WORN BY A MELBOURNE-BASED GANG SUBCULTURE CALLED “SHARPIES”. THEY WERE TROUSERS–BAGGY TROUSERS–MADE OF WOOLEN MATERIAL IN “HOUNDSTOOTH” OR CHECK DESIGN WITH DULL COLOURS AND REAR POCKET FLAPS. I WAS INTRIGUED. I WANTED TO KNOW MORE!
MY NEW MATE INFORMED ME THAT ALONG WITH FLAGS, THEY WORE ITALIAN FINE KNIT CARDIGANS AND JUMPERS MADE BY COMPANIES LIKE “VENITO”, NO STRIPES, JUST PLAIN COLOURS USUALLY MAROON OR BOTTLE GREEN. MODS WERE STARTING TO SOUNDS A BIT “OLD HAT” NOW. I WAS HOOKED! ITALIAN LEATHER SHOES, CHISEL TOE, CUBAN HEEL, WERE THE OTHER REQUIRED ITEMS OF CLOTHING AND A “CRESTKNIT” POLO SHIRT TO TOP IT OFF! SHARPIE GIRLS WERE CALLED “BRUSH” AND WORE FAIRLY DRAB OUTFITS COMPARED TO THE BOYS: TWIN SETS, PLAINT SKIRTS, FLAT SHOES, ETC.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, I WENT TO A DANCE ON FLINDERS LANE CALLED “TRAFFIK” TO SEE “THE LOVED ONES”. AND WHO WERE HANGING AROUND OUTSIDE, LEANING ON LOWERED “HD” AND “EH” HOLDENS WITH “TASMAN” MAGS? SHARPIES! I LATER FOUND OUT THAT MOST DANCES HAD “SHARPIE BANS” SO THEY WOULD STAY OUT THE FRONT “PICKING” THE LONG HAIRS OR TRYING TO CHAT UP SOME MOD “CHICKS”. FUN!
A FEW WEEKS LATER, I WENT WITH A FEW MATES TO GLENFERRIE OVAL TO SEE THE HAWKS PLAY AND THE SHARPIES WERE EVERYWHERE! DRESSED TO IMPRESS! 3/4-LENGTH WOOLEN COATS, FLAGS, SOME WITH “PORK PIE” HATS, ALL WITH ATTITUDE! IT WAS MORE ENTERTAINING WATCHING THE CROWD THAN WATCHING THE GAME! THIS WAS HOME GROWN, NOT TEDDY BOYS, MODS OR HIPPIES, ETC. THIS WAS MELBOURNE–FANTASTIC!
AS IT TURNED OUT, NOT LONG DOWN THE TRACK, I BECAME A SHARP MYSELF AT THE END OF WHAT I CALL “PHASE ONE” OF THE SHARPIE REIGN. I GOT A PAIR OF FLAGS MADE BY “MAURICE THE TAILOR” IN CAMBERWELL, GREY “VENITO” V-NECK JUMPER, A PAIR OF “CHISELS” FROM “CUSMANOS” IN COLLINGWOOD, NAVY BLUE TRENCH COAT, AND OF COURSE: SHARPIE BRUSH! AN ORIGINAL MELBOURNE YOUTH CULTURE, AND I WAS PROUD TO BE PART OF IT. LATER CAME THE STAGGERS JEANS, STRIPPED CARDIGANS, HAIR TAILS, ETC. BUT FOR ME, I WAS GLAD TO BE INVOLVED AND HAVE WITNESSED THE “FIRST PHASE OF SHARP”–1967 TO 1969, A PERIOD WHICH NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF!
Chris O’ Halloran
Interesting article you have here!!! after more than 30 years the Sharps era have re ashed why???
A lot of good mate of mine DIE for this cause
Ex sydney sharp 1969 to 1978
Comment by george — January 8, 2008 @ 11:42 am
G’day Sam,great web page! and rare insight into Oz history. I had a sharpie haircut with dyed blonde rat tails in which leads me to my sharpie story! I was at Flinders st Station with a mate Ivan and there used to be a Hamburger/food van there near the stairs, I’ve gone up an ordered a pie, when I was rudely interrupted by about 10 sharpies whom were around 18-20 years old, I was 15 y.o in 1983 at the time, they were as rough as guts with heaps of tatts on there neck arms,ect and one of them was a girl whom looked just as tough as all of them!, one of them poked me in the chest and said, “what gang are you in? none I said, ‘why you got a sharpie haircut then’?, because I want one, I said’, Give us some money? No I said, give us your earring? No I said again-very timidly the whole time, and then came the question that I look back on with great fondness as do all the people I’ve told over the years- “Give us a bite of ya pie then”? [that still makes me laugh 25 years later] when I still said no to the pie request, he then said to one of his sharpie mates ‘Hit him one Bobbsy’ in which he punched me in the mouth, they let me go and I took off to the safety of the Swanston St tram where Ivan laughed at me saying haha you got bashed by Sharpies!! I had a few tears in my eyes, and I don’t reckon I cried because the punch hurt that much it was more because I always looked upto the Sharpies and was more disappointed that they picked on me instead of me been accepted by them :-]
I reckon they may have been the last of the sharpies because I cant recall seeing much of them again, I went home and trim my rat tails so they werent’ so obvious, But long live the Sharpies, and I hope those sharpies are all going well these days and I understand why you picked on me it was because I looked like a sharpie from a rival gang!!
cheers Gerry
Comment by Gerry Walsh — May 13, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
gerry, the good thing is you stood your ground agianst them, that would of took guts.
and btw which sharpies were they?
from where?
catch
Comment by aleks — June 7, 2008 @ 10:05 am
There is a very old ABCTV Four corners story on the mod culture and niteclub scene of Melbourne in the sixties . featuring a very early version of a sharpie who was refused entry to a club , a similar scenario that you have described . T.W
Comment by Tony Wyzenbeek — June 26, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
HI THERE,
THIS “BRUSH” READ WITH MUCH INTEREST YOUR ‘FLASHBACK’ TO 67/69 ….
LIFE AS A “SHARPIE”…..OH THE MEMORIES !!!
I TOO WAS THERE, AND SO GLAD TO BE A TEEN IN THE 60′S. LIVING IN PRESTON, ONE OF THE ‘TOUGHER’ AREAS OF MELBOURNE, SHARPIES WERE WIDESPREAD AND WELL KNOWN HERE.
THE LOCAL DANCE IE. PRESTON TOWN HALL WAS ‘STORYVILLE’.
HERE WE LINED UP TO DANCE 66 ROCK TO ‘MAX MERRITT’ MY PERSONAL ALL TIME FAVOURITE.
WITH PLEATED SKIRT, TOP, PEARL EARRINGS SHORT HAIR AND SANDALS WE DANCED UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
CHURCH DANCES WERE ALSO THE GO, AS WAS SCHOOL FORMALS.
NORTHCOTE HIGH AND PRESTON GIRLS HIGH COMBINING TO DANCE TO THE LIKES OF ‘RAM JAM BIG BAND’….
AS MENTIONED A LOT OF BOXERS BECAME SHARPIES, WE HUNG AROUND WITH SEVERAL.
FIGHTS WERE THE NORM NO MATTER WHERE YOU WENT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER TRYING TO GET INTO A DANCE IN COBURG AND WE WERE TOLD TO ‘ENTER AT OWN RISK’ !!!
‘SWINGER’ WAS COBURG TOWN HALL.
431 ANOTHER POPULAR DANCE
OPUS ALSO A LARGE EVENT.
THERE WASN’T MUCH OF A CHOICE BACK THEN, YOU EITHER BECAME A ‘MOD’ OR A ‘SHARPIE’, THINGS JUST FELL INTO PLACE AS TO WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE.
TO ME IT WAS A ‘MAGICAL’ TIME, AND IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME I WOULD BE ‘THERE’.
I ALSO HAD A NAVY BLUE TRENCHCOAT…THE SIGN OF A ‘TRUE’ SHARPIE.
I STILL LOVE DANCING AND OF COURSE CAN STILL DO 66′ ROCK!!
AND ALSO ‘THE BREAK’..ANOTHER SIMPLE SHARPIE DANCE.
THE YEARS HAVE FLOWN BUT I STILL RETURN….
YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF ‘PRESTON’ BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE
‘PRESTON’ OUT OF THE GIRL, SORRY “BRUSH” !!!!!
Comment by VICKI — May 14, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
HEY VICKI…… GREAT STORY !!! HAVE YOU GOT ANY PHOTOS ? THERE’S GOING TO ANOTHER SHARPIE EXHIBITION NEXT YEAR , YOU SHOULD ROCK UP MATE , HEAPS OF GREAT STORIES TO SWAP WITH OTHER EX LOUTS !! AND SOME NOT SO EX !!! HA HA . CHEERS. CHRIS.
Comment by CHRIS O'HALLORAN — May 22, 2009 @ 11:28 am
hey chris O”h…..amazing reading this stuff..guess a sharpie was one of the many identities i adopted in my rather misspent(hahaha)youth…was”nt too many toorak sharpies getting about either.was lots of fun, and interesting reflecting on those days..different 4sure!..and graham penton lives on..bless you both!.austin
Comment by austin — May 22, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
It was great hearing from you the other night have passed on web address to a few people.Keep in touch
Comment by Dinko — May 24, 2009 @ 9:56 am
HEY AUSTO. GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU…… LOVE THE BIT ABOUT ‘GRAEME PENTON LIVES ON’ FANTASTIC…… SEE ALL YOU BLOKES AT THE NEXT EXPO!!!! OR MAYBE BEFORE THAT IF I CAN ORGANIZE A RE UNION …. CHEERS…… CHRIS.
Comment by CHRIS O'HALLORAN — May 29, 2009 @ 6:34 pm
Fuck the Thomo Sharps they only good for a laugh they all junkies..
Comment by MTS Murder The Snitch — June 9, 2009 @ 9:39 am
MTS Murder The Snitch , your a bitch mate!
couldnt pull a finger out of your ass..
Comment by Rob — June 9, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
now,now boys …..no fighting !!!
Comment by christo — June 11, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
MTS IS RIGHT……ROB’S A GOOSE !!!!!!
Comment by GP — June 11, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
hahaah!
Comment by Rob — June 11, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
hey rob…you’ve already made a complete prick of yourself on the SLACKBASTARD website ,,,, why dont you piss off and leave us all alone… we’ll dig a big hole in thomastown park and bury you in it…. with a big sign WANNABE next to it…ha ha ha…….
Comment by GP — June 11, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
RIGHTO BOYS…OFF TO BED NOW…..YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR BICKERING TOMORROW. GOODNIGHT.
Comment by O'HOOLIGAN — June 12, 2009 @ 1:37 am
try me brother try me!
Comment by Rob — June 12, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
NOT ‘HEAD JOB ROB’ AGAIN !!!
Comment by GP — June 16, 2009 @ 8:37 am
idiots!
Comment by Rob — June 16, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
dont worry about em rob…..talks cheap !
Comment by O'HOOLIGAN — June 26, 2009 @ 11:28 pm
your right O’HOOLIGAN talk is cheap!
come to my area,
where actions speak louder than words. HA HA!
Comment by rob — June 27, 2009 @ 9:58 am
STUFF EM !!!!
Comment by O'HOOLIGAN — June 27, 2009 @ 10:16 am
hahahha
let me know when the expos on mate?
thanks
Comment by rob — June 28, 2009 @ 11:34 pm
I don’t look back at any of this with any fond memories. I grew up in Chadstone and had to put up with the wankers from jordy. Most of them on there own where as weak as piss and most of there brushes where as bad as most of the blokes and some of them where as ugly as a hat full of arse wholes.
I had some very good mate that got the rough end of the stick from some of theses blokes and ended up the worst for it now one mate never walked again and another lost the site in one eye and lost a kidney. I don’t see how it can be looked at as one of the better times in Melbourne’s history if you ask me most of the Sharpies should hang there heads in shame for how they acted and what they did to people.
Yes i had my fear share of run ins with some of them and i gave as good as i got. I find it interesting none the less. Maybe we can learn something from the past. Dutch.
Comment by Dutch — July 9, 2009 @ 8:44 pm
FAIR COMMENT DUTCH….. I’VE HAD MATES WHO COPPED A FEW BAD HIDINGS…MYSELF INCLUDED.. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF TEENAGE GANGS,ROCKERS,BODGIES,HOME BOYS,SKINHEADS,MODS,TEDDY BOYS,SURFIES,SHARPIES etc etc. THERE IS ALWAYS A BIT OF VIOLENCE INVOLVED MAINLY DUE TO BOYS BEING BOYS AND ALSO THE USUAL DEFENDING OF TERRITORY WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE CAVE MAN DAYS !!AS WITH THE AGGRO ON MELBOURNE STREETS TODAY THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WILL GO TO FAR AND SOMEBODY GETS BADLY HURT…ALCOHOL IS USEUALLY A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL….. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT PAST GANGS YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS THE BOYS WHO DRESS TO IMPRESS.NOT THE GIRLS…LIKE PEACOCKS STRUTTING THERE STUFF AND THIS IS MAINLY WHAT SAM HAS DONE WITH THIS SITE….THE FASHION SIDE OF IT !!!! NONE OF US CONDONE VIOLENCE BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS HISTORY SHOWS ITS ALL PART OF URBAN CULTURE AND A BIG PART OF IT IS ALSO MATESHIP AND A FEELING OF BELONGING !!!! cheers CHRIS.
Comment by OH — July 10, 2009 @ 11:44 am
I have no trouble theses days Chris. I myself have more then moved on from it all. The one thing that always got me though was all the bloke dancing together ? and they use to pick on the poofters for it lol, yes the fashion was a big part of it.
It was a great era to be in, i will give you that some time i wish for some of it back. My daughter is always asking me about what it was like and it was in some ways great to find this site. Dutch
Comment by Dutch — July 10, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
KEEP IN TOUCH MATE….THE BOYS DANCING TOGETHER,YEAH !!! CLASSIC STUFF! BUT THERE AGAIN IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT ‘THE BOYS’ WASN’T IT DUTCH. BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE ‘SKINS N SHARPS’ EXPO NEXT YEAR…THAT WILL BE AN EYE OPENER FOR HER…MY DAUGHTER IS SIXTEEN AND CANT BELIEVE THE CLOTHES WE USED TO WEAR !!! HA HA ! JUST COME AND HAVE A BEER WITH US,ITS ALL ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES….NOT ALL THE BAD SHIT. COH.
Comment by OH — July 10, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Will do when is it and where is at. Yeah mines 20 and gets a laugh from some of it.
Comment by Dutch — July 10, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
SOME TIME NEXT YEAR,KEEP AN EYE ON THIS SITE,YOU’LL GET PLENTY OF NOTICE MATE…… I REMEMBER THE OLD MATHEW FLINDERS DAYS…BANDS FREE ON SAT. ARVO IN THE LOUNGE…A SORT OF NEUTRAL TERRITORY HA HA, BUT WE WOULD KEEP OUT OF THE BAR BECAUSE NOT BEING A LOCAL WE KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN !!! WE SAW GEOFF DUFF PERFORMING ONE SAT. AND ONE OF THE SHARPIE CHICKS ATTACKED HIM….BLOODY FUNNY !!! I AGREE WITH YOU THAT SOME OF THE MOLES WERE TOUGHER THAN THE BOYS !!! I ALSO REMEMBER WHEN SOME OF THE LOCAL BOYS JUMPED ANGUS YOUNG WHEN HE WAS WALKING VTHROUGH THE AUDIENCE PLAYING TNT AND HE ENDED UP WITH A BROKEN FINGER… AC/DC NEVER DID GO BACK TO THE MATTHEW…FUNNY THAT !!! AND THEN THERE WAS THE SOUTH SIDE SIX AND THE VILLAGE GREEN HOTELS BUT THATS ANOTHER STORY !!! CHEERS.
Comment by OH — July 10, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
Ah the Flanders now it well. I was there the nigh Duffy got whacked. I was pissing my self. What about the Waltzing Matilda?? some good nights there as well. I will keep an eye out
Comment by Dutch — July 11, 2009 @ 12:08 am
HEY OH, SAW ONE OF YOUR ‘SHARPS UNITED’ T SHIRTS ON THE WEEKEND HOW MUCH ARE THEY CHAMP ?
Comment by GP — July 13, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
$20….. cheers.
Comment by OH — July 15, 2009 @ 8:32 am
HI CHRIS THANKS MATE GOT IT HUNGING UP ON THE WALL;I WOULD HAVE GOT BACK 2 U SOONER BUT ; IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FULL MOON DEALING WITH THE X FLYING AROUND ON HER BROOM AGAIN . YER CHRIS I B IN A COPY AS WELL MATE THANKS AGIAN BRO
Comment by JOHNPAUL — July 24, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
NO WORRIES JP…… OH.
Comment by OH — July 27, 2009 @ 10:25 am
whot about moomba and the myer music ball and the free gigs thay had there. whot a buzz that was good times the larst one i went 2 fuck there were sharps from just about every hood in melb.hard days but fuck had fun doing shit.S.U.
Comment by JOHNPAUL — August 17, 2009 @ 1:01 am
Up in country Victoria, the sharpie culture was still alive and well as late as 1978. They wore tight high rise jeans, cardigans that were also tight, swore a lot,smoked heavily (Drum being the fave, Only men smoke drum!) picked fights, played pinballs, ate chiko rolls, had love bites, rode black fixwheelers, and if they had a car, it would usually an old Holden (FC, FB, EH, HR being the favourites)or an early Falcon(XK,XL,XM or XP). The ideal sharpie car? Black paint, driving lights, lowered, CB radio, stereo, extractors, fat tyres(BFGoodrich)and early type of mags(Hotwires, Kidney shaped five hole, dragways, or earlier Tasman mags, chromies or just plain widies)I think quite a few were rough kids but from quite comfortably well off suburban and well established families with nice modern homes and late model cars. They sort of rebelled against their parents strive for middle class status. They preferred to be ‘tough, cool, rebellious, and charismatic’ Quite a lot were into boxing, or karate. They fought for their turf and they fought to get and keep their girls. This is long before internet, videos, and modern life as we know it.Asking my brother who was older than me by eight years, he is of the view that the sharpie culture here was mainly from around 1975 to 1979, peaking in 76 77. In Melbourne they became much bigger much earlier, perhaps 1972 to 1978, peaking in the early to mid 1970s. I think sharps were into “poofter bashing” The Cravalli st gang from East Preston, the Prahran sharps, West Side Sharps and the Blackburn South Sharps were the ones that come to mind.
By the way,I remembered them being referred to Sharps by the boys, and Sharpies by the girls. See the Dragon Film clip Get That Jive to see a girl dancing sharpie style.
Comment by Leo — November 11, 2009 @ 4:14 am
Hi!
I’m the redactor of Riot Kids skinzine from Spain
I’m very interested in the history of skins and sharpies, can you send me more information about this to publish it in my zine??
Thanks for all!!
(sorry for my bad english..)
pedropa_skin69@hotmail.com
Comment by Pedro — March 26, 2010 @ 4:35 am
Hi Pedro, I have sent you an invite to the Sharpie group on Facebook – you will find pictures and links on the site.
Comment by Julie Mac — March 26, 2010 @ 2:33 pm
HI PEDRO,,,SAM WHO RUNS THIS SITE IS IN JAPAN AT THE MOMENT AND GETS HOME ON THE 20th APRIL,,,,HE WILL BE HAPPY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU THEN…….CHEERS. CHRIS.
Comment by O'HOOLIGAN — April 2, 2010 @ 6:33 pm
Stumbled across this site while searching for Lobby Loyde and Max Merritt clips. Shit, it brings back some memories. I was a sharpie in Sydney (yes there were sharps there too) from 1968 to 1970. Similar but slightly different ‘uniform’ and crew cut short hair with no tails, but much the same type of kids with the same backgrounds. Same deal, hanging outside dances trying to look tough and sometimes succeeding. Town Hall station on Fri and Sat nights was the big place to be. I grew up in suburb that was a mix of housing commission and war service housing. You learned to fight or you stayed home. I remember Melbourne had better bands. Hold fast, pete
Comment by peter — April 8, 2010 @ 11:35 pm
Hi again!!
In facebook my email is: pedropa_83@hotmail.com
If you can contact with me for information about sharpies… I’ll thank you!
Cheers
Comment by Pedro — April 26, 2010 @ 9:09 pm
fell onto this by a mate i was a sharpie from egan street west richmond in 1967 very tough times as i kicked around with Choko laurie peresso, dickie desmond peter forbes and a guy with glasses steve unknown last name a very young sharpie as he lived and breathed sharpies we use to go to Q club fight the mods cant remember the bands i remember going to the thumpin tum in the city when there was more of us .. we used to buy our clothes, pinstripes flags the baggier the better.. crestknit cardigans cherry lane shoes at GASWORKS clothing store in the city, the mates tatts done by dicky reynolds followed lobby with his group the coloured balls at times,we used to go up to bendigo as our brush was up there we would go to their YMCA dance on a saturday night and belt mods as only a couple of guys joined us there as the brush loved to dress up in their stuff, some of the stories of the sharp days are still fresh in the memory, have stacks of photos from them days, would love to connect with other sharps from the west richmond collingwood preston area as we used to go to a dance at preston and it was full of sharps how do you share your story i love it but its all gone were old now and those days just died but here you all are jesus i never thought that we are so alive and could share shitloads of moments… the dress code was very good as the pride in our baggies or flairs our chisel toed shoes cresknit stripped jumpers and it goes down to the best hammerhead in the pocket with some of the sharpies of the era …. my nickname was… Ziggy 28th april 9.45pm.
Comment by calvin — April 28, 2010 @ 10:50 pm
i entered a wrong email but i re-entered it properly now for your records so you can contact me ..Ziggy
Comment by calvin — April 28, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
HI CALVIN,I’M INTERESTED IN SEEING YOUR PHOTOS,CAN WE GET TOGETHER SOME TIME OR RING ME ON 0413203996. CHEERS. CHRIS O’H SKINS ‘N’ SHARPS INC. PS IF I DONT ANSWER CALVIN LEAVE ME A MESSAGE AND I’LL GET BACK TO YOU.
Comment by O;HOOLIGAN — May 7, 2010 @ 9:05 pm
hi calvin,my email is jaim93@optusnet.com.au,please get in touch,i would love to see some photos and hear some stories about the early sharps,not many people are aware of the early sharps mate. cheers. chris (o’hooligan)
Comment by chris — May 10, 2010 @ 1:27 pm
HI calvin
Interesting that that you used to come up to Bendigo for your brush and go to the YMCA dance
I’m from Bendigo originally and thats how i got into the
sharpe scene got into a blue with some Melbourne sharpes
outside the YMCA dance who where trying to move in on our brush
Met them the next day in Roslind Park and became friends for years to come but that was in about 1971
your brush could be my sister come good with some names
Regards Laurie
Comment by laurie — May 10, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
The Sharpie Generation Gap
When I was 15 in 1977, many of you guys were already in your mid 20s. Most teenagers are unable to notice anyone above the age of 21 and I imagine it’s vice-a-versa.
The music you love when you are in puberty becomes stamped on your soul. While the original Sharps grew up listening to the hard sounds of Lobby and other Sunbury legends, the sounds of Rose Tattoo, The Angels and La Femme are the ones that make my heart skip a beat in teenage passion.
Below are a couple of quotes from RAGE
“The front of the stage was jammed packed with Sharpies. I have never seen so many in one place, especially the old Sharpies with that hard look about them.”
“The old Melbourne Sharps and Gunnies are tough and well respected. You do not mess with them or any other Old boys or girls from the suburbs – unless you want trouble.”
We knew our place in the Sharpie Hierarchy
I expect the original Sharps to think RAGE is a piece of crap. You are supposed to. It’s not one of ‘Chopper’s’ books or ‘Underbelly’. To you it will seem like a 1970s copy of Dolly magazine.
‘How to make a boy notice you’
‘Should I go all the way?’
‘Win a grouse Bluebird of Happiness necklace
and earring set’
‘See the new Staggers range of demin jeans and jackets’
With that in mind, I have added guns, cars, tattoos and girls having scrag fights in school uniform for the original male Sharpies’ reading pleasure. I think the girls will ‘get it’, teenage girls are universal with their growing pains.
At this time in two weeks, thanks to Sam Biondo I will be bursting with excitement at getting the chance to re-live the days with my Sharpie Family.
xx
Comment by Julie Mac — June 20, 2010 @ 9:52 am
I will have to dig out some photos… those were the days, what a lot of people don’t realise is that Sharps et al were predecessors to what was going down in the UK. Once the era came to an end, I headed off to the UK and became les enfant terrible pour Vivienne Westwood. It was only because of the street training I got in Melbourne I was able to survive the totally anarchistic life of Punk in Britain. Mind you I did succumb to some rather taxing nights with her and Malcolm McLaren (RIP)and other rather unusual types. Leigh Bowery to mention another . What I think I loved most about the era was that it was the first time young cosmopolites created their own look that was not only unique, but quite stylish. Unlike the stoned Heads of the time, we were very clean and polished.
The only thng I cringe at now is when I think of that dance!!!
Comment by mslulu — June 21, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
This site brings back some fond memories and some not so fond… like being stabbed in the top of my head and needing 18 stitches so I looked like a monk for months – and sadly I still have a full head of hair except for that spot too!
BTW… I grew up in Thornbury where Conti cardigans were made and a mate was the boyfriend of a Conti in 1970 0r 1971. His girlfriend’s mum who ran the Conti Knitwear store made him a cardigan so he most likely may have been the first guy to wear one as before then I believe the store just made sets for old ladies!
Comment by Jim Caton — July 2, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
Hi all,
Wrote a little piece last year (Vicki) and have just read the experiences above, which brought so many memories flooding back.
Being a sharpie -’brush’ (never did like that term) in 1966 was simply “grouse” !
Maybe a girl’s point of view is different to a guy’s as it was a less physical experience.(well mine was anyway!)
Nevertheless, it was a unique time in history that can never be replaced.
The baggy pants, chisled shoes, trench coats etc. were the trade mark of a true sharpie.
If you didn’t have the attire, then you were not one of “us”.
For the girls, it was the same.
No pleated skirts, cabled knit jumpers, sandals and short hair, then sorry, you must be a “mod”!
If you could not dance to 66′ rock, then you had better learn to do it fast!
Storyville (Preston Townhall) was always packed, the line outside seemed to go ‘forever’.
Same at Coburg Townhall ‘Swinger’,every Saturday night was the same.
FJ’s were the coolest car you could own and I was not particularly into cars, but my girlfriends were and so it didn’t take long until they became familiar with who owned the hottest in the area!
One particular day after High School tagging along (under sufference)with my friend to take photos of one such car!
I still remember his name and where he worked, strange but true.
Another was a guy who owned an amazing FJ.
All the girls wanted to ride in this car, and one night we were the chosen three!
Of course we agreed, and with speeds of 90 mph down High Street Reservoir, it was certainly worthwhile!
He was obviously a sharpie, BUT to you guys reading it will sound ‘strange’ when I say that he used to spray the car with an Avon perfume called “Wishing”….nothing poofy about him, but it was a real turn on for the girls!!!
(ask me what I did yesterday and I would have to think about it….trivia….I can go on ‘forever’ !!)
Fights just seemed to be the norm, no matter where you were they just happened.
One mate started them and finished them EVERY damn night.
Hitting the grog early, we knew exactly what the night would entail.
We all drank a lot back then, no C.S. cowboys then,
pimms, marsala and coke or a advocat…….that was about it!
The guys, whiskey, beer and plenty of it.
Driving home, no seatbelts,(not compulsory then) and basically pissed!
Eddies Lake a favourite spot to pash (Edwards Lake Reservoir)sometimes difficult to find a spot, car after car.
Takeaway was either chips, chinese or hamburger – that was it!
Gangs would fight (everywhere) and just by seeing what a person was wearing, would indicate whether you would be ‘safe’ or not.
One would instantly be able to tell what side he or she was on, simply by their clothing, something that would be impossible to judge today.
Guys fought with their fists only, no knives were ever used. It sickens me today as to what is used, at leat back then it was a ‘fair’ fight betwenn two people.
(unless of course mates decided to jump in also, but at least their were no weapons.)
Well this brush has rambled, but I do have magical memories of growing up in Preston, which I still call home even though I reside elsewhere.
Growing up in this era I would not swap for anything, it was one of the happiest times in my life.
Comment by vicki wilson — July 23, 2010 @ 11:13 pm
Beautifully written Vicki, I ventured over to Preston on some Saturdays all the way from Box Hill. What fun we had, 1959 FC for me, but several sharps I hung with had the traditinal FJ or FX, one particular one sprayed a beautiful Maroon with a chrome glove box lid which always gave a great view of the brushes legs!
Oh what memories, those fish n chips in news paper or the greasys burgers that have never been matched (BoxHill)I do remember a good Burger shop maybe in Bell St? The Bell Burger?? So right Vicki, no weapons just fists, although the occasional Iron Bar was produced from cars, and once only I recall a shottie going off out side blue stone dance in box hill.
Take care and thanks for sharing……1966 to 1970 the real living years mate!
Noel
Comment by noel — July 24, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
Chris O’h.. Took Rushie to the exhibition last Sunday had a good time, drank a few at the Glenferrie and reminisced about old times and sights.Give us a yell when you have the next get together.
Comment by dinko — July 25, 2010 @ 8:01 pm
Thanks for the compliment Noel,
Re-reading spelling amiss, typed late!
Yes, they were truly the best days from 66′ onwards.
Sadly, for some reason, don’t have ‘Sharpie photos’.
From memory my ‘boyfriend’ (now ex husband) had a FB and an FC ….(now I just call him those initials!!)
No, not really, we both moved on years ago.
The car was such an important part of the sharpie image, both to guys and girls.
No hanging dice from mirrors yet, always a travelling rug in the back though!! (and a colourful set of cups in the glovebox!) Ours wasn’t maroon or chrome though!
Oh funny times.
Sneaking a mate into the drive-in … in the boot!…
sounds just like “HAPPY DAYS” !
They were indeed happy days, the music, well that’s another story – certainly contributing to the fabulous memories we hold close today.
Thanks again, Vicki
Comment by vicki wilson — July 28, 2010 @ 7:41 pm
Hell, spelling, look how I spelt traditional!!!!!!!
Too much time playing pool and pin ball
Cheers Vicki
Comment by noel — July 28, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
missed out on meeting a few of you, even though you were there, I wasn’t exactly keeping a low profile though, I met up with some old buddies, my Wendy was there, (yay!)Julie Mac, Peter (Mohawk), Batty from the Gully, J.J. & others, mainly a younger crew, keep in touch guys, I believe all sorts of people, are organising all sorts of catch-ups, so, catch up soon! love & kisses, Bobby Sandford.
Comment by Bobby Sandford — August 3, 2010 @ 10:58 pm
In Collingwood the three quarter length coats were called Box Chesters ?? does anyone know if this is correct ..
Comment by Tufftimes — October 7, 2010 @ 10:12 am
Tufftimes, I found this article from 1952
http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2855156
There is a picture of a coat and Box chester is in the description
Comment by Julie Mac — October 7, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
Hello Julie Mac, thanks for the reply, we were wearing them in the early 1970s they had three large plastic buttons down the front, they were thick and heavy with no belt. regards Tufftimes
Comment by Tufftimes — October 7, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
Funny that Julie Mac says her collection sometimes causes her embarrasment & writing the book made her sound like a mole.Well Julie ,you couldnt be more wrong, i just saw citysharps at the exchange in footscray where i met you and i think the sun shines out of your arse! pardon the french.
It occured to me that the shirts,shoes,connies etc are way more relevent & far more representitive of our generation than any plastic manufactured easily digested x factor shit that some museum would come along & tell us about “our” history,well sorry it wasnt like that. It was as Julie tells it in Rage,the whole violent,shocking,stylish.proud,& very loyal story, good on you Julie Mac you have produced a great book, SteveB X
Comment by Steve B — October 11, 2010 @ 2:50 pm
Steve B, Thanks for taking the time to write, your lovely comments made me cry! xxx
Comment by Julie Mac — October 11, 2010 @ 8:03 pm
To Peter (April 8, 2010)if you were a Sydney Sharpie 67-69 you might have heard about the Beach House, Surf City, John Henry’s and possibly the Teen Canteen, which was the first Sharpie venue in Sydney. I was at all these places from the mid-sixties onwards, and we weren’t shy about hanging around Town Hall Station, where we often waited to take revenge on the Long Hairs from Beatle Village. The working class areas of Sydney were the breeding grounds for the first Sharpies to emerge in Australia. Sydney was the first city the English migrated to and many of them brought their language and dress codes with them. I’ve written a manuscript called “Out With The Boys” and Rebecca Maclean has interviewed me for an upcoming documentary on the Sharpies. We need to preserve this social history and nothing so far has been published about it – yet!!
Comment by The Seagull — October 19, 2010 @ 6:53 am
To Julie Mac
What book have you written about the Sharpies?
Comment by The Seagull — October 19, 2010 @ 6:59 am
Hi Seagull,
I found your ‘Out with the boys’ on the ABC site a couple of years ago and enjoyed reading them (when I was supposed to be working)
I have self-published ‘RAGE A Sharpie’s Journal, Melbourne 1974-1980′ it’s a novel based on my diary from my time in Melbourne’s sharpie gangs. It’s not all girly stuff, there are guns, cars and scrag fights with girls in short school uniforms for the male reading pleasure.
Comment by Julie Mac — October 19, 2010 @ 6:07 pm
Seagull, maybe you can run your manuscript past these guys
http://www.panterapress.com
Comment by Julie Mac — October 19, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
Julie
Those three chapters of “Out With The Boys” that you read were really soft. Unfortunately the ABC warned against coarse language being displayed. In the other ten chapters the language spoken is much coarser, and it is mixed in with Cockney rhyming slang and prison jargon, which we used in our dialogues with each other. My friends have read the entire text and been amazed at the ‘other-worldliness’ of the language, in spite of the swearing. After all, this was the reality of the Sydney Sharpies, and “Out With The Boys” is the only text that’s telling their stories. It is the missing link in national accounts of the Sharpie culture, but publishers (including Panterapress)don’t seem to regard it as a valuable contribution to the social history of Sydney. When people are espousing the virtues of Underbelly they don’t realise the innercity haunts of Sydney in the 60′s were the early stamping grounds for some of Underbelly’s characters. Thanks for your interest, Julie, and I am happy to keep talking to you, or anyone else who’s interested in the Sydney Sharpies.
Comment by The Seagull — October 20, 2010 @ 1:44 am
Seagull, can you email me please. mcjulie@optusnet.com.au
Comment by Julie Mac — October 20, 2010 @ 11:45 am
Julie Mac
You mentioned how people can be robbed of their history. Sometimes it’s unintentional, through ignorance or lack of lateral thinking for examples. As long as those who have stolen our history are willing to give it back, acknowledge it as social reality, then let’s correct them so the record is set straight. The Sharpies, whether in Sydney or Melbourne, deserve to be continuously visible, up there with other historical accounts of the times.
I’m doing some research on the dance venues the Sydney Sharpies inhabited in the 60′s. Some of the ones I mentioned to Peter above have not had an airing anywhere. The ones that have, like Surf City and the Beach House (later the Star Club)are reported to be places where the surfies went. Both these venues were run by John Harrigan who also managed the original Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, Ray Brown & the Whispers, Max Merritt & the Meteors to name a few. Sure, there were a few bleach-blondes in blue jeans, white sloppy joes and sneekers stomping at Surf City, but there were Sharpies lurking in their shadows, from Kings Cross and Wooloomooloo for starters. When Harrigan decided to open another venue in Elizabeth Street, City, Thorpie was his number one billing, and those Sharpies from Surf City followed him there. It didn’t take long before some of their innercity mates got wind of this new spot, and the Beach House quickly became the go for the whole Sharpie network. Anyone who called it a ‘surfie’ joint is seriously mistaken or misinformed. Even the guys from the Missing Links, who played at Beatle Village in Oxford Street, would remember how their fans were often beaten up by the Sharpies from Beach House, either in Hyde Park or at Town Hall railway station. The Sydney Sharpies came from all over the place, but NEVER from the beach suburbs. In my book I document a geography of the network, and at the Beach House on a Saturday night there might have been 150-200 Sharpies present. This was the regular audience that kept the money coming in for Thorpie, Brownie and others. We even helped their roadies bring the equipment into the place sometimes, and a few of the boys got up and sang with the bands on Sunday afternoon talent quests. It was all very gentlemanly between the Sharpies and the bands, but when the odd long hair ventured into the place, the air in the venue changed dramatically. For Thorpie and Brownie the show had to go on, very often to the sounds of glass and mirrors smashing, fists and jaws clashing, chairs and tables flying through the air and bouncers carting limp bodies to the entry. Adding to the misery of the bloke with long hair was the fact that Harrigan did not want to lose his Sharpie audience, so the bouncers were biased when it came to ‘managing’ fights.I reckon that by the time Thorpie got to Melbourne he was well-prepared for any nasties served up at the venues there.
Comment by The Seagull — October 23, 2010 @ 8:27 am
Stokes St In preston cant be forgotten,it was just as wild as cravalli st
Comment by Old sould — October 24, 2010 @ 9:12 am
Just been reading a book “A Bunch of Ratbags” by William Dick who was a Bodgie from the western suburbs of Melb,I think its Chap 13 where he describes running into a sharpie gang ,this book was published in 1965 so im trying to work out is this the first mention of Sharpie culture? Even though its not very flattering towards sharps (remember he was a bodgie)Is there any earlier recorded details of Sharpie culture, anyone?
Comment by Steve B — October 26, 2010 @ 11:53 am
Hi Steve
DNA testing is the only way to go. Now if we could only find the oldest-surviving Crestknit laying around in an op shop or a Sallys!!
Seriously folks, this reported encounter with a Melbourne Sharpie gang in Dick’s book may well be the first literature reference to the ‘Sharpie’ term. Without reading the book I don’t know when this happened, but I have written that I narrowly escaped a beating by a Sharpie at Surf City early in 1964. This was my first encounter. And not the last, either. No mistaking the expensive clobber, the swagger, the threatening posture and the special language he used. I have documented this incident in my (soon to be published) account of the Sydney Sharpie gang era 1960-1970 (it’s called “Out With The Boys”).
Whether or not a Sharpie was spotted first in Sydney or Melbourne is not all that important. More important is how did the term ‘Sharpie’ apply to two groups of boys, 1000kms apart, who were strikingly similar in some of their characteristics, but different in other ways. Sub-cultural identity is usually formed in opposition to other identities eg “we’ve seen what they look like and we are not like them.” But you have to SEE them. The Sydney boys were totally oblivious to happenings outside their patch. Some of the influences they inherited came from English migrants(the Ten Pound Pom)and from older brothers, who led the way in fashion and hairstyle, non-verbal communication and morality. Also, the Sydney Sharpie culture was a purely working-class identity which did not evolve through a disenchantment with family life or political/social issues. If its identity opposed anything it was the boy with the long hair, because he was not a ‘real’ man. Sydney Sharpies were about being a man, which is why they dressed in clothes that made them look older, wealthier and more sophisticated than other boys of their age.
I’ll read Dick’s book, anyway. It sounds fascinating. Many thanks for your contribution.
Comment by The Seagull — October 26, 2010 @ 6:56 pm
Sorry Steve B
I forgot to say that there are three soft chapters of “Out With The Boys” on the ABC’s Making Australia. The tougher chapters had to be excluded because they contained graphic sex scenes, lots of violence and language that would not have been acceptable to good old Auntie. Just Google “sharpies out with the boys” and you’ll find the three texts the ABC accepted.
Comment by The Seagull — October 27, 2010 @ 6:12 pm
Steve B,
Last week a contractor was at work, he had sharpie stars tattooed on his wrist, so I said hi. He was born in 1948 and he is going to bring me in a photo of him outside Tex’s Tattoos taken when he was 15 in 1963.
This is the earliest written piece I can find, it’s by the cartoonist Luenig.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/michael-leunig/clothes-breaketh-the-man/2006/09/01/1156817043257.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2
“and how easily and elegantly the back of a brand-new, hand-tailored corduroy jacket can be slashed with a knife from top to bottom at a party when the West Footscray sharpies turn up drunk and violent in 1963.”
Comment by Julie Mac — October 28, 2010 @ 10:12 am
Steve B, in 1966 they made ‘A Bunch of Ratbags’ into a musical.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AUoQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XpMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3786,2600664&dq=bodgie+|+widgie&hl=en
I read it when I was 17 and loved it. There is a second book Naked Prodigal (1969)
Comment by Julie Mac — October 28, 2010 @ 10:15 am
Did you two know that the Roman emperor Julius Caesar was really a closet Sharpie? And what about the Neolithic Sharpie long-hair, adorned in furlined tank top and matching boots, who was never afraid to slash a corduroy coat, or back away from a sabre-toothed tiger or a woolly mammoth after a night on the elephant juice? OK,I’m taking the p..s!! But could we agree that before, say 1959, there were no Sharpies anywhere in Oz(including Tasmania).In Sydney in 1959 there were bodgies and widgies. Then the bodgies morphed into rockers, with their shiny motorbikes and grease-laden Elvis Presley hairstyles. By 1962, the Surfies were becoming a name. The Daily Mirror published front page pictures of a huge boots n all brawl between the rockers and the surfies on Manly Beach. After this incident, the rockers returned to the western suburbs and the surfies stuck to the coastal suburbs. The fight wsn’t about territory. It was about identity. It was saying “we are here, challenging and dominating nature, on our bikes and on our sufboards.” There was never another cry from the wilderness from these two sub-cultures again. They just went about their business without any fuss and still do to this day. The Sydney Sharpies actually respected these groups, because they were all aiming for the same goal but in different ways – to become real men. Thanks Steve B and Julie Mac for keeping this alive. If only we had more writers staking their claims in a history they themselves can proudly cite as of their own making.
Comment by The Seagull — October 28, 2010 @ 9:56 pm
I was in a number of sharpie gangs from 1969 till 1973 ,Lakemba,Belmore and campsie to name a few.We also hungout will Townhall and Marrickville sharps.
I would have to say JOHN HENRY’S..was the most famous of
the hangouts,others where THE MENZIES CELLAR on top of Wynward station,and the WINDSOR HOTEL near Townhall station
I still have in my mind sharpies orginated in Sydney,just down the road from henry’s was a famous neon sign SHARPIES GOLF HOUSE.
There was also a large number of sharpies in the outer western suburb of Blacktown,they used to drink at the ROBIN HOOD HOTEL..and where well respected by all other sydney gang’s
Cheers Ron
Comment by ron — November 19, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
Hey Ron, we might have exchanged glances at the Menzies or the Windsor Hotel (which was as rough as guts, even for a Sharpie!!)In 1969 we were wearing “bag of fruits” at the Menzies because we wanted to fool the bouncers into believing we were not under-age. We usually had a few beers there before kicking on at Martin’s Place nightclub in Martin Place. And yeah, John Henry’s was purely for the Sydney Sharpies, just down Elizabeth Street, Central, next door to Resch’s brewery. Further down was the Golf House. It’s still there, complete with the neon sign and the ball rolling into the cup. When my book is published (soon I think) you’ll find references to all these Sharpie hangs. Yeah, now I remember. A Sharpie from Blacktown often visited his cousin in Redfern on weekends and went out with us to the city. He knew the Chippendale Sharpies, too, and I got to know them through him and his cousin. He said all his mates from Blacktown were Sharpies, but they didn’t go to the city. It was too far to travel, and a weekend in the city was too expensive for them. Thanks for your input Ron. Now, it would be great to hear something from the boys from Belmore, Campsie, Marrickville, Blacktown etc. All these stories help to show how the Sydney Sharpies were a real presence and a powerful influence in shaping the teenage youth of the sixties. They also supported the bands from that era, and by doing this, helped groups like Thorpie and Ray Brown etc, make their names in Australian history. The Sydney Sharpies deserve their unique identity as much as those do from Melbourne.
Comment by The Seagull — November 22, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
Hey Seagull,some of the early bands we used to follow,where Jeff StJohn and Chain,oversea’s Bowie and Slade.
We dressed different to the Melbourne Boy’s,We used to wear high wasted tailor made pants,usually pin stripe,with 4-5 buttoms on each side and front.
We also used to wear a good quatity round neck cardigan,and only did up the top three buttons,shoes without sock’s,shoes varied over the years.
When a Clockwork Orange was out,we also used to wear braces and andy cap’s,they where wild day’s,but good days.
If we did get into fight’s,it was usually toe to toe,or makeshift weapons,some peaple got hurt,but nothing a few stitches would’nt fix,not like these day’s,they fight with gun’s and knives and bash old people.
I will be watching out for your book,soulds great.
Up untill now,i haven’t read or heard much about Sydney sharps,i take my hat off,to Melbourne sharp’s and London skinheads record of there history,due to books,photo’s and the internet…Ron….
Comment by ron — November 23, 2010 @ 1:48 pm
Hi again Ron. we wore high-waisted tailor made dacks (no cuffs!!)with 1 inch waist-bands and 2 buttons. Then someone started wearing dacks with two-inch waist-bands and 4 buttons.Then somebody else wanted to add a button just above the slit at the bottom of the trouser leg. Then someone wanted two buttons there. At the back there was a buckle, two inches below the waist-band. then somebody wanted two at the back. The style variations never seemed to end and it was expensive to keep up with the changes. Prince of Wales check and herring bone patterns were popular, but NO pockets on the side. Just a button-up fob pocket for your money. At one stage I had twenty pairs of tailored dacks in my wardrobe, and my mother was worried I might end up having to move some of my gear into hers. Unless we were wearing suits, we didn’t wear socks with shoes, but the shoes were mostly plaited leather or those boating shoes people still wear now. Cardigans were mostly cable stitched design, except for the thinner alpaca varieties, and we liked Californian and Martin jackets a lot. when the winter came, we loved a three-quarter coat and a Stetson hat to complement it. Cheers Ron
Comment by The Seagull — November 25, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
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Pingback by RealTime - Questions: "Do you think it would be safe for me to stay at the Y.M.C.A. for a few nights?" — December 1, 2010 @ 11:43 pm
I don’t think many people here know about the history of the Sharpies. They originated around Collingwood and Fitzroy during the early to mid-sixties, and were mostly the sons of painter and dockers, crims and poor migrants. who carried guns and dressed like movie stars. They bought their shoes from Cosmardos and Acropolis Shoes in Collingwood and their pants and suits were made by Boris the Tailor in Gertrude Street Fitzroy. They bought the rest of their gear from Georges in Colins Street. The ‘sharpies’ were a watered down version of this gang (The Collingwood Boys) who only discovered them during the late 60s. The sharpies dance styles were not original and were copied from the skins in England. The Collingwood Boys invented their own dance style ‘The Collingwood Swing Step.’ Their dress style was radically different to the sharpies, who during the late sixties they described as a bunch of ‘fucken dickheads…’
Comment by Eugene — December 7, 2010 @ 10:34 am
Eugene
Your comments only show how divided the Melbournians on this site seem to be about the true meaning of ‘Sharpie’. Not so with the Sydney ‘version’. We all agreed, and still agree, on what we wore, how we talked, how we danced, where we went, even who our tailor was. It didn’t matter which suburb we came from, there were gangs from MANY Sydney suburbs who all conformed to the ‘sharpie’ stereotype. We all met up at our favourite inner-city dance places and virtually controlled them.
Like the Melbourne ‘sharpies’, the Sydney boys had brothers who were crims, poor immigrants and wharfies who carried guns and dressed very sharply. The term, ‘Sharpie’ was being used freely in Sydney in 1963, but by the early seventies most of the gangs had disbanded and their members shrugged off the ‘sharpie’ tag. Please read “Out With The Boys” for the full story (due for publication soon).
Comment by The Seagull — December 7, 2010 @ 6:15 pm
I’m talking about origins mate: the root from which the tree grew before it went to seed. I was a member of the Collingwood Boys for years, prior to being sent to prison for bank robbery. There was no sharpie stereotypes and no sharpies period. These outer suburban blokes started to MIMIC us during the sixties, when we had quite a fierce reputation. But we never wore the cheap shit gear these blokes wore (because they had no style and no money). Most of us were career crims – and proud of it – before we were sixteen, and flushed with cash. We weren’t merely a youth culture, we were a tribe. We invented our own dance ( nothing like sharpie imports ) and our clothes were the best quality and mostly hand made. No Contes for us, no ugly platform shoes. And if we had a beef with anyone it was one out, not fifty to one. And if you broke our code or gave anyone up to the cops, we’d shoot ya.
Comment by Eugene — December 8, 2010 @ 9:15 am
Eugene, you’re talking about origins. Sure, but these are Melbourne origins, so no argument from me, only arguments with your fellow Melbournians. Like I said, Sydney Sharpies were different to Melbourme sharpies, whoever they were. Sydney Sharpies didn’t evolve from the Melbourne Sharpies. That’s for sure. My beef is that Sydney Sharpies made history, too, and it should be recorded, just like the Melbourne Sharpies are.
Comment by The Seagull — December 8, 2010 @ 5:29 pm
We WERE the originals, the original Sharpies! (Sharp=to dress well). In 1962 we were wearing Cosmardos and Acropolis shoes and our hair style was called the CCC i.e. the Collingwood College Cut (square back and sides). Most of the so called sharpies referred to on this site are mutations, along with their dress sense (or lack of) and dance styles (from England). We did a dance called the Collingwood Swing Step. Unique. I can still do it!
Comment by Eugene — December 12, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
Like I’ve said previously, there’s a Melbourne version of the Sharpie, as opposed to the Sydney model. Or should I say, there are MANY versions of the Melbourne Sharpie. Not like in Sydney. We had the one version. We didn’t have variations/mutations from the standard Sharpie dress, language or dance codes. Either you conformed exactly to these codes, or you weren’t a Sharpie. Not even called an offshoot. Simple as that. So you Melbourne guys can argue all you like about who were the ‘original’ Sharpies and who were the mutations in Melbourne. But at the national level, you’d be stretching it to claim the Sharpie tag originated in Melbourne and that Sydney followed suit. For starters, Sydney’s warmer climate would make a Sydney Sharpie think twice about following fashions that are only suitable for a colder climate like Melbourne’s. I mean, who needs wool in Sydney? (Well, maybe for a few weeks in August!!) And secondly, Melbourne is nowhere in the neighbourhood, where it might have some influence on styles. It’s 1000kms away, and in the sixties, it might as well have been on the moon as far as the Sydney Sharpies were concerned.
Comment by The Seagull — December 14, 2010 @ 2:43 am
For the record, amongst the sharpies i knew that knocked about on Flinders St there where Town Hall sharps from Sydney and Adelaide sharps and we all dressed the same!!!
Comment by Mim — December 15, 2010 @ 10:53 am
Mim,
For the record, in Sydney, as far as we are concerned, there is/was no such thing as a ‘Town Hall sharp’. We would have laughed at anybody calling themselves this name. You might be a Redfern Sharpie, a Wooloomooloo Sharpie or a Pyrmont Sharpie. It depended on where you lived. But NOBODY lived at Town Hall. It’s a foul-smelling, rat-infested railway station!!
Anyway, HOW were you guys all dressed on Flinders St, and WHEN was this? If you are trying to suggest the ‘Town Hall sharps’ were the link between Sydney and Melbourne, then the clothes that you guys, the Adelaide boys, the ‘Town Hall sharps’ and the Collingwood Boys were wearing would have to match the gear the Sydney Sharpies were wearing at the time. If your description doesn’t match the clobber the Sydney Sharpies were wearing, you have no case. I’ve already said the climate was going to produce some differences, and already, Eugene has mentioned a few brands of shoes that weren’t available in Sydney, so we couldn’t have copied them. Also, he mentions that the Collingwood Boys invented their own dance – not a dance the ‘would-be sharpies’ imported from England. Well, our dance preference was American-influenced, not English, so the argument about national origins is very thin. Local origins, yes, but the links connecting Sydney and Melbourne are very weak. Perhaps the ‘Town Hall sharps’ were having a lend of you, or they were having themselves on!!
Comment by The Seagull — December 15, 2010 @ 6:44 pm
Hi Seagull:
I have been watching the last few comments with interest,i must say i have never heard of the Collingwood boy’s,a little bit before my time.But i must defend the Town Hall Sharp’s,they where very big in the early 70′s,hundreds used to meet at George street,on top of Town Hall station,they came from all differnt suburbs,then they would hit the night spots of the city,and Kings Cross.They deserve
there place in Sharpie history,I can see the confusion,between sharp’s of the late 60′s and the sharps of the early 70′s,Town Hall where early 70′s.
Ron from Campsie
Comment by Ron — December 16, 2010 @ 9:16 am
Hi Ron
Thanks for clearing up the mystery of the ‘Town Hall sharps’!No wonder our tribe hasn’t heard of them. They came after most of us began to disband in the late 60′s.
Yeah, Town Hall Station was originally a place where a Sydney Sharpie might’ve met his girl in the early sixties. Then came the wars between the Sharpies and the Long Hairs. First they fought each other in the streets between the Beach House in Elizabeth Street and Beatle Village in Oxford Street. But then a mob of Long Hairs decided to ambush a couple of Sharpies walking with their girls from Town Hall station to the Beach House. It wasn’t one-on-one, which really pissed the Sharpies off, so they headed to Beatle Village for the first time with the Beach House bouncers. They trashed the joint and warned the Long Hairs they’d be back if there was any more trouble from them. The Long Hairs tried to return the gesture by visiting the Beach House. They were up against quite a few blokes who were Golden Gloves standard, so they had no hope. They copped such a serve that Sydney Hospital had to close its emergency department for 24 hours. They didn’t try that stunt again, but there were still a lot of scuffles between the two groups and Town Hall persisted as a favourite place for a blue. I think the Windsor Hotel kept a lot of Sharpies in the city as the 70′s began, so it’s possible some of them took on the name. We never called ourselves ‘Sharpies’, never had t-shirts or other tags to say who we were. We just came to be known as ‘Sharpies’ by the police and dance venue owners because we wore expensive clothes, had the gift-of-the-gab and knew the right people.
I hope you enjoy my book when it comes out. It might give you some fond memories!
Comment by The Seagull — December 16, 2010 @ 11:25 pm
A mate just showed me this site
Saw a comment by someone about Mumbles ( now i can’t find it ) i did not know the guy personally,the guys i use to hang with were a mixture long hairs not full blown Sharps but still bought the clothes,i remember having the Conti’s cardigans a purple and white stripe and the red and yellow and the Acropolis mustard swede shoes, but had the long hair.
We use to do SS6 every sat arvo or Watzling Matilda, Burvale and Matthew Flinders depending on what band was playing great times all for free,no drugs no knives just piss, come night time the law said pubs had to serve a meal $2 cover charge, sausages and chips good deal with the band thrown in.
Anyway to get to the point we were at the Croxton Park one night, way out of our haunt areas and not to safe to venture into, mumbles was their with his mates and one of the guys i was with liked mumbles chick, i am a bit vague on how the story goes but at the end of the night they decied to have a blue out the front one on one winner got the prize mummbles girlfreind. my mate Ken Griffin gave it to mummbles and won the chick he ended up marrying her.
Ken ended up in a car wreck some years later and was never the smae again bit of brain damage memory shot.
i would never have picked Ken (RIP) to be a fighter it was the only fight i ever saw him get into but obviously went off OK..
Just my little bit to add,we all are a bit older, a bit wiser, a bit balder, a bit fatter, still good memories …Good luck
Comment by Gman — December 22, 2010 @ 9:22 am
Interesting site, brings back a lot of memories. I was probably 13 or 14 and my brother 6 years my senior. He was one of the original sharpies circa 1967. He and his mates lived on or close to sussex street in coburg so I am guessing they may have been the sussex street sharpies referred to elsewhere on the net.
They were clean cut, wore flags, chisel toe shoes, maroon crestknits.
Comment by rod — December 22, 2010 @ 11:01 pm
Gman and rod. Brilliant stuff!! You’re helping to write the history that YOU made in the 60′s. We are not going to let our history be written by some would-be-if-he-could-be academic who thinks he/she can get goverment funding, a PHD and then a career out of it. A person like this, who was never there in the sixties believes they have the authority to speak on our behalf. He/she can’t be the authority or the author. We are the authority and therefore the rightful authors of our lives during those days. These are not JUST memories. These are actions that still resonate today.
Comment by The Seagull — December 23, 2010 @ 1:48 am
rod,you hit the nail on the head mate,finally someone who remembers the REAL sharps… CLEAN CUT . WORE FLAGS ( NOT baggies for fuck sake ) CHISEL toe shoes ( NOT fucken platforms ) and PLAIN COLOUR CARDIGANS ( no stripes yet ) thanks rod,so much explained in so few words !!!! maybe we might be able to get it straight before i die !!!! ha ha cheers mate. chris oh.
Comment by chris — January 6, 2011 @ 11:00 am
well done to you to eugene….spot on mate. chris.
Comment by chris — January 6, 2011 @ 11:02 am
Hey Chris
Dont forget those bloody maroon socks with open leather sandles!!!! Mum had to remove them off my feet to wash them while I was asleep, I loved them so much..Ha ha ha
Happy New Year Buddy
Noel
Comment by noel — January 7, 2011 @ 1:22 pm
You Melbourne sharpies dressed like fair dinkum gigs!! Maroon socks with sandals?!! Flags?!! And long hair?!!Sorry but Sydney Sharpies were REAL men. And LOOKED like real men – not sheilas with long hair. Our hair was cut short, we wore tailored daks that measured 13 inches at the cuff, NOT 23 inches like those pathetic bellbottoms the longhairs wore. We wore smart and expensive polo shirts, beautifully hand-knitted cardigans and smart casual shoes without socks etc. Can’t see how Sydney Sharpies were mutations of the Melbourne version. Never in a million years!!
Comment by The Seagull — January 8, 2011 @ 4:02 am
SEAGULL…KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT TIL YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT.THAT WOULD BE GREAT.THANKS.
Comment by eddie — January 8, 2011 @ 9:16 am
More Seagull shit than Seagulls around here!
Comment by noel — January 8, 2011 @ 10:12 am
I said a long time ago (if you’ve been CLOSELY following everything that’s been said ) that you Melbourne blokes can argue all you like about WHO were the ‘original’ sharpies in Melbourne. We Sydney blokes don’t have your problem. You don’t seem to understand that we had the ONE identity, and if you wanted to be a Sydney Sharpie you followed ALL the rules about dress, language, haircuts, women etc. So I DO know what I’m talking about when it comes to the image of the Sydney Sharpie and I have a right to express my opinion about other so-called ‘sharpie styles’ mentioned on this site. Instead of telling me to shut up, why not try to win the argument with some facts (instead of insults) to PROVE I don’t know what I’m talking about. But I don’t think you can. So, who is talking shit here?
Comment by The Seagull — January 8, 2011 @ 5:03 pm
ho hum
Comment by noel — January 8, 2011 @ 8:30 pm
I rest my case if that’s all you can come up with in three and a half hours!!
Comment by The Seagull — January 9, 2011 @ 12:04 am
Sorry Seagul, I dont sit around and count the time waiting for a response. Chill out, relax, enjoy the site and when next in Melbourne come and join us on one of our weekend shooting trips
Comment by noel — January 9, 2011 @ 9:23 am
not another fuckwit noel,nearly as bad as that bloke from thomastown !!! its a pity people who dont know what there talking about are usually the ones with the most to say mate.i really dont know where they come from,,,,should be politicians. ha ha cheers. chriso.
Comment by OH — January 10, 2011 @ 9:15 am
Happy New Year Chriso, let it be a great one buddy
N
Comment by noel — January 10, 2011 @ 2:27 pm
Sticks and Stones!! It’s a pity some people resort to insults when they don’t have anything intelligent to contribute. I’m only telling you what I know, that is, about the Sydney Sharpies. So, if you reckon I don’t know what I’m talking about, then let’s hear what YOU know about the Sydney Sharpies. Come on. You think you know better than me. So let’s hear it!!
Comment by The Seagull — January 11, 2011 @ 12:31 am
Nothing intelligent to contribute is correct, Seagas or whoever you are
“You Melbourne sharpies dressed like fair dinkum gigs!!”
Comment by The Seagull — January 8, 2011 @ 4:02 am
Comment by noel — January 11, 2011 @ 4:13 pm
You were laughing about what you were wearing (Jan. 7 comment: “those bloody maroon socks” and “ha ha”) so I’m just laughing along with you. I don’t care if you pay out on what the Sydney Sharpies were wearing. We were ALL young and following like sheep in those days, so we never thought we might’ve looked silly to outsiders. Just like teenagers today, they don’t think they look odd. In 20 years they’ll look back and laugh at the way they looked and they won’t mind anyone else joining in. That’s normal. You should try it, and not take it all so seriously. Chill out and enjoy the site (Jan 9 2011 9;15)
Comment by The Seagull — January 11, 2011 @ 8:15 pm
You are all very naughty boys. If you can’t play nicely together you will be spanked!
Who’s first?
Here is an artice on the gangs of Melbourne pre 1910
some of it sounds familiar….
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10842920/358926?zoomLevel=3
Comment by Julie Mac — January 12, 2011 @ 11:10 am
Hi Julie, there is a book called DeadLine written by Alan Dower who was the crime reporter for the Argus newspaper. He gives an insight into Melbourne’s shady past.
To Einstein from Sydney,aka Seagull you may like to read a book titled Chow Hayes gunman.Some of the people mentioned in the book made their way to Melbourne.
Comment by Mim — January 12, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Sorry Officer, I mean Jules, thanks for your book, a great read, catch up again some time in the future
Happy New Year
Noel
Comment by noel — January 12, 2011 @ 8:56 pm
Great to see some constructive stuff coming onto the site from Jules and Mim. Meanwhile, I’m wondering what’s happened to the blokes who reckon I don’t know what I’m talking about. I don’t hear you coming back at me with some facts to back up your big mouths. When you do that I’ll respect your opinions, but until that time your words are just hot air.
Comment by The Seagull — January 13, 2011 @ 12:58 am
Well what a bitch fight!I never thought i would see the day,ex sharpies would be bitching about like little girls getting ready for a birthday party.
All you guys must be hitting 60 or over,shame,shame,shame
I am 58 but still keep in contact with old sharpie mates, the one’s that are still alive,not deported,or still in and out of jail.
ron from Campsie
Comment by Ron — January 14, 2011 @ 10:14 am
who gives a fuck !!!!!!! lets all get spanked.. ha ha ha ha.
Comment by eddie — January 15, 2011 @ 12:43 pm
Ron
Don’t know how you can call THEM ex-sharpies, the ones who won’t answer my challenge. I thought if you were a real sharpie you wouldn’t be running away from a challenge. You’d want to be standing up to it and backing up your big mouth with some words that show you know better. Shame or no shame, Ron, I’m sticking up for my old mates here in Sydney. And we are all solid about who we were, and who are, whether we are hitting 60 or 70, it doesn’t change a thing.
Comment by The Seagull — January 18, 2011 @ 6:37 pm
Who is is dick head called seagull? He needs to shut is arse real quick
Interesting name Seagull…Definition, a scavenger that shits everywhere
Comment by Rick — January 19, 2011 @ 12:06 pm
Hey all,
Haven’t been on the site for a while, but I am exhausted reading all the goss, made me laugh!!!
Boys will be boys, stop that FIGHTING !!!!!
Wrote a couple of little pieces re my time being a sharpie in Preston Vic 1966.
Best time growing up, would not change for anything.
Don’t know anything re Sydney, but it was pretty tough down here in Melbourne.
The dress code was simple, baggy pants, the wider the tougher you appeared, trench coat, chisled shoes and of course Crestknit t shirts, that’s it.
Maroons, bottle greens, pale lemon all were the go.
For the girls pleated skirts, sandals, short, short hair, pearl earrings and top..again, that’s it, oh and cabled cardy!
Fights were the norm, and as I mentioned no knives, weapons, just fists, to me that is how a real MAN fights. Gutless wonders today simply sicken me choosing weapons to injure.
We ‘walked’ home ‘safely’ and most of the time escorted by guys going in the same direction, all innocent.
Today, sadly I would not board a train, at any time of the day or night.
Glad to say that personally didn’t get into any trouble, but reading a previous post of times past, I can relate as an uncle during the 1920′s was a leader of a PUSH in Northcote,called The Blue Anchor Push.
He led a gang of “50″ down High Street Northcote and ended up in a brawl and hitting a cop with a knuckle duster!
Classic…
Recently discovered this as I research family history.
His brother, my dear uncle grew up in Collingwood and lived in one of the toughest streets in Reservoir in the 60′s, so would not have dared cross his path at any stage.
God it was rough in Ressa!
So, I guess the ‘toughness’ didn’t pass down to me, but have witnessed plenty (and also escaped a little as well.)
My memories are a brushs’ point of view, and sorry if it’s not ‘ballsy’ enough for you guys, but I can relate as I was THERE!
Last year I sadly nearly lost my life (due to operation) so now I guess the memories have become more precious.
Always drive back to Preston, it will always be HOME even though I live elsewhere as I have previously mentioned.
Reading all of the comments, and how fiercely protective everyone is of their individual thoughts/memories, merely shows that a brilliant time was had by all during our teenage years.
I know each and every one of us would be there in an instant if it were at all possible.
Age is purely a number, what has remained for us to treasure is all that counts.
Now that my ‘girly’ bit is over, it does NOT mean that the fighting continues !!!
PEACE!!
Comment by Vicki — January 20, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
Seagull & Vicki:
Maybe i did spit the dummy in my last comment,your right seagull,we should all stick by our old mates.actually just
yesterday i met up with two old mates for a drink or 2.
We sat and talked about the good and the bad times in our teenage years,but decided we would’nt change a thing if we
had our lives over again.
Vicki,I really enjoyed reading your comments,it showed me,
it does not matter where we come from,Sydney,melboure or
other states,we all have our own teenage history to treasure
for the rest of our lives.
Vicky by reading your story,it sure has’nt done you any harm,you sound like a real lady…..
Cheers Ron
Comment by Ron — January 24, 2011 @ 8:41 am
Thanks Ron,
What a lovely compliment!
A lady…mmm, I guess I try.
Too true, it was rough as bags back then, but we just seemed to go with the flow.
I never felt scared, threatened, it was just normal being amongst fights etc.just cleared out of the way and let them do their thing.
As a matter of fact, I loved going to the fights at Festival Hall!
Boxing was on T.V. back then and always watched it with my dear Dad, I guess I was more of a tomboy than anything.
We used to box around the kitchen annoying the hell out of Mum whilst she tried to cook, oh those were the days.
No Ron, it really doesn’t matter where we came from, and who did what first, we all had the best years growing up, our memories are a testament to that.
Having a drink with your old mates after all this time is brilliant.
The decades have gone so quickly and we have to make the most of the good times now and in the future.
I’m sure you, like many have lost friends, which is the saddest thing to cope with.
So, drink up and enjoy dear Sharpie!!
Lovely to chat, I shall continue to enjoy reading the thoughts of all concerned.
Best regards, Preston ‘brush’ !!(always hated that word!!)
“Vicki”
Comment by Vicki — January 25, 2011 @ 1:30 pm
Hi Vicki:
A couple of the sharpie chicks,we used to hang out with could fight as good as any man.I remember the two top girls
had a fight outside a dance hall,over a boy of course…
They punched and kicked each other from one end of the street to the other,they dressed much the same as the girls in Melbourne,most of the girls we had a lot of respect for,
and walked them home,at a respectable time as you mentioned in your comment,then we would continue roaming the streets.
Yes,i have lost a lot of old friends,due to drugs and alcohol over the years,in my sharpie years from 1968-73,we never used drugs,they where a long hair,and hippie thing at the time,drugs came later when the gangs spit and went there separate ways,mid 70′s was the start of a new era,disco….
Cheers Ron
Comment by Ron — January 26, 2011 @ 11:41 am
Thanks Vicki and Ron for sticking to the nuts and bolts of this site, ie to preserve Sharpie histories and memories, whether in Sydney or Melbourne. We can do without the personal insults from Rick. They don’t contribute anything!!
Comment by The Seagull — January 28, 2011 @ 2:08 am
In the early seventies my mate went to the golden bowl in camberwell.
He was targeted by Shane Goodfellow and one of his mates.
Goodfellow demanded two bucks. My mate who was a stubborn character put his hands in his pockets and just said NAH.
Goodfellow again demanded the two bucks but this time with the threat. If ya don’t give it to well punch ya head in. My mate replied. Well you had better start punching then. With that they started laying into my mate. Fortunately the fight was broken up by a mutual friend.
Some years later my colorful friends in jail for cattle rustling, yes cattle rustling. Up walks a menacing Shane Goodfellow and his mate. Quick ASCAP flash my mate says. Shit, you don’t still want that two bucks do you. Turns out ok in the end as Goodfellow wanted some help with something or other.
Comment by Paul — February 1, 2011 @ 11:49 am
Hi Vicky, do you have any family photos of your uncle? The one that was in the Blue Anchor Push? I have only recently found out about the push and I am obsessed with finding out more. and I would love to see a picture of you when you were a brush!
Comment by Julie Mac — February 4, 2011 @ 10:23 pm
THANK GOD VICKI HAS COME ALONG TO PUT TO REST ALL THE OTHER BULLSHIT !!!! JUST HOW I REMEMBER IT !!!! CARDIGANS…. BOTTLE GREEN …MAROON … LIGHT YELLOW. FLAGS. CHISEL TOE SHOES. AND CRESTKNITS !!!!!! NOTHING FUCKEN MORE .NOTHING LESS… THE GIRLS….PLEATED SKIRTS ..PEARLS…FLAT SHOES.ALL THIS MICKEY MOUSE BULLSHIT ABOUT PLATFORM SHOES, BRACES,T SHIRTS WITH GANG NAMES ON THEM,SKIN TIGHT CARDIGANS WITH SKINTIGHT JEANS,LONG HAIR AT THE BACK,EVEN DYED !!!SATIN BAGGIES etc etc. GET OVER IT !!! YOU WEREN’T SHARPS YOU WERE BOGGANS !!! GET OVER IT AND STOP TRYING TO GET ON THE BAND WAGON,IT ALL FINISHED IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES …GET ONTO THE SLADE AND BOWIE WEB SITES WHERE YOU BELONG BUT FOR CHRIST SAKES STOP SPOILING THE REAL HISTORY OF MELBOURNE SHARPS… GET IT !!! YOU WERE BOGANS WITH NO STYLE,LEAVE US ALONE AND GET ON THE BOVVER BOYS SITE WERE YOU WILL ALL FIT RIGHT IN !! YOUR FUCKEN IMPOSTERS SO GET A LIFE !!!!
Comment by eddie — February 8, 2011 @ 9:46 pm
Hi Julie,
Funny you should ask for a photo of my uncle in “Blue Anchor Push” as “I” also would like to see a photo of him!
My Father’s Mum married and had three children, two boys and a girl.
Her husband sadly drowned and later she re-married (and then had my Dad)
Dad’s brother (who was the head of this gang) was much older than my Dad, sadly there was a rift in the family and they never knew each other (which to me is so sad)
I remember Dad telling me years ago that he and his other brother (who was a great character also, and often getting into’trouble’) were at a Fitzroy Football match.
Dad’s brother saying to him…’See that fellow over there, well that’s your brother!!!’)
Dad wanted nothing to do with him as he had left the family to survive on their own (as Dad’s father left(she divorced him) when Dad was a baby.
So….that was longwinded, but getting to the point, I have been nagging my cousin as she has photo of Gus in War uniform.
He joined when he was 18 ( I am madly into family tree and so have his records etc.)
When she finally gets her act together and finds it for me I will gladly show.
I stumbled across the info re the gangs on the Darebin History site.
Quite crazy stuff, and huge gangs of 50 plus.
Family resided at Northcote/Collingwood and Dad moved to Preston once married.
Sorry that I don’t have a photo of me in sharpie attire.
(wish that I did though)
I love photography now, slightly obsessed, but back in those days not many shots were taken in general.
Only if special occasions etc.
Sorry I don’t seem to be much help, but I will contact that slack cousin of mine and get her a… into gear.
Vicki.
Comment by Vicki — February 10, 2011 @ 8:37 pm
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for the rap, but…please don’t get me into
TROUBLE now !!!!!!
I’ve steered clear for decades, don’t want to upset the applecart on this site!
I know exactly where you are coming from re the dress code.
The ‘original’ sharpies seem totally different to the ones that came in latter years.
No comparison in appearance whatsoever.
I suppose it would have been easier to have called themselves by a different name, but obviously it just continued on as the years went by.
Original sharpies, were cleancut, chose quality gear and always looked ‘sharp’…(pardon the pun) and impressive.
(obviously a girl’s point of view) but that’s how it was.
They were very manly in appearance and dressed to impress.
Well known ‘tailors’ made a killing as that’s where most headed to have their pants made to measure.
Quality Italian knits completing the outfit.
No expense seemed to be spared and the girls always noticed.
I don’t know if it was purely the thing to do for the males, but it appeared that they went to a lot of trouble to look their best.
Yes, the crestknit tops were the go.
My ‘boyfriend’ at the time got his licence, let his mate have a drive and the mate wrote the car off.
So, me feeling so upset went and bought him a tan crestknit top (to lessen the grief!)
(expensive for a’Junior’ back then!)
They were the best times and I guess it is a little difficult reading about the latter sharpies, when you experienced being the ‘original’ and as I said, so totally different in appearance.
But, we have ‘our’ magical memories, that shall last us a lifetime.
Vicki.
Comment by Vicki — February 10, 2011 @ 9:21 pm
After keenly reading the posts after recently discovering this website, thought I would add my 2 bobs worth. You won’t get in any trouble Vicki, your positive posts make great reading on the early days. Please, as more memories come back, post them. For instance, what bands did you follow back then? I didn’t even know there were sharps in the 1960’s until Top Fellas came out so thanks for the first hand descriptions … keep them going. I think its great a beginning is defined and know it was so different to my time as a Sharp. Always wondered how it started. Like everything else in life, things change and evolve, and that’s no different to the Sharpie movement. The styles got bolder and more daring as it moved into the mid ‘70’s where it seemed to spread to every suburb as well as being firmly established interstate in Adelaide, Perth and Sydney, perhaps other states too. Seagull – can’t wait to see your book published ….already can tell you guys had your own unique style and manner ….keep us posted on this site for the release. Not to mention Sharpies out in the regional country towns either. Platforms – evolved from Fatmacs in ’72 to full 6” stompers a few years later. So of course it wasn’t a ‘60’s thing because it didn’t exist back then. Biggest Sharpie memory …..Royal Melbourne Show 1975. The place was so full of Sharps with T-Shirts emblazoned with so many suburban gangs from all over Melbourne .. . at the very height of the Sharpie movement, bands …what could be better than seeing Buster Brown, Coloured Balls and AC/DC (with Bon Scott) live with dance halls and pubs packed with Sharpies . And as for Bogans? ….the term wasn’t even coined until the mid 80’s. We had tails not long hair at the back and didn’t wear flannelled shirts or stubbie shorts. Bovver boys??? – a UK thing. Even though, I was no longer a sharp in the late ‘70’s, I was still pleased to see the occasional Sharp around with the last being about 1980. Eddie, I hope your rant was after having one too many, we don’t need that type of negative crap on this website.
Comment by Rocky — February 25, 2011 @ 10:35 pm
eddie is not saying they where bogans or bover boys he’s just comparing the seventies sharps to them and as for the other states the sixties real sharps and their style,it was a melbourne thing only.get your facts straight.you mention all the sharps at the show in 1975,fucken hell , the real sharps finished six years earlier.thats exactly what eddie and vicki are trying to say you fuckwit!get it in your head it ended about 1969 !!!!!!!!!we went up to the cross for new years eve in 67 and people were looking at us as if we were from another planet!!!we got into a few blues that night i can tell you.we also went over to the drags in adelaide in the late sixties and we stood out even more if thats possible !!! no blues this time but people were just staring at us like we were aliens !!!fucken cowboys….ha ha.we should have just belted them.anyway to vicki and eddie keep your memories of the good days as they are,well done. smurfy. ex collinwood flats.
Comment by smurf — February 27, 2011 @ 11:50 am
Well looks like Eddie and the smurf,are trying there best to stuff up a good site,we all have our own stories to tell,in
Sydney,late 60′s early 70′s we wore whats stated in comments by myself on nov/23 2010 and by seagull on nov/25th,light yellow flag’s? explain what they are,i have never heard of them….
All we want to do is find out the history of gangs in Sydney,Melbourne,and any other states,not put shit on each other,by 1973 in Sydney,the origonal sharpies including there tailer made high waisters,hand knitted cardigans,shoes without socks,faided out to make way for a new breed of sharpies,with a new style of clothes….
Comment by Ron — March 1, 2011 @ 4:52 pm
firstly Eugene i think you did to many bank robberies.
i recall early 70′s collingwood was dominate with long hair nasties who hated skinheads/sharpies. I recall the kew town hall 1972 great sharpie venue, we were strong in numbers and the collingwood boys would wait in the dark in cars waiting for everyone to disband and head off home in small groups before they would attack, gutless bastards ! never forget shotgun pellets wizzing past my ear.
seagull….you talk shit !, the sydney version was more a british style, copy cats we in melbourne dress to impress.
many of you may not realise, melbourne had skinheads/sharpies in all suburbs, as did the city of melbourne. There were about 50 of us, nic names, like wormy,skeeta,scooter,walfie,abbo,reece gunner etc.
we hung out at quick cafe, on a sunday we would listen to bands at the church on the cnr flinders/swanston sts or 10 pin bowling southern cross and what ever was amusing on the day.
Each day we would meet under the clocks and many others from the suburbs would come in and stand as one for a few hours then move off to do our thing in groups.
We were very fashion minded, took me an hour to press/iron my flags, pin strip trousers. i believe i was the first sharpie to purchase, design a short sleeve conte which i had 2 of one maroon the other black.
during my period 1972,73,74 i met many great and some other interesting sharpies/skinheads and have memories of victor pierce and chopper read being part of this.
but one thing i should state in my area 72,73,74 the melbourne sharps were more fashion minded, loved to have fun, it was more about fun than fighting, though there was plenty of that. where as the skinhead who was also part of the gang was more a t-shirt,steel cap boot and loved a good fight. and we had a code, 1 in all in.
sooty
Comment by sooty — March 3, 2011 @ 8:51 am
the guys i mention i would love to get in contact, if anyone has info sootyfive@hotmail.com
Comment by sooty — March 3, 2011 @ 8:54 am
SYDNEY SHARPS !!!! FUCK OFF !!!! WHY IS EVERYONE TRYING TO GET IN ON WHAT WAS A MELBOURNE FASHION.FUCK OFF !!!!
Comment by JACKO — March 6, 2011 @ 6:15 pm
Seagull !! not sure which Sharpie gang you where in up here in Sydney ?? Thanks for supporting our boys up here but does it really matter which Sharpies were first ?? Melbourne or sydney ??
Sydney Boys had a lota respect for the Melbourne boys we went there they came here and we Respected each outher that all that matters mate !! Love you passion
for your info and my recollection the Town Hall boys did excisted they ran the Cross (they where call gunnies) older style Sharpies and they hanged around the Crumple Nickle in the city a lot of us out of suburbubs boys like the Balmain , Leichhardt , Burwood , Annandale , Glebe , Redfern , Chippendale , Parramatta , Blacktown , Revesby (the Ross Brothers) Penrith, Whiley park, Granville , Harrys Park and the list goes on. We had few of our boys that were Town Hall boys and yes we did wear High Waisted pants 4/5 bottons , round neck cardigan, braces and eather mockinson shoes or white shoes that’s what mades us look different to the Melbourne boys!!
I say those were the real days (dint make it right how some of us behave but that was the era then ) they were tough days and the 21 divison used to give us heaps thems days !! anyway mate give the Melbourne boys a break, I have great memories of them in my younger days they used to come up when we had huge Concert here in Sydney ether outside Luna Park or Broadway Park in the City and used to meet up and get on the piss and had great times !!
Cheers from George Sydney Sharpie
Comment by george — March 7, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
hey george did you know the murphys ??? i agree with you that the sydney boys looked a lot different from the melbourne boys,great input mate.we lived in mount druit and i remember the night the jacks raided the house next door looking for les,half the street was out hanging shit on the coppers,it was like a fucken circus,but in the finish i suppose they got what they deserved the dogs.
Comment by peter — March 8, 2011 @ 7:02 pm
Hi all,
O.K. you boys still have me laughing ‘comparing’ your notes of days gone by.
Funny boys.
So, memories of bands was mentioned for “60′s” sharpies.
Personally (as I have previously mentioned) Preston Townhall(known as ‘Storyville’) was THE place to be at the height of the craze.
I lived only streets from here so I walked to my friend’s house, (she living around the corner from Townhall) and arrived ‘safely.’
66′ Rock was THE dance and same girlfriend taught it to me as music from ‘The Who’ blarred from her bedroom, the song was ‘Substitute’ …a great track and it was totally thrashed to pieces!(Until I got it right !!!)
Her parents were cool (as were mine…they played music louder than I did) and her brother being a ‘drummer’…well say no more.
He’s still a drummer and now IN his late 60′s… the passion for music/dance never leaves.
Again as mentioned I loved Max Merritt and he played here.
One night my girlfriend in her brand new skirt
Comment by Vicki — March 9, 2011 @ 3:56 pm
Sorry…. hit wrong button…
One night girlfriend looking fab in her brand new sharpie skirt walks into the hall and a guy comes running out (right at start of evening) and chucks smack bang in the middle of her skirt…just one of those moments, the funnniest sight (especially her face!)
Everybody drank prior, the guys anyway as it was so very different back then, no choices at all re alcohol, only buying it yourself and you know the rest.
Coburg Townhall was the same, big event and the queue went on for ever.
Ronnie Burns and band sang here.
Glen Shorrock -Twilights, Axiom, Little River Band was always on the scene. Strange to say another girlfriend’s ex husband now backs him on guitar.
431 another good dance always packed as was Opus.
Catcher in the city, never from memory went here, but was a cool place to be.
Just had a flashback, in the 60′s you could go to a dance at
lunchtime in the city…I know, what ??
True, local bands played and in your break that’s where you went if time permitted.
They were common way back when.
A lot of Church dances were also the go, again not too many places to choose from.
School formals were very popular and also a big event.
Doug Parkinson has been around forever, he was on the scene.
Something that I had forgotton about though, was the maroon socks !!(getting back to the fashion thing)
Yes, the sign of a true sharpie, and the sandals, where is my memory, we girls always had sandals on but forgot about the boys, they were the finishing touch also to the outfit.
Hair was always so neat for the guys, always so short.
Sunday we headed to Preston to watch the “Bullants” play footy. My dear Dad was involved with the club so that made it all the more interesting for me.
Sharpies congregated upon the hill, and we all looked like little clones I guess, but it was the most magical time.
Sharpies just ‘evolved’, I don’t know from where but it was brilliant being one.
Teenage years I would not swap for anything.
Fighting was unreal back then amongst the guys, it just happened constantly.
Never bothered me, it just seemed to be ‘the norm.’
As previously mentioned a mate started them and finished them every time we went out !!!
Still a great friend high up in the “Education Department”…
funny hey… School of Hard Knocks back then!
He did ok though, small but quick !!
No drugs, LSD came on the scene about 67 from memory, wish that was all we had to worry about now with our kids.
Life was so much simpler, less dangerous and we just had so much FUN !!!
Cars FB’S FC’S Etc. All lowered and loud as !!
The lower, the hotter the car, and hotter the guy (again from a girl’s point of view)
No seatbelts, so bloody dangerous, and the drinking was constant, I will not even look up fatalities during this era, it would be horrendous.
Well,again it’s been ‘girly’ but then …that’s what I am !!
Will have to put thinking cap on and try to re-capture some more special moments of past.
Until then,
Vicki.
Oh, Bobby and Laurie, Normie Rowe, Marcia Jones and Cookies,
Easy Beats,Lyn Randell, Loved Ones,Johnny O’Keefe,Ray Brown and the Whispers, Merv Benton, Colin Cook… just a few in the era.
Comment by Vicki — March 9, 2011 @ 4:39 pm
HEY Vicki
Lunch time dance Bourke St between Swanston & Russell?
Getting into Croxton Park Pub prior to Storyville.
Kew Club my favourite
Box hill town hall and St Peters church friday nights after under age drinks in the mid 60′s at Blackburn pub, blue stone church dance saturday night box hill, glue pot catholic school dance sunday nights box hill, cruising in the FX Holden using more oil than petrol and prior to that the old Vanguard with fake number plates……What a time we all had and i would never change a thing except having the crap belted out of me by the plods……………..Maybe deserved and today maybe could be swift justice for the little shits around that no longer use fists, but weapons
Nightsssssssssssss all
Comment by Noel — March 9, 2011 @ 9:05 pm
Hey Noel,
I think Degraves Street? for lunch time dance rings a bell here for some reason, they were really popular I do remember that.
How hip was that, working then Oh I’m just going to see a band at lunchtime and have a few (as we all did back then) everyone went to the pub for a counter meal and drank heaps and then went back to work !!
Just another day at the office!
Oh don’t get me started on the Croc, I lived there for years !!!
Loved it there great pub with ‘floor shows’ then of course bands.(‘Big Push’ being the resident band for ages, but that was a little further down the track)
Yes, do remember going in there myself (under 16) for a few and hoping that I wouldn’t get ‘sprung!” Being coaxed by my boyfriend and his mates, as I was scared that I would bang into my uncle who frequented the place!
Kew Club I also really liked, we probably passed each other on several occasions!
Don’t get me started on the ‘weapon thing’, that I just can’t handle.
I guess the drug situation we escaped, but sadly our kid’s generation did not.
Always loved the boxing, it was pretty big back then, and it taught a guy how to defend himself and fight like a man if need be.
The so called little shits of today have absolutely no idea.
Weapons can be turned, innocent lives lost, gone in an instant.
We never ever had that to worry about, it didn’t exist.
You rarely heard of a ‘murder’ let alone a stabbing.
Yes bring back the unlocked doors I say, well maybe not, but wouldn’t it be nice if that were possible.
o.k. enough from me for the day.
Great memories.
Vicki
Comment by Vicki — March 9, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
yeh noel your spot on mate ,,,,that lunch time dance in bourke st. was called Tenth Avenue…the loved ones,,zoot etc . etc. take care noel. you to vicki. xxxx
Comment by chris o — March 10, 2011 @ 9:26 am
Thats it! Used to walk up from where I worked cnr Bourke and Elizabeth sts
Glad your aok Chris
Cheers
N
Comment by Noel — March 10, 2011 @ 1:14 pm
It got the better of me…had to check it out…
What I was thinking of was Degraves Street and the dance was called ‘The Bowl’…o.k. I feel better now, back to work!
Vicki
Comment by Vicki — March 10, 2011 @ 1:55 pm
Well done, didnt know it but used to haunt the London Hotel in Elizabeth st and Y & J’s some lunch times in the 60′s as an under age and after 2 drinks could do my own dance!!!
Comment by Noel — March 10, 2011 @ 4:45 pm
It’s great to see so many people having a say about their history. But I just wish people like smurf realised that the Sydney Sharpies of the sixties really did exist and wore clothes unlike Melbourne sharpies, mostly because of the colder weather and because they wanted to look very sharp to impress the girls. Some of these boys became famous, like Noel Maybury and Terry Parker, who were my team-mates in the late sixties and played rugby league for Australia in the seventies. They were Glebe and Balmain Sharpies, and then there was Paul Haywood, my next door neighbour. He was a Waterloo Sharpie, who also played league for his country in the seventies. They all wore the Sharpie clobber, walked the walk and talked the talk during the sixties. Is this enough reality for you? Once you can accept this history as real, then next step is to get off the idea about who was first. The “sharpie” identity reproduced itself in different forms, in different periods and under different climates. Not one identity is better than, or is more original than the other – they were just DIFFERENT.
Comment by The Seagull — March 11, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
“FINALLY”… got to see a photo of my uncle who was leader of gang in Northcote in the early 1900′s !!
The Blue anchor push gang of 50 plus who wandered the streets causing trouble.
This uncle (who looks handsome in his Army uniform aged 18)
hit a policeman with a knuckleduster, but got off charge as he said he was ‘elsewhere’ at time of assault!
So…nearly 60 years later I get to see a photo of my Dad’s brother that he only ever saw once himself. (as I mentioned previously at a Fitzroy footy match)
Tough times indeed back then, no money, rough areas, War on top of everything, Dad’s Mum trying to bring up her brood as a single/divorced (elderly) Mum.
Well, even though there was a rift in family, I am glad that I can add his face to album of family history.
Dad’s brother lived Northcote, I lived Preston.
Dad saw his brother at Fitzroy football match (he and I both supported Fitzroy)
My ex brother in law was captain for Fitzroy football team. (went every match for years)
Dad’s brother in gang, me a sharpie……mmmmm. some similarities!!!
Memories all round !
Comment by Vicki — April 19, 2011 @ 10:01 pm
Lovely story Miss Vicki
Take care, happy Easter all
Comment by Noel — April 21, 2011 @ 6:32 pm
Thanks Noel,
Yes, Uncle’s face I pass throughout the day.
Wonder what dramas happened within the family, but sadly will never know as all have ‘departed.’
Love driving down my hometown of Preston, some things have changed some things shall stay ‘forever.’
Would just like to know where the hell did all those years disappear to??!!
My ‘baby’ girl will wed next month, the last I remember is her running to greet her Nan (who lived in family home in Preston for 74 years) until ill health took over.
Must move forward, but the memories of the past are well etched within my heart.
I know I am not alone, as posts on this site are ‘passionate’ re their own history.
Have a great night all.
Comment by Vicki — April 28, 2011 @ 6:22 pm
hey Vicki
Beautiful words and I know exactly what you mean, I visited my baby girl over Easter who i walked through the park with tears in my eyes to “giveaway” 3 years ago, she now has a baby boy 15 months old, where did my time go?
Loved every minute of my very miss spent youth and would not change one damn thing, I had one hell of a time with the most eclectic group of kids, boys and girls one could imagine, we played hard, hit hard and were hit twice as hard, roamed the streets from box hill to the city and had the time of our lives.
Take care and good night!
Comment by Noel — April 28, 2011 @ 8:39 pm
Hey Seagull:
Now i come to think of it,i had a good mate that used to be a sharpie in the glebe area,his nick name was pockets,if anyone left change on the bar,when going to the mens,he would pocket it…his elder bother Garry used to hang at Henries…or you may know Johnie Arkinstall,i was a mate of his younger brother Roy…
Ron from Campsie…
Comment by Ron — May 2, 2011 @ 4:31 pm
Hi Vicki, found this, not sure if you have seen it.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1669618
Comment by Julie Mac — May 3, 2011 @ 10:46 am
Ron, I know the name, Johnnie Arkinstall, but I never met the man in person. I heard him mentioned a few times in stories the Sharpies spread around the network about their members’ ongoing ‘activities’. I reckon he was older than me, and sometimes the older Sharpies didn’t give up their names easily. If they didn’t know you, it didn’t matter whether you looked like a dead-set Sharpie or not. Without any ‘form’ you were an outsider, and you were going to stay that way until you had form worth talking about. Even then, you might get a nod, before you got a name. I knew heaps of Sharpies from all over Sydney (including Glebe, where I played club football for Police Boys) but I still didn’t know everyone, even though we all went to Surf City, the Beach House and John Henrys, week after week for years. Meanwhile, I’ve written a story about these times and a book is on the way. You might recognise a few characters in some of the events and places I’ve described. I’m glad you came in with this, Ron. It might rev up a few more memories.
Comment by The Seagull — May 5, 2011 @ 7:46 am
Hi all,
Yes Noel, they were the most brilliant times (But we didn’t realize at the time I’m sure) they were ‘unique’ years and as I ‘people watch’ today whilst stopped at lights etc. I think ‘how boring’ they appear !!
Yes, we dressed the same, but appearance was a ‘cleaner’,more tailored look and people did notice. We have the memories that shall never depart from within. Great mateship that has lasted decades. We were blessed to be the right age to be involved in Sharpie history.
Julie, thanks so much for that newspaper article on my uncle and his gang!! I did have it, and find it fascinating that so long ago havoc was being caused by a close relative !!!Their terrorising back then could not compare to what goes on now. Sounds more like kids stuff than anything, but I don’t know about hitting the cop with his knuckleduster !! And he got off ! Looks like ‘butter would not melt’ in his war uniform! Still would love to know family history as to why he departed, but everything was ‘hush hush’ back then, sadly. Makes it difficult to research to say the least. Thanks again so much for
sending. Vicki x
Comment by vicki wilson — May 7, 2011 @ 2:01 pm
Vicki, maybe you could request his war file from Canberra an his criminal file from the Victoria police archives? Might be some clues.
Comment by Julie Mac — May 11, 2011 @ 4:46 pm
julie great book, fond memories, but us girls and guys from newport and williamstown only hung around here but we dressed well i remember my boyfriend designing cardies he worked and saved every month we went to northcote to collect his designer cadre missed the exhibition by two weeks but after 30 odd years i still have great memories
Comment by isabel — May 30, 2011 @ 6:09 pm
Hi Isabel, are you still in the area? Would love to catch up. I am in the process of collecting stories from sharps from the 60s to the 80s.
Comment by Julie Mac — June 3, 2011 @ 7:27 pm
Hello people…Im from Adelaide but the old boy grew up in Prahran in the 70′s fair sure he was a sharpie! Heard him mention it….Lived there around the sametime as chopper if that gives any indication of the timeframe…any of you from that region?
Comment by flano — June 8, 2011 @ 1:33 am
Hi guy’s, I am so pleased I stumbled on the Melb sharpie movie, it mirrors my adolesence in Sydney. I was an inner city kid and a Town Hall sharp from 1970 to 1974, There were only about thirty of us that lived in the city but we accepted suburban sharps who decided to make town their second home, so on good night there may be 100 of us, made up of hard core city kids who grew up with the prostitutes druggies drunks and gunnies and suburban kids wanting to savour the atmosphere. We were like locusts, nothing much survived after we went through. I was one of the yougest and hung at the back of the pack with the older tougher guys when we moved from one venue to another and there might be 100 meters from the first guys to the last so we were stepping over the bloodied bodies of long hairs and surfs who unhappily found themselves in the wrong place at the right time. We went to Melb to see the coloured balls once and found the inner city sharps slightly more dispicable than even we were, we put it down to the painters and dockers culture that they had grown up with, tough guys but it was great.
Comment by Paul Ross — June 8, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
Well well, it’s amazing what can be turned up with a little idle web-browsing! I’d all but forgotten the Sharpie days. I spent my first 14 years in Regent, between Preston and Reservoir, until 1967. I remember the sharps hanging around the Preston Bowl (Murray RD?). In those early days it was conform or be attacked, so I conformed. Although not a real member of the gang, I was on the fringe, wearing pin-striped pants and a crestknit shirt, with a cropped haircut. I did all this mainly for safety on the street, because if you weren’t one of “them”, you were fair game. I witnessed many violent fights on the street outside the Bowl, and always managed to appear to be in the midst, whilst in fact hangin back….. hey, I was only 14! The girls,(wow, “brush” brings the memories back)were just as frightening to me as any of the blokes. And every thing about them seemed to ooze sex, at least to my young eyes. In 1967 my family moved to the Eastern suburbs, where there was no Sharpie presence, and I was able to slip into the era of long hair and hippy type clothes without the fear of a bashing. Although in my late teenage years there was rivalry between groups of youths simply over suburb of residence eg: Box Hill vs Doncaster, and these encounters were just as violent as the Sharps!
I found some video on YouTube of Sharpie dancing….. man, it looks so damn silly now, but back then, it was a statement, and a serious one at that….” don’t f**k with me!”
Great site….. keep up the good work!
Comment by Jeff McK — July 2, 2011 @ 12:01 pm
Hi All:
Paul i remember standing around in George street,on top of Townhall station eating hotdogs,and talking to sharp’s from various parts of Sydney,as far out as Blacktown and St Marys….I was a Campsie sharp….but i knew sharps from all over Sydney,Belmore,Fivedock,Marrickville,Glebe,Leichart,just to name a few….
I wont mention surnames,but Sydney sharps may remember nick names such as..mad dog,chopper,greg the butcher,stan the man,tiger,babyteeth,pea knuckle,freddy and paul,pat,pockets,kenny,jammie,ted,arthur,huck…
Seagull..how is you book going?
Ron from Campsie
Comment by Ron — July 4, 2011 @ 10:13 am
Ron, I’m in the last stages with the book i.e. final editing. Then there’s choice of front cover, type size and font,formatting etc. pain in the A really, but it’s looking good. Only problem is I don’t have as many pics from those days as I’d like to have. We didn’t have any cameras then. Anyway, the book will be published within the next few months. I’ll give you the drum when it’s in print.
Gee, you made me remember a guy who sold hot dogs at Town Hall Staion. I can see him now, as clear as crystal. He was there for years. We used to buy a dog from him and have a chat while we were waiting for the odd long hair to front up. He must have seen scores of blues between the Sharpies and the longhairs, but he never gave us any stick over it.
Comment by The Seagull — July 5, 2011 @ 12:04 am
Hey Jeff McK,
Yes great memories Regent/Preston, also my old stomping ground. But….a ‘brush’ just as frightening as a guy…Hope that I wasn’t one of them! Yes, they could be a rough mob, but my pearls showed my femininity I guess, a little moreso than some !!!Although my girlfriend had a nasty experience with one…and another attempted her ‘ballsiness’ on me…her attempt ‘failing.’ The bowl (Gower Street) was the place to be (apart from Storyville -Preston Townhall)not much choice back then, and places closed so EARLY! The Circle in High street also became a popular place to hang out, a little ‘rougher’ than Storyville though I think from memory.Great times and this also is a great site to ‘compare notes.’ Happy times. Vicki
Comment by Vicki — July 5, 2011 @ 6:50 pm
Seagull…The hot dog man must have cried when the sharpie era come to an end…on a cold night,standing in our three quarter coats,he would give you extra ,i used to get sauce and mustard…
He could write 2 books about the what went on,around townhall station…I would love to sit down over a few beers and have a talk to him..
I work at ANZ stadium,so i am busy most weekends,i dont go into the city much now,but one sunday i wouldnt mind meeting up with you…the covent garden in chinatown is always a good meeting spot….let me know if your interested,i havent got many photo’s,but i will bring them in..i will also contact a couple of old mates,to see if they have any,if anyone did take photos in those days,it was the girls,if you still know any…
Comment by Ron — July 9, 2011 @ 9:59 am
Ron…I reckon if you sat down over a few beers and wanted to talk with the hot dog man it could be a one-way conversation. I mean, would he still be alive? He would have to be in his late nineties…unless we’re talking about different hot dog men. But I can fully relate to the three-quarter coat. It went really well with a Stetson hat and brolly. The brolly was really useful around Town Hall, and I’m not talking about weather protection either.
As for the photos, thanks for the offer, and I’d love to meet up with you. Only problem is I’m not living in Oz at the moment and I won’t be back until Xmas. If you could email the photos to me that would be great. Otherwise, we can meet up at Xmas. Could be fun swapping names and stories. Talk again.
Comment by The Seagull — July 14, 2011 @ 6:59 am
Vicki…re March 9th this year. The Bowl in Sydney (circa 1960′s) was open during the weekdays. My Sharpie friends and I used to wag school and go there several times a week. On the weekends Normie Rowe and the Easybeats were on, but I went to the Beach House and Surf City, where Thorpie and Ray Brown were alternating between the two venues.
You are right in saying those days were FUN, really fun, although the long-hairs who fought with the Sharpies might not say it was fun for them. We never took drugs during the 60′s and didn’t start drinking until we were 18 or could pass as 18. We were always clowning around, sledging, paying out, telling funny stories and jokes…like who needs drugs and booze when you’re not taking life seriously.
Also agree with you (July 5th)that this is a great site to compare notes and stake your rightful place in Sharpie history, wherever you come from.
Comment by The Seagull — July 14, 2011 @ 7:21 am
Hi Ron, and all. Ron out of the names I recall mad dog vaguely, chopper was a wirey Maltese or Greek looking guy, Stan the man was Stan McGowan?, babyteeth had weird little baby teeth, was jammie a deaf guy? From Campsie or Belmore I remember stumpy Smith, I travelled out to Belmore to watch East’s play Canterbury and we met up with the Belmore guys and I remember stumpy was a goer, big fights.
Did you ever go to the Macquarie hotel in Surry Hills, just down the road from the CIB? Town Hall found it and it went from a Friday and Saturday night patronage of a dozen from the Nearby Mathew Talbot Hostel to fifty of us. The saloon bar was off limits to us as Clarry the owner was ex CIB and there were lots of CIB there 24/7 at various stages of inebriation, luckily just a stumbling distance from their desks one block up. There were fights but not as big as usual just a smack now and then and we made it our 6 till closing venue for the next year, we got on, Clarry got on, cops got on, it was good, we owned it, except the saloon.
Then guys started coming in from the suburbs, and there were 100 there, then 150. This really didn’t change the vibe of the pub, someone got smacked every once in a while, chicks would cry over some guy as the booze kicked in, all in all my only problem was the time it took to get served now, and this went on for six months, then the arts factory opened the next corner up. It was an old car repair shop, complete with pits, I know this because I worked at Flemings in Oxford Street during school hols and we shared a laneway at the back dock. Nothing was added to the repair shop except a band, oil on coloured water projected onto the walls and lots of long hairs, which was the end of the Macquarie for us.
The odd punch up happened as the hairs passed by the pub, but the fights inside the arts factory spilled out on the footpath and filled the fifty meters between the factory and the pub for two weekends in a row. On the third weekend they blocked off the street with 4 bull wagons and about twenty cops arrested some, smacked some, and told the rest to go. A couple of weeks later we found the Surry, wrong end of town, ten drinkers on Fri and Sat, we moved in.
Comment by Paul Ross — July 14, 2011 @ 11:30 pm
Hi Paul:
I know all the guys you mention…including Stan and Stumpy..i used to hang with stumpy from when i was 16 years old…he was a great footballer himself…and ended up,even a better coach…Yes i have drank at the Macquarie..around about the Clock Work Orange era,we used to walk around with three quarter coats,and umbrellas at the time….
I hung around Belmore and Campsie mostly,but had a lot of friends in city,we would ventre into the city and the cross most weekends,and meet with sharps from all over Sydney…
Comment by Ron — July 15, 2011 @ 11:14 am
Geeze Ron I hung with all those guys when they were in town or they were at stuff I travelled to so I gotta know you, hope your doing well mate.
Comment by Paul Ross — July 18, 2011 @ 6:03 pm
Paul…I was a sharp from 1969-1974..by 73,74…most of my mates where in jail,and a couple got deported back to the UK…I was always a worker in my teens,so i kept out of trouble….but i still have a handfull of friends from that era,and we keep in touch now and then…a lot have died from drugs and alchol abuse,it came back to haunt them later in life….Ron
Comment by Ron — July 20, 2011 @ 6:11 pm
Good to see that old 60′s sharps never die and “Laurie from Bendigo? ” yes Bendigo had sharps and the roslind park fights were alive with some melbourne sharps it was the big fight in bendigo with the Preston sharps i remember at Eaglehawk with about 30 sharps on the field but hey they were mates in the finish.. but the football match was suspended on the day Laurie!! ….. email me here as the early sharps are still around… calvin.mcclure@hotmail.com
Comment by Calvin McClure — July 21, 2011 @ 9:17 am
Btw any sharps that want to chat about our sub culture and all the good times that we had from 1963 till 1975 you can friend me on facebook or my email >>> calvin.mcclure@hotmail.com i live in Port Macqurie now but i will never forget the great times i had in West Richmond,Preston,Collingwood and the city at Flinders street and really the Mutual bowl wow just would love to do it again but ageing is real (Hello Kerry Rocks Bendigo)sharps of 1968 …. Calvin McClure
Comment by Calvin McClure — July 21, 2011 @ 9:25 am
HI calvin
Interesting that that you used to come up to Bendigo for your brush and go to the YMCA dance
I’m from Bendigo originally and thats how i got into the
sharpe scene got into a blue with some Melbourne sharpes
outside the YMCA dance who where trying to move in on our brush
Met them the next day in Roslind Park and became friends for years to come but that was in about 1971
your brush could be my sister come good with some names
Regards Laurie
Comment by laurie — May 10, 2010 @ 8:04 pm
I HOPE YOU RESPOND AGAIN LAURIE FROM BENDIGO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOUR LAST NAME?
Comment by Calvin McClure — July 21, 2011 @ 9:28 am
Greetings! I was a skinhead here in the u.s. for about 2 1/2 decades. When the racists r.a.c. shite hit our shores thanks to skrewdriver it changed the face of skinhead here in america forever. We were indeed crucified by the public thanks to the few who took up this racist garbage and brought it to the public via biased media looking to sell papers and get a good news story. I’m 40 now and I’m on what we yanks call the skinhead retirement plan, ie; the greaser style. I’m intrigued by this sharpie culture of yours. You took a distinctly british style and made it yours. Absolutely brilliant! My question is this, has the sharpie style ever made a comeback?
-christopher “hooligan” linn
Comment by chris linn — July 31, 2011 @ 2:46 am
Hi Chris
If you’ve read all the comments on this site you will probably see how diverse the sharpie culture was i.e. the difference between the Sydney sharpies and the Melbourne sharpies. That difference translated into variations in the clothing styles because of the different climates of the two cities. So when you ask about the sharpie style ever making a comeback I would say that for Sydney even today you can see men dressed very similarly to what we wore in th sixties – except they wouldn’t call thmselves sharpies. I am about to publish a book about the Sydney Sharpies called “Out With The Boys” and it gives an account of the sharpie days in the sixties. If you stay tuned to this site I will give out information on where and how people can get a copy. It should be released in a month and will become an important contribution to the literature written about Australia’s youth cultures of the sixties. Thanks for your interest Chris.
Comment by The Seagull — August 4, 2011 @ 4:41 pm
Hi!! to anyone interested in Billy Thorpe’s early days in Sydney in 1964. I found an article and some bloggs written about him after his death. You’ll find references to the clothing styles worn at Surf City and the Beach House, where Thorpie made his debut, as well as a reference to the Sydney Sharpies. Enjoy the read.
http://theroyalgeorge.blogspot.com/2007/02/billy-thorpe-at-surf-city.html
The Seagull
Comment by The Seagull — August 6, 2011 @ 7:17 pm
I would be inerested in the sharpie years in Sydney as i ventured there in my sharpie days…. Surf City was excellent and it will always be rock solid in my mind… but! the mods outweighed the sharpies in Sydney it was a good era just the same….. i will keep my eye out for your book ‘The Seagull …. Calvin McClure.
Comment by Calvin McClure — August 19, 2011 @ 6:28 am
My Dad was a Prahan sharp in the late 60′s – 70′s. He is John but was better known as Pepi. I have fond memories of Shane Goodfellow – we lived with him for a few years. My Dad sure did enjoy this blast from the past, reading everything on this site. Any of you out there know him? (my dad)? Email me at smfp2712@gmail.com
Comment by Sharna Pipinis — August 20, 2011 @ 5:32 pm
yeah sharna,i remember shane well….good and bad days , but definately exiting !!!!! cheers. chris.
Comment by chriso — August 23, 2011 @ 2:11 pm
Do any of our Melbourne 66 Sharpies remember or were involved in the standoff with the truck drivers in Little Lonsdale Street?
Comment by Julie Mac — September 5, 2011 @ 11:32 am
Hi all,
Former skin/sharp here who has lived in the west for over 30 years now. Used to hang around the Dandenong area, Sandown or the Waltzing Matilda for pubs. Crystal ballroom now and again.(where was that in Stkilda?) Anyway just went back to the united nations or is it Melbganastan? to watch the grand final. The taxi into town went past Festival hall and a group of modern day rebellious youth (i’m sure we looked better) were lining up to buy tickets i presume. Was very early in the morning so must have been for a good show. Can’t believe the place is still there.
Anyway the game was great! As an Essendon supporter had to go for the Cats and to beat Collingwood made my day!!!!!
Great venue, great day, and great to not have to listen to the Collingwood faithfull.Most of them look like they are in a time warp anyway and apart from some face paint not much has changed. Obviously dentists don’t work at Best and Less
Comment by spud — October 2, 2011 @ 7:33 pm
What i meant to ask in last post was… Where was olivias in St kilda. Was it in the esplande hotel??
Comment by spud — October 20, 2011 @ 11:56 pm
Hi Seagull. I would like a copy of your book when it comes out. I was a teenager in Granville in the early seventies and for me as a neighbourhood kid the sharpies were a real presence. I was scared of them but they weren’t going to stop me playing the pinnies at the Granville Tech milkbar.
Comment by bede — November 1, 2011 @ 12:45 pm
hi julie its been a while sorry but have been working then time gets away how would we catch up
Comment by isabel — November 1, 2011 @ 7:05 pm
did anyone go to festival hall north melbourne in their sharpie times
Comment by isabel — November 1, 2011 @ 7:55 pm
Hi Bede
Stand by. The book will be available at the end of this month. The publisher is currently getting it ready for printing. I will give you more exact details when I have them. Soon.
Comment by The Seagull — November 3, 2011 @ 5:10 pm
Great to hear its nearly published Seagull and looking forward on reading the adventures from across the border. What’s the title of your book and will it be on this website to order online? also make sure the publisher assigns it a ISBN number – so it’s retained and recorded in the National Library as part of Australian history
Comment by Stef — November 4, 2011 @ 9:29 pm
hey Seagul, although we are poles apart, i would would be delighted to buy your book, let me know the details
Much Love Noel
Comment by Noel — November 4, 2011 @ 9:44 pm
Hi Isabel,
Yes I went to Festival Hall in the 60′s.Went with my then boyfriend (later husband) with all of his mates to watch the ‘fights.’ First girl on the scene with all of the lads, felt very ‘protected’ in their company. Boxing featured heavily on T.V. back then as well, so watched it with my dear Dad. Just another event that 66′ Sharpies enjoyed at the time.
Comment by VICKI — November 20, 2011 @ 6:19 am
for all you ’66 Sharpies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOyo_SPRbMM
Comment by Pete Brookes — November 20, 2011 @ 3:42 pm
Ark Ark, the Seagull has landed, as I promised. Just follow the information below and you could soon be entering the world of the Sydney Sharpies. Hope you enjoy it.
Out with the Boys: The Sharpie Days
Welcome to “Out with the Boys: The Sharpie Days”, the new release documenting life as a Sharpie in the 1960s inner-city Sydney. If you were an Australian teenager then, or you want to know what your older brothers got up to, this is the book for you. For everyone else, tap in to an untold story of Australian social history, when becoming a man was a challenge where ever you came from, in a time when everyone was making and breaking the rules.
If you are in Melbourne you can get a copy through the Melbourne University Bookshops. To buy your copy today just click on the link below.
http://www.bookshop.unimelb.edu.au/cbc/?AU.The Seagull
To show your support by clicking on the like button, to post your comments and thoughts about life as a Sharpie in Sydney in the 1960s, go to
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-with-the-Boys-The-Sharpie-Days/295160877190144?sk=wall#!/pages/Out-with-the-Boys-The-Sharpie-Days/295160877190144
Comment by The Seagull — December 5, 2011 @ 3:20 am
Great to see people writing their comments on my ‘Out With the Boys’ facebook pages. After reading one of the comments I cast my mind back to several events in the book, and it really came home to me how much time and energy I spent trying to win acceptance and earn respect from my sharpie mates. Maybe I wasn’t completely successful, and people might ask why I would even try to impress a bunch of boys whose working class roots were never going to enable them to rise to the top of the shitty heap we call ‘society’.
BUT what does it matter WHO motivates you to try to be the best? Even if you’re not accepted by your peers, they’ve unwittingly done you a favour by setting the standard. Without knowing it, they’ve inspired you, challenged you to make something of yourself. They made you struggle so that you developed character, REAL character. They didn’t allow you to settle for an imaginary character built on bullshit, where you still get a medal or a smiley stamp for coming last – not like many of our whimpy teenagers of today.
Yeah, I busted my guts repeatedly, and they made it REALLY tough for me, but I wouldn’t swap those times for anything else. I think most sharpies, in Melbourne or Sydney, 60′s or 70′s, would probably feel the same way.
Comment by The Seagull — December 10, 2011 @ 5:10 pm
Hi everyone!!
Just in case you’ve had problems getting hold of a copy of “Out with the Boys” it is NOW available via Melbourne University Bookshop – after an unexpected delay. Hope the book turns out to be an enjoyable read over Xmas for you, your family or your friends. I’ll also be very interested to hear your comments on the book, so please don’t be shy.
Read on!!
Comment by The Seagull — December 14, 2011 @ 11:00 pm
Because some fascist bastard erased my entry about the Sydney Sharpies from Wikipedia I will post it everywhere, including here. It seems that democracy and freedom of speech do not apply to people who do not like what you write, even though my article could hardly be considered offensive. Maybe there’s some jealousy happening…whoever it is, grow up and accept the things you can’t change!! You will not stop me from sharing my information with others!!
The Sydney Sharpies of the 1960’s
The Sydney Sharpies of the 1960’s was a vastly different type of subculture from the Melbourne version of that era and had a much larger network than the Sydney Sharpies who followed in the 1970’s. They were different in their musical tastes, dance and hair styles, the way they walked and stood, their use of language, codes of conduct and dress rules, the latter because Melbourne’s colder weather generated a much broader range of coats, cardigans, jumpers and jackets than Sydneysiders needed for their climate.
Contrary to what has been written about them, the Sydney Sharpies followed very strict dress codes designed to make the wearer look sleek, successful and well-heeled. Each boy went to great pains to achieve this look, typically creating his own personal designs for his trousers before they were made up by noted tailors. However, trousers had to be cuff-less and no more than 13.5 inches wide at the bottom, where it was acceptable to have a 2-inch long slit with a button above it, or even two buttons. Belts were abandoned in favour of waistbands, which could range between 2 and 4 inches wide and were usually buttoned up with two or four buttons. The absence of any side or back-pockets meant that the trousers hugged the body closely – only a fob pocket with varying flap shapes was allowable. Four inches below the waistband at the back, a belt buckle was usually sewn on, but some Sharpies opted for two, just to be different. The more classical Prince-of-Wales check and herringbone patterns were very popular choices for trousers, and summer shorts were often tailor-made, with terry towelling a favourite. Straight-leg jeans, such as Levi-Strauss in blue, and Lee in white, beige and blue were preferred, while very expensive close-weave polo-shirts called Ban-lon were all the rage in plain colours, with all buttons done up. Nobody wore a long-sleeved shirt unless it was with a three-piece suit and a Stetson hat, and short-sleeved shirts had to have button-down short-peaked collars, be in a paisley design and tuck tightly into trousers and shorts. Nobody wore socks with shoes either, and casual footwear was either the plaited (basket-weave) leather style or the smart boating variety, both Italian-made and quite expensive. Dress shoes, although worn only with suits, were slightly chisel-toed and had to shine like mirrors, while runners of any kind were shunned. And unlike the boys from the south, the Sydney Sharpies had little need to rug up. In the autumn they put on light-weight Californian zip-up jackets, and in winter wore expensive Suave brand long-sleeved polo shirts, Alpaca cardigans or woollen ones in cable-stitch and harlequin-check, always buttoned up from top to bottom. Jumpers were a no-no because they suggested intellectualism, and although three-quarter coats were never necessary, they promoted the idea that the wearer of one was someone important, possibly a successful criminal. Alternatively, one could hide an iron bar in a coat that size.
The typical walk of the Sydney Sharpies was an intimidating swagger, with shoulders swaying back and forth, chest out and head up, ready to confront. Their way of standing, or their ‘pose’, whenever they wanted to assert power in any situation was like the ‘at ease’ position of a soldier, only the legs were further apart and the trousers sat higher on the waist. This posturing combined with their short-cropped hair and an indecipherable language rich in jargon, rhyming slang and colourful phrases made them a formidable presence for anyone who did not understand their spoken and body languages. During the sixties they made their mark at city dance venues such as the Teen Canteen, Surf City, Beach House and John Henry’s, which spawned Rock greats like Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs and Ray Brown & the Whispers. Quite often there were as many as 200 Sharpies at these venues, most of whom knew each other or knew about each other through word-of-mouth, and the subculture’s network accommodated gangs from the innercity areas of Redfern, Chippendale, Waterloo, Zetland, Mascot, Alexandria, Stanmore, Leichardt, Pyrmont, Glebe, Drummoyne, Wooloomooloo and King’s Cross. Those who danced did the jive, an American form suited to Rock and Roll, and the Sharpie girls wore twinsets or knee-length pleated skirts, knitted tops, pearls and winkle-picker shoes. Tamla Motown, Soul and R&B were preferred exclusively to the Beatles, since long hair was considered ‘unmanly’ and contributed to scores of bloody confrontations with the longhairs of Sydney. The ‘hairs’ frequented dance places like Beatle Village in Oxford Street, only a stone’s throw from the Beach House, so fights between the two groups were common as they both made their way towards Town Hall Station at the end of a night. On the other hand, Surfies were tolerated by Sharpies, and in places like Surf City and the Beach House they kept out of each other’s way.
Away from the dance venues, the Sydney Sharpies occasionally came together at football matches, the Domain, Coogee and Bondi Beaches, or the various racecourses around Sydney where they were ‘in the know’ with various ‘racing identities’. Otherwise, local gangs frequented their local snooker parlours and illegal SP betting shops, hung around on street corners chatting and skylarking, visited their tailor or a shoe shop, chatted up local ‘brushes’ on the street, or went to football training. Banter was always prominent in conversations and membership of a Sharpie group was conditional on factors such as courage (‘ticker’), fighting prowess, girl-pulling power, sporting skills, ‘gift of the gab’, sledging ability, behaving like a larrikin for laughs, loyalty to the gang, being well-connected within the Sharpie network, knowing the special Sharpie language and looking the part of a Sharpie in posture and dress. Occasionally, some levels of criminal activity were considered necessary for survival, especially amongst the poorer working-class neighbourhoods in Redfern, Chippendale and Waterloo.
Comment by The Seagull — February 6, 2012 @ 12:45 am
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2007
Billy Thorpe at Surf City
“It was any Saturday night in 1964. The night was yet young – where to now? Why, Surf City of course – an old movie theatre transformed into a venue for rock bands and dancing. Just a walk down Victoria Street towards the bright lights at the corner of Darlinghurst Road . . . now round the corner to where the crowds of teenagers were – Surf City.
Into Surf City then, with the lights and music blaring and the sea of dancers – Mods, Rockers, Sharpies, Surfies – frenetically dancing away there . . . and nearly always at Surf City we were dancing to the music pumped out by a band wearing neat suits, the beginnings of long hair, but with incredible energy and style: Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. The lead singer, hands clasped behind his back, would be leaping around from one foot to the other out the front, belting out amazingly good songs . . . this is how good Billy Thorpe was: we all reckoned that his version of “Poison Ivy” was a fair bit better than that of the Rolling Stones, who we adored. In fact Billy Thorpe’s version of Poison Ivy actually went to Number One on the Hit Parade ahead of the Beatles while the Beatles were touring Australia. This seemed impossible, but it happened.
You couldn’t listen to or dance to Bill Thorpe without getting a real buzz – his music was upbeat, brash, fun, yet entirely what would now be called “cool”. In later years Billy Thorpe reinvented himself and his music several times, and importantly, after moving to Melbourne, pioneered Australian Pub Rock music and circuits.”
tadpole said…
“Ah yes, there are always those memories of Surf City . . . how many though, remember Beach House in Elizabeth St, let alone were there for Thorpie’s debut night on New Years Eve 63/64 after his escape from Brisbane???”
Taken from http://theroyalgeorge.blogspot.com/2007/02/billy-thorpe-at-surf-city.html
Comment by The Seagull — February 12, 2012 @ 6:51 pm
does anyone remember bob perkins from upfield in broadmeadows he had a few brothers dont know if they were sharpies he was about 5years older than me we were engaged but i lost track of him hed be well into his 5
p
50s now we had a bad car crash in 1975 he lost a spleen and kydney also bad gambler would love to find how he is cheers kerrie
Comment by kerrie — February 14, 2012 @ 6:46 am
Was told about this site by my son and found it interesting to read about sharpies of Melb.
Myself I grew up and was a Prahran sharpie, many I lost contact with and some I know have passed away.Times back in them days were fierce, frigthening at times and unpredictable, those days though were great. Attending concerts etc.
If any of the Prahran Sharps read this site it would be good to hear from you.
Johnno
Comment by john — February 26, 2012 @ 10:16 pm
who were the prahran sharps? i was born in prahran and grew up there in the flats. and the flats was and is prahran. there were some blokes who were sharpies from there and others who said they were from prahran but wearnt. im a prahran boy born a breed. like i said i know of some sharps from there cant and dont drop names but as for a group known as the prahran sharps? DONT GET ME WRONG. there were sharpies from there but as for a rock solid group? from the day the good old horice petty estate was built i lived there and would know. iv cliped many a surfie sucker seweader and plenty other pickles and new plenty of sharpies back then and i was no sharpie. a few called me skina.pictures and by me last name ——boy as i got me first tattoo when i was 8 i was just a kid but solid.if your from prahran then you would know me and me family. and i also remember sharpies sandie boys leb tigers all types with all types of names would come to prahran and get a tidy and leave, there was some true tuff men from there. [staunch] and thats all that MATTERS.
Comment by shane — March 24, 2012 @ 2:51 am
whats up jhonno? i seen your comments and that of some others on this site about [prahran] and sharpies. and your right mate they were the days the days where a bloke could test himself and see if he could be solid!you said you grew up there prahran i new a bloke or two by that name one of witch had he’s nick name tattooed on he’s lip? if not you then thats sweet. i miss prahran. i was born there and me and me family grew up there mostly in the walk up’s for stories. and in a few houses in prahran me old man was butcher in the market. i loved that joint. you know you can find shitman every where even prahran. but staunch good men every where nar prahran had more than most. sharps to as i said i new a couple out of there . as a kid i got have me coat pulled and a whisper in me ear by some of the best.in there company you could see & feel it self pride layolty manners respect, fuck i wanted that feeling as well. anyway enough edgar from me. funny i dont see it as looking back its just another test you all know it the one of time, sharpies ya up forit. to you johnno and your boy all the best. like me old man said your a long time dead.
Comment by shane — April 7, 2012 @ 3:32 am
As I enter my mid fifties I sometimes see other. blokes around my age in the suburb streets and a mild nod of recognition passes between us. I was never a hard core sharpie and probably no one on here would know me but the memories of Melbourne and her suburbs are strong for all of us. It seems as we’ve aged we realize we have more in common than we ever imagined at that time.
I wonder if this skins and sharps thing has more historical merit than is acknowledged. I’m sure many young kids would be fascinated by the whole thing if they saw the fashion first hand worn by other young kids today. Image a stand at the Royal Melbourne Show or other Melbourne events manned by the good folk of the skins and sharps.
Comment by Paul — April 8, 2012 @ 12:39 pm
i grew up in prahran and because i was a sharp i grew up the hard way..i tryed to re put prahran sharps back together didnt work just got in to punch on s and bad vibes from the flats i lived in simmons street
Comment by john k flappers — April 9, 2012 @ 8:59 pm
JOHN K.A,K.A FLAPPERS THE MAN WITH THE TATT ON HÉ’S LIP NEW YOU WERE OUT THERE. how are mate? mate alot of the boys are stale bread,[dimo] [spike] [briscoe] and more mate and more, a few said i would be dead early to.a few who might have hoped. so they did’nt have to bump into me later on. and i have bumped into a few over the years. as a kid i was pretty wild but you now this thats y some hoped i never rememberd but i did. you were and are a big part of my life mate i always looked up to you as kids. you were worth looking up to your a good bloke john solid staunch and only those who know and have proven them selfs can tell another this. AND I HAVE ITS ALL I HAVE. remember i use to ask you to do some ink on me. and youd go know fucking way. no wonder you said no with perents as mad as mine lol. as for prahran i went down there just to feel that feeling i only get when im there [home] its a fucking mess mate. you remember mate the blokes who made it a hard place for you they made it hard for many but it was the way.it should’nt have been for you as your as prahran as any.the spainyurd was a hard and pretty tuff cunt[back]he gave me a hard time now and then but not any more mate its been a long time since any one gave me a teast. but there was a pride there un like any other joint i new. and for anyone reading this who might think im saying prahran is or was better than where you grew up im not just different. what your reading is me talking to a bloke who is part of my family and that without me typing sharpies into the old google may not have seen or spoken to again. so im greatfull for that chance. look it was like this in prahran in my day if you wanted to be a sharpie or in a [gang] or use a needle it was’nt on. to bad so sad. i know as i use to tell em all to get fucked sharpies nock abouts surfies in my book even as a boy i could’nt give a fuck who you ran with as long as you were a good bloke and did’nt lash or lag. then sweet. me old man use to say to me dont worry about what any other cunts doing just run ya own race. and my old man was hard blue stone hard i use to stand at he’s leg in the duke of york most days it was there mostly there i got to shake hands with some of the best it was a time long gone now. growing up in prahran was the best. all i wanted like most louts was to be a good fighter a hard man respected. one day me dad said so you go alright hey.being a good fighter dont make ya a good bloke just agood fighter. its better to be a good bloke who dont need to fight than a good fighter who needs to fight cuse he’s no good, im a dad and a grand farther these days. flappers the only true prahran sharp i know. nice to know your still up and about john. lets catch up? p.s remember me old man he use to say tell flippers or fucking flappers to come inside and get he’s own fucking tea whats a matter with the boy. he was a scary cunt but.
Comment by shane — April 14, 2012 @ 2:03 am
check youtube and type in ‘the fight for stokes st part 2′ , it covers a well known melbourne sharpie. check it
Comment by rapology — May 2, 2012 @ 2:16 pm
I live in Newcastle now as i came here to be with my girlfriend Lorraine Millen … this is my last port of call as im not going back to Vic again i love all the sharpie comments here as a 15 year old sharpie in 1965 its a long far cry from 2012 may our sub culture never die as it will be talked about for many years to come its really a Melbourne well loved story of the sharpie era …. i will always remember till i die of some of the toughest guys that shared the streets with me in West Richmond , Collingwood, onya Peter Forbes… Chocko…. Steve… Allan…Dickie Desmond…. and many more …. Egan St boys …. they grew tough … we are now all in our 60′s now but hey keep up the comments as some stories here do ring many bells …..;)))
Comment by Calvin McClure — May 4, 2012 @ 2:38 am
Nice Calvin, i share your memories from 1965
Comment by Noel — May 4, 2012 @ 9:51 pm
Any body remember Ronnie m from Burwood or Peter Anderson ??
Comment by Nick — May 11, 2012 @ 3:50 pm
Hello chris o h from Ronnie mascara
Comment by Nick — May 11, 2012 @ 3:54 pm
Shane or John flaps or whatever.. My dads name is John Flanigan grEwp up in prahran.. My pop owned a hotel in around their somewhere aswell, know him?
Comment by LfLanigan — May 19, 2012 @ 3:28 pm