Words & Pics Dave ‘Baldy’ HellyerREDFERN MOTOR PARTS
R
edfern Motor Parts has bid farewell after
70 years service to Harley-Davidson riders,
enthusiasts and collectors. Tony Blain has
owned the business since purchasing the
parts inventory in 2000 from Johno, whose
father Jack started the business in 1949 as a part-time
hobby and continued until he passed away in 1993.
Tony used to visit Redfern on a weekly basis looking
for parts for his old motorcycles. It was his favourite
day of the week, sometimes he was disappointed
though because Johno would go off site to secure
some items from his secret location.
Getting to see the inventory quality and quantity
via a few invited trips with Johno to the secret
location was an experience, given it has been
subject to much folklore regarding its existence,
let alone its location said to have been just by the
Sydney domestic airport.
Tony told me that with this venture (purchasing
Redfern Motor Parts), his aim was more a labour
of love, and as a result Shaun Wilson joined him
for the journey.
Pete Green was an asset with his amazing H-D
knowledge and passion.
When I purchased Redfern in 2000, Pete was
without a job and he came down to Wollongong for
two years or so and sorted the parts at a warehouse
I rented in Unanderra, and Bob Brookland was
very helpful with the movement of parts by road.Tony mentioned it had been a privilege working
with the parts from Redfern as they are and were
significant in a lot of folk’s enjoyment in life.
Redfern for Tony was the opportunity in a
semi-retired state to enjoy his lifelong passion
for old motorcycles, work on motorcycles, and
subsidise his passion with part sales. Tony said
he had thoroughly enjoyed this foreclose for 20
years. Tony made it clear what his view of Shaun
is after all these years at Redfern with a very
special tip of his hat to Shaun, as his colleague,
and for their friendship built upon for more than
two decades, a good, good man, that I wish every
success in the future.
The big question around the traps though was
‘Why is Redfern closing?’
Well, after collecting historic, vintage and classic
motorcycles and memorabilia all his adult life,
Tony accepted an offer to purchase his building so
he had to move out. He had no desire to relocate
all those parts and memorabilia. So after sorting
his collection out over several months into more
than 1300 lots he passed the word around he was
holding the Redfern Motor Parts Harley-Davidson
Farewell auction. Manshed Auctions auctioneer,
Tony Gahan, offered the 1300 lots without drawing
breath across three days.
The Redfern inventory is now being shared
globally with enthusiasts putting to use these classicAfter 70 years in business, Redfern Motor Parts has sadly bid farewell ...
END OF AN ERA