The Dictionary of Sydney
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Law and Order
Crime
Gangs

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Gangs

Subject

Tilly Devine

Mount Rennie rape case

Razor Gang wars

Cabbage Tree Hat Mob

Gipps Street Push

Plunkett Street Push

Riley Street Gang

Rocks Push

Calletti, Guido

Nelson, Randall 'Animal'

Webber, Iris

Larrikins: football is in 1897

Steve Hart, 1945

'The Captain of the Push', a poem about Larry Foley recited by Clemency Press, from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous 2013

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Gangs

Tilly Devine

Tilly Devine, born Matilda Mary Twiss in London, arrived in Sydney as a war bride in 1920 and became a formidable figure in the city's underworld, particularly in Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. Known for her violence and her legendary feud with Kate Leigh, Devine was the city's leading madam until the end of the 1950s. She died, in financial ruin and unlamented, in 1970 but her legend has recently been revived in popular culture.

Mount Rennie rape case

The gang rape of 16 year old Mary Jane Hicks at Mt Rennie (later Moore Park) in September 1886 by a group of young men, many in their teens, was referred to in the press of the day as the 'Mount Rennie Outrage'. Eleven men were tried, nine of whom were sentenced to death. Five of these had their sentences commuted to life sentences but four men were hanged. There were widespread protests at the use of the death penalty.

full record »

Razor Gang wars

Vicious gang wars between competing groups in Darlinghurst, Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo battling for control of the criminal underworld. So called because of the cut throat razor (a straight shaving blade) that was the weapon of choice, especially after the Pistol Licensing Act of 1927 meant automatic gaol time for anyone caught carrying an unlicensed firearm. They were led by Tilly Devine and her rival Kate Leigh.

full record »

Cabbage Tree Hat Mob

Loosely formed gang from the sawyers and shingle splitters of the Cooks and Georges rivers which organised illegal bare-knuckle fights in secrecy in the bush. They were so named as they wore hats made from woven leaves of the cabbage tree palms.

full record »

Gipps Street Push

Larrikin gang which operated from Gipps (now Reservoir) street Surry Hills.

full record »

Plunkett Street Push

Street gang which terrorised the Woolloomooloo area before World War I.

full record »

Riley Street Gang

Criminal gang involved in sly grog, robbery and murder from the late nineteenth century until the 1920s.

full record »

Rocks Push

Larrikin gang who dominated and intimidated the residents of the Rocks from the 1870s to the 1890s by theft, assault and battery.

full record »

Calletti, Guido

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Pimp, thief and gang leader who became one of Sydney's most notorious gunmen and razor slashers. He was 'short, thickset, foul-mouthed' and was in trouble with the law from the age of 10. By 25 he led the Darlinghurst Push, a gang of street brawlers and stand-over men. He appeared in court 56 times, mostly for violent assault and robbery. He had an ongoing love affair with Nellie Cameron whom he married in 1934. He died of gunshot wounds to the abdomen at St Vincent's Hospital in 1939.

Nelson, Randall 'Animal'

Randall 'Animal' Nelson was one of the founders of the Kings Cross Bikers Social and Welfare Club in 1989. A resident of Kings Cross since the 1950s, he was he was responsible for the bikies Toy Ride each Christmas to distribute toys for needy children and known to many as the Kings Cross Santa. He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for his service to the Kings Cross community.

full record »

Webber, Iris

full record »

Lesbian criminal figure who achieved notoriety between the 1930s and 1950s and became known for her dramatic courtroom appearances.

Larrikins: football is in 1897

full record »

By

Tom Durkin

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[TN86 (a5893008)]

(The Bulletin, 24 April 1897 p16)

Steve Hart, 1945

full record »

By

Sidney Nolan

Contributed By

Nolan Gallery

[008d]

(enamel on board. Gift of the artist 1975.)

'The Captain of the Push', a poem about Larry Foley recited by Clemency Press, from These Walls Have Ears: Infamous 2013

full record »

In the 19th century, there were parts of The Rocks most ordinary folk wouldn't dare to enter, lest they run into The Rocks Push. The underground bare-knuckle boxing gang were known by some as larrikins, and others as criminals. Their leader was Larry Foley, a notorious fighter inside and outside the ring. He is thought to be the muse of The Captain of the Push, a poem often attributed to Henry Lawson. Actor Clemency Press performed the poem live at FBi All the Best's These Walls Have Ears event at the Rocks Windmill festival in May 2013.

By

Clemency Press

Contributed By

FBi Radio's All the Best

[#1314 Posted May 4th 2013]

(This piece was created for FBi Radio's All the Best, and made possible thanks to the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority through the Rocks Windmill Project 2013)