Waratah motorcycles

Waratah motorcycles
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryMotorcycle
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
ProductsMotorcycles
A 1948 125 cc Waratah motorcycle

Waratah motorcycles were manufactured in Sydney, Australia, from before 1911 to around 1948, although Waratah badged motorcycles were sold into the 1950s.

Initially Waratah motorcycles were manufactured by the Canada Cycle & Motor Agency, Ltd.[1] on George Street, Sydney, who from at least 1910 built from standard parts, or rebadged BSA bicycles as, Waratah bicycles.[2][3] W.A.Williams had been the manager of the Sydney branch of this business and in 1905 he bought it, retaining the name until 1913.[4] In 1913 the bicycle and motorcycle part of the business was taken over by his sons, Perce and Reg, and the name was changed to Williams Bros.,[5] and later P&R Williams. This business, initially at 213–7 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, is widely known as the manufacturer of Waratah motorcycles from 1914 to 1948.[4] Subsequent addresses of 255-259 Elizabeth St by the early 1920s, and 117 Goulburn St in the later 1920s are detailed in newspaper advertising, also detailing that the business changed its name to P.and R. Williams Pty Ltd, and later moved to 74-78 Wentworth Avenue Surry Hills.

Initially, they made small machines assembled from predominantly British components, including Villiers engines, Sun frames, Druid and Brampton forks. In fact, in 1921 they described themselves as sole importers of Villiers-Waratah Motor-Cycles.[6] Fafnir and V.T.S. engines were also used.

In the later years (post World War II), they badge engineered using, it is believed, Norman and Excelsior machines.[4]

They were Australia's longest running motorcycle manufacturer. However little information seems to have survived, presumably because these were low-value utility machines.

This registered and roadworthy 150 c.c. example was photographed in Western Queensland in January 2001.
Mark VIII-C 150 c.c. engines were first fitted in 1924.
Gear shift lever.
Acetylene burning front and rear lights on this registered, privately owned example are both serviceable.
  1. ^ Queanbeyan Age (NSW: 1907–1915), Friday 3 November 1911, page 4. Not only was a Waratah machine equipped with 4.5 hp Fafnir engine available in 1911 but the articles states that "'The Waratah' is too well known among motor cyclists to need any labored praise here". This strongly suggests that Waratah was already well established in the market and hence had been in production for some years.
  2. ^ Abridged prospectus for share offering in Canada Cycle & Motor Agency Limited, The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 6 October 1910, page 6
  3. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 27 July 1912, page 13
  4. ^ a b c A–Z of Australian-Made Motorcycles 1893–1942 by Robert Saward, Turton & Armstrong Pty Ltd, ISBN 0-908031-64-5
  5. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 10 March 1913, page 12
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference SMH210930 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).