Tales of crime from the streets of Leichardt
Local author remembers the Inner-West of the 1960’s as full of underground casinos, thieves and crime syndicates.
Boyd Anderson has drawn on inspiration from his children in Ashfield and Russel Lea in his latest movel, Ludo, which explores the history of the Inner West’s criminal underworld.
Growing up in the 1960’s Mr Anderson has a wealth of memories to draw from when recreating the period in the book.
“Every character in this is based on someone I knew…when I was a child,” he said.
The novel follows 15-year-old Jockey McAuley as he unearths the world of crime that existed in his suburb in 1961.
Mr Anderson said: “There was a lot of shady things going on . . . there were illegal casinos. . . sly grog. . . it was just endemic. Half the population was involved in some form of illegal activity.”
He said ‘The Horseshoe’ stretching from Balmain, through Newtown and up through Darlinghurst was notorious for illegal activity.
But crime was characteristically petty and disorganized and makeshift bookies filled the void of legal gambling he said.
Mr Anderson said he remembers going to Bradley’s Head with his father every second Sunday to bet on the boat races.
“Hundreds of men would be down there betting on the boat races, now the police of course knew about it, but as long as the brown paper bags changed hands it was ok.”
Mr Anderson said it was a struggle for people to break out of from the “conservative, insular” environment of Sydney’s Inner-West.
“Everyone was restrained by the conservative nature of society . . . and there were very few opportunities or avenues to bust out of it.”
Mr Anderson said there is a tendency to glamorise past criminals, but insists there was a different attitude among criminals of the 1960’s.
“In those days there probably was honour amongst thieves . . . now it’s all grubby. . . where’s the romance?” He said half-joking.
Boyd Anderson will be speaking about his new novel at Leichardt Library, September 21, 6.30pm.
By Lucy Swinnen
