Rockin’ past of the Hells Angel’s property at Ponde
It is the Hells Angels property on the bank of the River Murray — but years before SA Police found critical evidence in a cold case murder, it was a mecca for bikies looking for a wild party.
Law and Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law and Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Police find suspected getaway car involved in murder of Mark Boyce
- SA Police reveal players in bikie war
- More True Crime with your Advertiser subscription
Down an unassuming dirt road lined with paddocks lies a piece of South Australian music history.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club compound in Ponde stretches for 15ha and is today dotted with buildings, a racetrack and motorbike jumps.
But in 1979 it was the site of the first Ponde Music Festival, an event which would set the tone for hard rock biker festivals around the country.
In the same way that thousands of music and motorbike lovers have visited the site 100km east of Adelaide over the years, this week it was police and detectives who walked the trails and paths of Ponde.
It was not the posters of the international and local artists who have played at the festival that interested detectives, who were instead looking for evidence tied to two ongoing murder investigations.
In its hay day the festival drew crowds of more than 9000 people and included international acts like Billy Thorpe and Canned Heat, as well as myriad local bands.
The music leaned heavily towards blues and rock and roll, featuring local bands like The Lunchcutters, The Boys and The Others.
Long before thousands made the pilgrimage to Ponde the festival was just a few dozen mates sitting on the banks of the river listening to music and drinking beer.
As it grew the integral elements were still there: beer, bikes and music on the banks of the river, but this time with thousands of people from across the country.
Couples exchanged wedding vows before dancing to a live band, daredevil riders took to the skies and bikies from around the country exchanged pleasantries.
Guitarist and singer for Adelaide band The Giants Stuart Wood played at the event “countless times”.
“It had a fantastic vibe,” he said.
“The last gig we played there we played with Angry Anderson, Matt Taylor, Broderick Smith from The Dingoes, there was a countless number of Adelaide bands who made their name playing at Ponde.
“There was a licenced bar there and food and stalls, all different kinds of handy work and leather shops, a real lifestyle thing, everyone that went there had a great time.
“Obviously it was run by the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club who were also huge supporters of local music, it was a space and time which was wonderful and it is a shame that its still not going.
Because of its remote location the music could continue nearly all weekend long.
“The festival was a huge supporter of local music,” Mr Wood said.
“Ponde was one of the original big music festivals, it was similar to the Broadford Festival in Melbourne, the Bindoon Festival in Perth and also Darwin River Rocks.
“They were all innovative festivals and everyone else tried to copy them, they have had some of the best acts in Australian rock history performing at them.”
In the late 90s the festival tried to change its identity, moving away from the bikie aura which had made it a drawcard to a unique but loyal fanbase.
Instead of good old fashioned rock and roll, the organisers embraced rave and dance music culture.
In 2002, shortly after the “Final Event” festival farewell, Ponde hosted the Stardust Festival featuring electronic artists from around the world.
Adelaide music identity Rob Dunstan DJ’d at the event.
“It was a big festival, it was kind of huge,” he said.
“I was djing there in the chill out area, it was so dusty all my cds that I took up there got covered in dust were the never the same again.
“It was one of the last big festivals they had up there. I know others have tried to resurrect it but I don’t think they have been at the original site.
“Because it was a dance music festival there weren’t too many bikies and the area I was in was a chill out so it was all very laid back.”
After years of hiatus Ponde was again the site of sand racing and live music in 2018.
Earlier this week state and federal detectives converged on the site searching for evidence linked to the 2017 bashing murder of Mark Boyce and the 1999 Wright St shooting of three Rebels gang members.
Just before calling off the search, officers discovered the buried and burnt-out remains of a Toyota Echo which was used as a getaway car in the murder of Mr Boyce.
Earlier this year Hells Angels associate Joshua Roy Grant, 27, was found guilty of the murder of Mr Boyce.
Two other suspects are yet to be charged.