Tattoo initiation trend continues for Bra Boys on Sydney’s beaches

Having grown up on the sands of Maroubra Beach, they are now part of the Bra Boy “family” – with the group’s tattoo seeing their names added to the list of those to dominate the beach.

It’s a scene reminiscent of an American college frat initiation.

Standing around outside a Surry Hills tattoo parlour, a group of about two dozen men take turns slapping the bare backs of their friends who just minutes earlier became the latest to have “Bra Boys” inked on their skin.

There are “oohs” and “ahhs” from onlookers as the sound of each hand slapping a back turns the skin more and more red – but for those on the receiving end, it is worth it.

Having grown up on the sands of Maroubra Beach they are now officially part of the “Bra Boy” family, with the tattoo adding their name to the list of locals, talented surfers and troublemakers to dominate the beach.

A new generation of “Bra Boys” show off the tattoos that have become common place for many young men growing up in Maroubra. Picture: Supplied

Tattoos with phrases such as “Bra Boys”, “My Brother’s Keeper” and “2035” – the Maroubra postcode – are common for longtime locals including former Bondi Rescue lifeguard Jesse Polock (left) and his mate Max Palmier (right). Picture: Supplied

“Welcome to the family my brothers,” longtime Bra Boy and reformed prisoner Dean Clarke wrote next to photos of the newly tattooed members.

The Bra Boys first began making headlines in the 2000s after involvement in an underworld killing.

Longtime local and underworld heavy Anthony Hines was found dead at the bottom of the Maroubra cliffs in 2003, and Bra Boy Jai Abberton was charged with his murder.

Clarke had no involvement in the killing.

The social media posts of Clarke and the latest breed of recruits are a long way from the headlines in early 2000s that thrust the Bra Boy into the public spotlight.

While Jai was ultimately cleared of murder on self-defence grounds, his brother and Bra Boys co-founder Koby Abberton was convicted of perverting the course of justice.

The incident cost Koby his professional surfing career and multiple major sponsorship deals, however it led to the documentary “Bra Boys: Blood is Thicker Than Water” narrated by Hollywood legend Russell Crowe.

Koby Abberton told The Daily Telegraph there was a simple reason behind the “Bra Boys” tattoos.

Bra Boys co-founder Koby Abberton (left), who now lives in Bali with his wife Olya and their son Makua, said the group of Maroubra locals were simply “family”. Picture: Supplied

“We (are) family,” he said.

“We grow up together and we (are) proud of our brothers.”

Despite the continued allegiance to one another, a longtime Bra Boy who did not want to be named said the idea portrayed in the documentary – of a group who love partying, surfing and fighting – was “massively outdated”.

“Years ago when that movie came out, that was the worst thing that could have happened,” he said.

“If you put a lot of things from over a number of years together and you put it into a movie, it makes it look like: ‘Oh my god, they’re out of control’.

“I know all the Bondi boys, the Bronte boys, all the boys who stay in their own little areas, they had worse maniacs than we’ve had … they just didn’t make a documentary about it.”

Infamous for their domination of the waves and sand, the Bra Boys are often easy to spot.

If not “Bra Boys” in block letters, there could easily be a “My Brother’s Keeper” or a “2035” – the Maroubra postcode – tattoo.

“Its got bigger and bigger, and of course you’ve got young guys who want to get it,” one Bra Boy said about the tattoo trend. Picture: Supplied

Some members have all three.

But even for longtime Bra Boys, just why the young men who grow up on the sand and streets of Maroubra are so close, is still not totally clear.

“Now, I don’t have the tats, because I hate tats, but my brothers have them … and its got bigger and bigger, and of course you’ve got young guys who want to get it,” one said.

“I can’t explain to be honest what (the bond) is, but not many people move away.

“Everyone knows each other … it‘s like a little country town in some ways, but you’re living right in Sydney.”