Maitland: Bikie tensions rise as Hells Angels storm Gladiators clubhouse

There are fears of a fresh bikie turf war as police investigate reports of dozens of Hells Angels forcefully taking over a rival’s clubhouse before expelling gang members who failed to “patch over”.

The Gladiators clubhouse at Horseshoe Bend, Maitland, during a Raptor raid in 2022. (File picture)

Police remain on heightened alert amid fears of a fresh bikie war breaking out after dozens of Hells Angels stormed the clubhouse of the Gladiators in what underworld sources have called a “hostile takeover”.

The confrontation, which occurred at the Gladiators headquarters at Horseshoe Bend near Maitland last Thursday and saw dozens of Hells Angels descend on the property, has prompted some Gladiators members to “patch over” to the rival gang while others have been expelled from the clubhouse.

The simmering tensions took another twist on Wednesday morning when a burning car was driven into the gates and shed of the clubhouse, which sits on the banks of the Hunter River and has long been the headquarters to Australia’s oldest motorcycle gang.

Police are investigating whether the car fire was a retaliatory strike and were waiting to speak to a Gladiators member, who was being treated in hospital for burns.

Both police and underworld sources say they had heard the Hells Angels had performed a “soft” takeover on Thursday but police were also investigating whether shots were fired.

The Gladiators were established in 1960 and their main headquarters had remained in Maitland. (File picture)

Underworld sources also reported that many Hells Angels were wearing balaclavas and were armed during the raid which, they said, saw the Hells Angels take ownership of the site.

They claimed that up to 50 Hells Angels had stormed the clubhouse before declaring the gang was now under their complete control.

The Raptor Squad raided the clubhouse in 2022. (File picture)

The move has shocked the Hunter’s bikie community, with the Gladiators known as a club which had largely kept to themselves and remained a presence within Maitland and surrounding areas – and a few isolated pockets on the north coast and north west NSW – since they were founded more than 60 years ago.

Despite violence breaking out across the Hunter and beyond during several turf wars in the past 20 years, the Gladiators remained relatively quiet, although a former president was shot multiple times in the back while riding his bike at North Rothbury, just outside of Maitland, in 2012.

“This changes everything,” one underworld source said.

“The Glads always kept to themselves. They had their patch and they were happy with their patch.

The Gladiators clubhouse was visited by members of the Hells Angels last Thursday (File picture)

“No one really knows what is going to happen next.”

It is understood other bikie gangs have made contact with the Gladiators to offer support as the Hells Angels appear to be looking at continued expansion of their footprint outside large metropolitan areas.

The club’s “Steel City” chapter, based in Newcastle, was created several years ago and it is understood this new Hells Angels chapter at Maitland will be known as the “Hunter Crew”.

It is understood that members at other historical territories of the Gladiators, including at Grafton and Gunnedah, were also becoming increasingly concerned about what may occur next.

Senior police declined to comment, although it is understood that Raptor Squad North as well as multiple police districts were keeping a close eye on the developments and simmering tensions.

The Gladiators have owned their clubhouse and the land on Portland St at Horseshoe Bend for over 30 years.

Before last Thursday, it had taken its biggest hits by several police raids, including in 2014 when officers stripped the clubhouse bare as part of a statewide crackdown on bikie clubhouses.