History of DHBC club colours and jerseys
Dr Marc Sebastian Rerceretnam. Yesteryear Heritage Researchers.

1908-1919

1919 - early 1930s

Early 1930s

1937

1945 - 2008

1952

2008 - present

2016 - 2022

1908-1919
Half chocolate brown and half dark blue

In the 1919 club minutes a solid 'navy blue' was unofficially adopted. However in the late 1920s the official DHBC jersey colours were 'black with blue collars and cuffs'. However I doubt if these colours were officially approved by the NSW Amateur Cyclists' Union (CNSW today). So they wouldn't have been able to use these colours officially.

If you examine the 1910 photo of club racers, the 1910 jerseys appear to possess 2 halves (correct me if I am wrong). The 1910 photo below may be a variation of this 2-colour combination. However in March 2018, I came across an old 1911 Redfern Bicycle Club program that identified Dark blue and Chocolate Brown halves as the official DHBC jersey colours. If you look at the 1910 picture they are probably wearing dark blue and choco brown halve jerseys.

1910 DHBC race team

1910 DHBC race team

1919 - early 1930s
Black with blue cuffs and collar

Club minutes stated that all DHBC riders and officials must wear navy blue ie. jerseys, blazers. It appeared there was no special requirement for purchase of a specific article of clothing. They appeared quite happy for anyone to wear any article of clothing of the specified colour, which they'd then accept as club attire.However there was a note several weeks later that authorisation had to be received from the 'Union' (NSW Cyclists Amateur Union, the predecessor of Cycling NSW).By December 1929, the 'Sydney Sportsman' newspaper (page 14) listed the official DHBC jersey colours as 'black with blue collars and cuffs'.http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166469890

Early 1930s
Red with fawn cuffs and collar

By the early 1930s, the official DHBC club colours were red and fawn (light brownish tan). I believe the cuffs of the sleeves, collar and possibly the shoulders were coloured fawn and the rest of the jersey in red. Similar to the jersey worn by this rider from the early 30s.

Unknown DHBC rider in the early 1930s

Unknown DHBC rider in the early 1930s

1937

DHBC group, some in red and fawn jerseys. Note they did not use the circled 'DH' logo on sleeves yet. Only used after c1945.

DHBC at Henson Park, 1936

DHBC Club in 1937

1945 - 2008
Red

During the war it became difficult to acquire different coloured material for garments, let alone cycling jerseys. It was then decided to dump the fawn colour and stick with a solid red jersey. This inspiration has also been attributed to the wife of club founder JC 'Charlie' Paris' wife, who wore an all red dress for a formal club function which inspired someone from the DHBC committee. This standard configuration of solid red jersey with circle 'DH' badge sewn onto both sleeves was used right up until about 2008, with the introduction of the standard red lycra jersey. Red become the mainstay of the club with many club rider's bikes and club bikes were painted red during this period.

Picture of DHBC riders in c. 1962.

Picture of DHBC riders in c. 1962. Note the use of different styles of jerseys. The 'DH' circle patch is sewn onto the sleeves and is the primary source of identification

1952
Red

1952 NSW 'juvenile' U16 Team Time Trial champions. Note their use of solid red jerseys with standard circle 'DH' logo sewn onto sleeve.

DHBC Road Juvenile Premiership Team 1952

DHBC Road Juvenile Premiership Team 1952

2008 - present
Red

Mike Clement, who joined the club in 2007, said that not all members rode with club jerseys before 2008. Riders wore whatever they had and some had their red jersey with sewn-on DH logo on their sleeves.

This early (pre-lycra) red jersey was bought from veteran club member Mick Mazza (1939-) at his Illawarra Rd (1961-c.1987), and later 255 Marrickville Rd bicycle shop (1987-2010). Mick Mazza's shop was closed in 2010, or concurrently from Alan 'Al' Sumner's (1936-) family owned and run hardware shop at 670 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill (opp the 7/11 petrol stn) up till mid-2016. Mick said he'd source jerseys from different suppliers or sometimes from Al. Mick also said the circled DH embroided logo badge was made by a local Marrickville company.

By 2008 the club introduced for the first time standardised lycra club jerseys. Previously any jersey of the correct colour could become club attire as long as it had the circle 'DH' logo sewn onto both sleeves. There have been 4 iterations of this since then. First in 2008 (Body-Torque, only 20 units made), a revised version (Champ-Sys & Nahlini) in 2009-10 and the current (Cuore) red and black version introduced in 2015. Various unofficial versions also exists, like the very rare 'white' with red text jersey produced in very limited numbers around 2009, the DHBC race jersey with the 1920s winged DHBC logo in 2013 (rediscovered in 2013 at Ashfield Council archives) and the very retro merino wool jersey produced by the DHBC Valley Wheelers in 2013 (Oregon Cyclewear) and again in 2017 (ElevenVelo).

2010 DHBC race team

2012 DHBC road team

2022 Sydney Shimano 1000 DHBC Juniors in race kit

2022 Sydney Shimano 1000 DHBC Juniors in race kit

2016 - 2022

DHBC have run a series of limited edition jerseys. The first was the thiel green Nick Rugrok memorial jersey in 2016 in recognition of Nick Rugrok who passed away on a club ride. The second two were designed by club member Andrew Harvey and include the 'party' version with a paisley pattern and the 'hills' jersey with mountain contour lines on it.

2016 Memorial ride for Nick Rugrok wearing limited edition green jersey

2016 Memorial ride for Nick Rugrok

DHBC Limited Edition Hills club Jersey 2022

DHBC Limited Edition Hills club Jersey 2022