Grand opening for Melbourne City's Harley Heaven

It was a dealership opening to remember, when the new Harley Heaven outlet in West Melbourne kicked up its heels on the night of Friday, May 12.

What was previously a furniture outlet and a wool store before that has been transformed into a glittering Mecca of all things Harley-Davidson, with the shop – a part of the Peter Stevens Motorcycles chain – boasting masses of space to showcase new models, clothing and accessories.

With plenty of brickwork and exposed steel beams, the shop adopts an 'industrial chic' vibe that seems to work particularly well with the Motor Co's offerings. For its official opening the shop also found room for a live band, a tattoo studio and a custom helmet paint shop – along with masses of people eager to inspect the new establishment.

Now located at 445 Spencer Street in West Melbourne, the shop hasn't shifted too far from its original location at A'Beckett Street in the heart of the city's CBD, where it shared the premises with Melbourne City Triumph (now itself located at Hoddle Street, Abbotsford).

The new shop joins Harley Heaven outlets in Ringwood and Dandenong in Melbourne's outer suburbs, plus premises in Adelaide and Sydney.

Paul Chiodo, Managing Director of Harley Heaven, Peter Stevens Motorcycles, PS Importers and Monza Imports, officially opened the dealership on stage and received a commemorative plaque from Nigel Keough, CEO of Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand, to mark the occasion.

Fitting finale
Attended by hundreds of Melbourne's Harley faithful, the evening also marked the finale of Harley-Davidson Australia's 100 Years Anniversary ride, which marked a centenary of Harley operations in this country.

Kicking off at Morgan & Wacker in Brisbane, the pair who got the ball rolling in Australia back in 1917, the ride visited a number of Harley-Davidson dealerships as it made its way south to Sydney and then Melbourne.

Bikesales joined the cavalcade from Harley-Davidson Australia's headquarters in Sydney for the run south – check back soon for a full rundown on the epic journey.

Leading a thundering pack of between 40 and 60 motorcycles was a piece of living Harley-Davidson history – none other than Bill Davidson, vice president of the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee and great grandson of William A. Davidson, co-founder of the marque.

Bill gave heartfelt speeches at each of the dealerships visited en route, as did Harley-Davidson ANZ chief, Nigel Keogh, and each of the Dealer Principals concerned.

The evening at Harley Heaven also highlighted Harley-Davidson's support of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. The organisation raises funds to aid research into this devastating disease, which also claimed Vince Chiodo – part of the family behind the Peter Stevens group – a number of years ago.

Vince's passing led to the establishment of the Vincent Chiodo Charitable Foundation, which on the night took great pleasure in presenting the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation with a cheque for $100,000.

Two brain cancer survivors, Paul McLean and Josh Chalmers (pictured above, far left and far right), took part in the 100 Years Anniversary ride. Both spoke of their traumatic experiences before the large crowd at Harley Heaven, where a new Harley-Davidson Street 750 was also donated on the night by Harley-Davidson Australia. No doubt it will raise a further tidy sum for the Foundation in due course.

That's in addition to the official Cure Brain Cancer raffle bike, a stunning blue Street Glide Special signed by Bill Davidson's legendary father, Willie G. Click here for more information on the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and here to purchase a commemorative 100 Years pin and be in with a chance to win the Street Glide Special.

Bill Davidson then took the opportunity on the night to swell the Foundation's coffers by auctioning the helmets worn by himself and his wife, Angie, on the ride down. After some furious bidding, the lids eventually went for a cool $5000 to Steve Emmans – a new and obviously keen convert who only purchased his first Harley-Davidson, a Softail Breakout, just two weeks earlier!

All that just left time for Bill to autograph anything from tanks and jackets to helmets, posters and more - hundreds lined up to meet the man, and not one went away disappointed.

Bright future
It was a fitting finale for the grand opening, the emotion of the night a testament to the magnetic pull the marque has had for its devotees here for a century. And with stunning dealerships like Harley Heaven, a prosperous future looks assured for Harley-Davidson in this country for many years to come.

Harley Heaven is located at 445 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, on the corner of Dudley Street. Call (03) 9348 6560 or visit www.peterstevens.com.au for more information.