The Night a Sydney Crime Boss Was Executed in Port Kembla
It was a scene straight out of a gangster movie, but this was real life in Wollongong. On the night of January 23, 1979, standover man Charles "Chicka" Reeves met his end in a brutal execution that has remained unsolved for decades. His life was cut short by a single shotgun blast on a quiet road near Wollongong Golf Course, marking a dark chapter in the region's criminal history.
A Life of Crime and Violence
Charles Reeves was no stranger to the underworld. His criminal career began in his teens, with arrests for breaching licensing laws by carrying bags of alcohol. He survived a gunshot to the face from a police detective during a theft incident, dodging a shooting charge but serving time for the theft. In 1965, he received a three-year sentence for stabbing a man in a Waterloo dance hall, a spontaneous act after being threatened.
By the late 1970s, Reeves had set his sights on Wollongong, drawn by what local media dubbed "Wollongong's big crime dollars." The area was rife with illegal gambling operations, including an exclusive casino in Kembla Street and betting shops like "the Fortress" in Warrawong, known for its tight security and membership badges.
The Fatal Ambush
After drinking at a Port Kembla hotel, Reeves drove back to the ship Lysaght Enterprise, where he worked as a seaman. As he turned onto Port Kembla Road, a car pulled alongside his white Falcon station wagon. A shotgun was fired through the driver's window, shattering the glass and riddling his face with pellets. The Mercury described it as a "slick gangland slaying," executed quickly and without leaving evidence.
His car veered off the road, coming to rest near the golf course. A truck driver initially mistook the scene for a traffic accident, but the truth was far more sinister. Identification proved difficult due to the shotgun wounds, requiring forensic doctor Vincent Verzosa to spend nine hours reconstructing Reeves' face for a positive ID.
Unsolved Mysteries and Gangland Connections
An autopsy later revealed a bullet lodged in Reeves' ribs from a 1974 gunfight, highlighting his violent past. Police noted the ambush location was perfect—quiet and witness-free. Despite initial police denials linking the killing to gambling, it was widely believed that Barry McCann, owner of the Kembla Street casino, was responsible. McCann himself was later found dead in a Marrickville park in 1987, a victim of Sydney's gangland wars.
To this day, no one has been charged for Reeves' murder, and no usable information has emerged. The case remains a cold file, a testament to the secrecy and brutality of organized crime in 1970s Australia.
Legacy of a Gangland Era
This execution underscores the dangerous allure of illegal gambling operations in Wollongong during that era. Reeves' story serves as a grim reminder of the violence that often accompanies such activities. As authorities continue to investigate cold cases, the slaying of Charles "Chicka" Reeves stands out as a pivotal, yet unresolved, event in Australian crime history.
