South East Queensland has a number of groups that bear many of the hallmarks of eshay culture, with Brisbane's Northside and Southside gangs having been linked to car theft and break and enters.
Typical hangout areas for eshays include bus stops, shopping centres, streets and train stations. "Gutter rap" (also known as "lad rap" due to its popularity among eshays) is a form of drill rap popular among eshays.
The locals accused eshays of stealing cars, mugging commuters at the train station and intimidating families and the vulnerable and said polite residents were helpless to stop them.
Dr Goldsworthy said the modus operandi of eshays include travelling in packs, behaving in an antisocial or intimidating manner towards other youths and adults, robbing and stealing and taking drugs.
basically, an eshay is the Australian equivalent of the British Chav. Like any subculture, eshays are defined by a set of values, for eshays these include: Outfits: Polo shirts, shorts, trackies, bumbags, speed dealers (90s style sunglasses) and puffer jackets. Brands: Nike, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Nautica.
Melbourne's eshay culture: Who are they and what do they do? Many Melburnians may never have heard of eshays before, but if you've spent time at a train station or parking lot, chances are you've run into one. Eshays are part of a subculture that's gripped Australian youth in recent years.
Eshays are said to have spread from Sydney's inner-city graffiti scene in the 1980s through Housing Commission estates and out into the suburbs. Teens embracing eshay culture had predominantly come from low socioeconomic backgrounds but the movement has also been picked up by private school boys.
Basically, Eshay's are those teenagers who primarily wear Nike, adidas, Gucci and Nautica. They spend their spare time tagging trains, scaring geriatrics and smoking billies in storm drains. With a strict uniform and distinct dialect, you shouldn't find it too hard to identify the local Eshays in your neighbourhood.
Eshay Language
Eshay's use a combination of modified pig Latin and swearing. Common phrases in their slang include illchay, meaning chill or relax; eetswa, meaning sweet or good; and adlay, meaning lad. Other words include ashcay (cash), gronk (an annoying person), and staunching (stealing from someone).
Eshays can typically be identified by wearing Nike TN trainers with polo shirts, puffer jackets, tracksuit pants or baggy shorts and baseball caps. Their favourite brands include Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Lacoste, paired with Nautica, Adidas, Under Armour and Ellesse.
'Eshays' will be sent to work on a remote outback station with no mobile data under a new plan to deal with youth crime. Teenage criminals, also known as 'eshays' will soon face a punishment that is hoped will scare them straight - an extended period with no mobile data.
It started out as Pig Latin for sesh or session and eventually became so common it just means "cool" now.
WA's top cop says “our focus is the crime, not the person” amid a wave of trouble allegedly carried out eshays across Perth. For those unfamiliar, the term “eshay” refers to an urban youth subculture favouring sports brands and which is often associated with criminal activity.
If you have no clue what an eshay is, I would best describe them as onions. They have layers, and every eshay is different. But to simplify: an eshay is a stereotypical term for an Australian who typically engages in stealing, drug-dealing, and other criminal activity.
Bogan (bow-gun) / Redneck
Britain has chavs, the United States has rednecks, and Australia has bogans. Often spotted in their traditional dress – flannelette shirt, footy shorts and thongs – with a cigarette in one hand, a bourbon in the other, with a mullet shading the tattoos on their neck.
The Australian word "eshay" is a term used to describe someone who is lazy or slow. It can also be used as a derogatory term to describe someone who is not contributing positively to a situation.
Fun fact! 'Struth' is a contraction of the words 'God's truth'.
Bogan: Australian slang for a person whose speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour are unrefined or unsophisticated.
After making its debut on our shores in 1998, the shoe – widely known as the TN - was soon adopted by problematic youth cultures and became the footwear of choice for “eshays”, groups of young men known for antisocial behaviour.
The word “eshay” is a Pig Latin derivative of the word sesh or session (an Australian term for hanging out). Eshay is mostly associated with the Australian rap and rambunctious youth scene — or simply, the Australian equivalent of the British chavs.
Historians and etymologists are still unsure as to precisely where the term bogan originated. Some research suggests the term originated from specific areas around Melbourne's western suburbs during the 1980s. Others believe it comes from communities living near the Bogan River in rural NSW.
Often sporting bum bags, polo shirts, mullets, tracksuit pants and sneakers, eshays are often groups of young men associated with drug-dealing, gang violence and harassment. People belonging to the youth subculture tend to wear sportswear labels including Adidas, Fila, Nike TNs and Lacoste.
But like COVID or any other irritating virus, the youth subculture which is believed to have originated in Sydney's western suburbs has crept its way across the border. Even if you've never heard of an eshay, you've probably seen one.
Wannabe teen gangsters known as eshays are wreaking havoc on the streets of Adelaide, committing “mindless crimes,” as their way to say “f*** the system.” The term eshay first originated in the 1980s to describe lower-class youths in public housing who intimidate, rob and deal drugs.