Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. Aus.) a family relative; also attrib.

1980		B. Hornadge Aus. Slanguage (1989) 37: In an article in the Bulletin in 1981, Jan Serisier strung together a number of these linguistic abbreviations [...] ‘Bluie the cabbie, took a sickie. His wife was up in Rockie on hollies, visiting rellies’.
1992		K. Lette Llama Parlour 112: Going for IUD fittings [...] cleaning out the toilet bowl, and attending rello reunions.
1993		T. Winton Lockie Leonard: Scumbuster (1995) 94: Locki blinked. ‘Rellies?’.
2000		N. Barlay Crumple Zone 173: Every band member has their own little posse of normal people [...] even relos, who turn up, stand around for the first half of the set.
2001		K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 174: I’m going to have an ace time with my lovely wife [...] and all my soft, lairy mates and rellies.
2006		I. Yusuf MakePovertyHistory.com.au 26 June 🌐 They say that you can pick your friends but you can never pick your relos. [...] When you fight with the rels, it tends to be nasty.
2007		L. Redhead Cherry Pie [ebook] ‘All Andi’s rellos are in New Zealand’.
2007		L. Redhead Cherry Pie [ebook] ‘Some rich relllie died, and [he] inherited’.
2010		L. Redhead Thrill City [ebook] ‘Didn’t think I’d be able to come, what with my rellos’.
2013		‘Australia Day’ ad for MacDonalds cited crikey.com.au 10 Jan. 🌐 Steve from Paddo on a break from a reno / havin’ a chinwag with the visiting relos.
2023		M. Hyde Guardian 29 Aug. 🌐 [A]ll your significant rellies appear to believe your side of the story and are happy enough to give you a helping hand.