Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Aus.) something, without a specific name, that has been ‘thrown together’ or ‘knocked up’.

1906		Sun. Times (Perth) 20 May 4/7: These coves worry me. They fetch me along all sorts of fakuses that I don’ know nothin’ about.
1911		E.S. Sorenson Dissertation of Travellers in Life in the Aus. Backblocks 71: ‘Goreny grease on yer, mate?’ he asked. ‘Th’ bloomin’ squeak o’ this fakus [i.e. ‘a brandy-box on four wooden wheels’] is enough to give a cove th’ blues.’.

2. deceptive acts that contribute to a confidence trick.

1963

A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 208: Maggie had rehearsed me well; I found myself going through all the fakus.