Top Menu

Author Archive | Bob Byrne

Photo of the Largs Pier in 1982, taken by Ken Charlton from the Department of the Environment

The Pub That Rocked. The Largs Pier

It was in the ’70s and ’80s when the Largs Pier Hotel began to establish its reputation as an important meeting place for some of the truly great Aussie bands of the day, such as Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel, AC/DC, The Angels and Lobby Lloyd and the Coloured Balls. All played there in the […]

Continue Reading 35
An old fashioned valve mantel radio similar to the one we had at home in the 50s

When The Wireless Was King.

Remember when we all sat around the kitchen table each night to look at the wireless and listen to the radio serials? It’s almost impossible to imagine that scene now, a family sitting down together to watch the wireless, but most Baby Boomers will probably recall the scene from their own childhood, in the days before […]

Continue Reading 12
Photo supplied by Andrew Heslop. The old Red Hen at Semaphore

Recollections of Semaphore and the Train

When Andrew Heslop: Social Entrepreneur, Commentator & Community Advocate shared a photo and some recollections of growing up in Semaphore in the 70s on the ARW Facebook website late last year, it brought back some wonderful memories for many people. Andrew wrote; “My grandparents lived at Semaphore and I mostly grew up with them, listening […]

Continue Reading 14
Photo from National Library of Australia; nla.pic-an 24679811-v.•	The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Mr. J.S. Philp, watches Frank Patten of the Beulah Park Ampol service station refuel his car during the Handicapped Children's Week Appeal, South Australia, December, 1955 [picture]

Service Station Attendants, A Bygone Era

Remember when you would pull up at the local petrol station and an attendant would rush out to fill the tank, check your oil and tyre pressure and wash the windscreen? Then he or she would take the cash inside and bring back the change. Back then you did not even have to step out […]

Continue Reading 4
Photo by Frank Hall. The City Baths just before the building was demolished in 1969

Adelaide City Baths 1861-1969

Adelaide’s City Baths stood on the western side of King William Street behind Parliament House, from 1861 until 1969 when the Adelaide Swimming Centre (now Adelaide Aquatic Centre) was opened in the northern Parklands. The City Baths were then demolished to make way for the Festival Plaza, part of the Festival Centre complex. My memory […]

Continue Reading 23
Photo from Channel 9.  A publicity shot of Bobo, played by Hal Turner

Bobo the Clown

Bobo, played by Hal Turner, was a children’s character who first appeared on Channel 9 and grew to be such a popular character, that in the early 60s he was hired by new rival TV station SAS 10 and had the honour of hosting that channel’s first programme. Rex Heading, writing in the excellent book, […]

Continue Reading 32
Photo by ARW. On Golden Ponds was one of the first video cassettes we bought

“The Times, They are A-Changing”

Great article in today’s Advertiser from Petra Starke, about the demise of her local video store “Digital age has killed the video store”. She likened it to going to a funeral; “It felt like a funeral though, albeit a very casual one with popcorn and M & Ms for sale and the Rocky theme song as […]

Continue Reading 0
Kenny Peplow shared this photo; "Dad's FJ taxi on Henley Beach Road at Torrensville, around 1958-1959." The taxi was parked outside the local deli at the time.

Where Was Your Corner Deli?

If you’re a baby boomer who grew up in Adelaide,  just the mere mention of the words ‘corner deli’ will instantly bring back a flood of wonderful memories! There was a corner deli on almost every second corner in every suburb and they stocked everything from milk and bread to shoe polish and sewing needles. […]

Continue Reading 17
An anti-Vietnam War demonstration in Victoria Square, Adelaide, 1971. [National Library of Australia pic-vn4268191]

Adelaide’s Moratorium Marches

Did you take part in the moratorium marches in Adelaide from the late 1960s? The Vietnam War had its origins in the early 1950s when communist led North Vietnam attempted to re-unite with South Vietnam through military force. In 1960 the United States became involved in the conflict, firstly committing advisers and later sending in […]

Continue Reading 7