Owners past and present: Kym Biddle, Amelia Gall, Deb McGuffie and Loris Day. Photo: Meredith Tolliday.
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Arcade Hair Design is a cute, quirky salon that has a rich history in Benalla.
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Current owner Kym Biddle, who purchased the salon in November 2015 from Amelia Gall, is celebrating its 70th year of operation.
“I was also Amelia’s apprentice,” Ms Biddle said.
With Benalla being the tight-knit community it is, Ms Biddle has been able to find out most of its history, but might need some assistance from the public to fill in the gaps.
“Amelia purchased the salon in 2007 from Debbie McGuffie,” Ms Biddle said.
“Debbie purchased the salon from Loris Day in 1986, and Loris purchased the salon in 1975 from Helen Tipit.
“Amy Ellen Tippet, known as Mardi purchased the salon in 1957, I think, from Rene Sheply.”
Ms Biddle needs that element of its history to be confirmed. She also believes there might have been one owner before Ms Tipit.
Blast from the past: Lois McCabe, Lorraine Thomas and Alice Love outside Arcade hair — date unknown.
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With such a rich history Ms Biddle learns more about the salon on a regular basis.
“(I know) Rae Spencer was an apprentice at the salon in the 1960s and has an original certificate and photos from then, which are just fabulous,” Ms Biddle said.
She also has a photo of three ladies taken around 1952-1953 which shows Lois McCabe, Lorraine Thomas and Alice Love at the salon.
It was brought in by Ms Thomas’s son Tony who wanted to show it to Ms Biddle.
"Tony came to the salon a year or so ago,“ Ms Biddle said.
“l had never met Tony before and he had the photo of his mum when she worked in the salon. That entrance is still the same entrance that’s there today.
“Tony’s mum was hoping to visit the salon before she passed away, which was not long before Tony bought the photo in.
“They had no idea the salon was still there, or trading, until visiting Benalla.
“When Tony called in (he) told me his mum’s story and showed me the photo.
“I was instantly drawn to the history of the business and felt so privileged to learn just some of the salon’s history.
“I had the photo enlarged ... and have it on a canvas on show in the salon.”
As well as its connection to previous owners and apprentices it also has some very long-term customers.
“We still have clients that are in their 90s that are still having their hair done today that were coming into the salon in 1950s and 1960s,” Ms Biddle said.
The salon survived the 1993 floods in Benalla and Debbie has some great photos of that time.
If you can help Ms Biddle find out more about the salon’s history you can ring the salon on 5762 2036.
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