BARBER SHOP OR WELLNESS SPA?
Daryl Wight continues to intrigue us with his choice of articles drawn from the 1860s pages of the Geelong Chronicle. This article’s unnamed author eschews the prosaic and favours a richly evocative style that easily transports the reader to a different time and place. One may hope that any current attempts at Geelong gentrification are as cleverly memorialised as they were 160 odd years ago.
Francis Jones: Barber Extraordinaire
Mr Francis Jones commenced as a barber in Geelong in 1854. Seven years later, he bought a vacant shop in Ryrie Street, three doors down from his barber’s shop. His renovation of the old shop caught the eye of the Geelong Chronicle’s reporter:
“The old store has been metamorphosed under the wand of a young magician into something approaching an oriental palace of luxury. Mr Jones, the barber, for it is no use calling a decent and industrious tradesman out of his proper name, has shaved and cropped the public so closely that he has made as much money out of his suds and hair sweepings as had enabled him to purchase and renovate Mr Finch’s old South Sea Oil Company’s shop.”
“Where there was whale oil, there is now sweet-scented pomatum and otto of roses; clear water has displaced the fish fat; and a rather eccentric building, in which the public may enjoy the luxuries of a bath, a sharp razor, a steady hand and a clean towel has replaced the old oil depot.”
“The interior has been completely restored and decorated in a manner that reflects as much credit on the spirited barber as it does on the good taste of the designers. The bathing department is a suite of neat and commodious rooms in which the public can enjoy the luxury of hot, cold, plunge and shower baths. Every convenience has been provided for the comfort and privacy of the bathers. The design of both the interior and exterior arrangements is very good and reflects great credit to the architects, Messrs Young and Honey.”
Jones, advertising his removal to the renovated premises in June 1861, styled himself – Hairdresser and Perfumer. He highlighted that his establishment had private sitting rooms set apart for ladies. He also advertised a range of perfumery, brushes and combs for sale.
By September 1862, Jones had added medicinal baths to his premises. These sulphurous-vapor baths were at one time frequently prescribed in England to treat rheumatic complaints. In May 1863, he advertised steam baths, shampooing baths, Turkish and Russian baths, in addition to his usual suite of offerings.
Jones continued in his trade in Geelong for many years. Twice married, he died at his residence in Ryrie Street, in June 1907, aged 84 years. He was buried at the Eastern Cemetery.
Image: Bell Park in 1863: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab33386
