Bangalow was just a quiet little country town, not at all wealthy, and decidedly rural in its nature.
There were four garages in the main street, which amounted to little more than a truck stop and which was, incidentally, also the highway back then.
There were no trendy cafes or restaurants, no galleries, boutiques or antique shops, as there are today.
But there was a motel and a caravan park, and if you were
hungry, well you had to be content with just a fish and chip shop and a bakery.
Hamilton took the time to document Bangalow streetlife with his camera, although that might be a misnomer.
Notice the deserted streets, the unkempt side-walks and the cracked pavements. How the times have changed…
Photos by Hamilton Du Lieu
Byron Street – opposite the school. The shop to the left was the local funeral parlour.
The Central Garage on the corner of Byron and Station Streets. The garage was on the site now occupied by the Summerland Credit Union. To the left you can just see the building that is now Bare Bones Art Gallery.
The Welcome to Bangalow sign, seen as you entered from the northern end of town. There is no caravan park now, and no motel. The motel is now the Medical Centre in Ballina Street, and the caravan park was over by the Showground.
Bangalow Public School, before the advent of the whipper snipper.
Overlooking the showgrounds. Today this bare hillside the photographer is standing on is covered with houses. What was once paddock is now Rankin Drive.
The view from the top of Byron Street looking down to the main shopping centre. On the right notice the garage, now occupied by Fish-Heads and the supermarket. The first building you can see on the right is the bakery, which was called Anthonys at the time, and is now Choux Choux.
The Convent, which was sold and moved to a private property on Friday Hut Rd.
Harry Snow was the carpenter, who had a shop at the top of Station Street, opposite the A&I Hall.
Later this building became the Hardware store in Station Street. It was occupied by Chester Snow who was a woodworker and furniture maker.
Top of Byron St, looking toward Granuaille Rd
Driving up Station Street, looking across Byron Street to the A&I Hall up the hill.
Standing in a very quiet Byron St, looking toward Station St intersection
Entering Bangalow coming from the south, Anglican Church ahead on the left
Standing in Granuaille Road, looking towards the Catholic Church and the new bridge being built over the railway tracks.
The little RSL Hall in Station Street may not have changed much, but notice the clear view from the RSL straight through to Abracadabra in Byron Street