This is the original Abracadabra advertisement that turned a little store into a local icon.

1981

The biggest bunch of baskets…
Little Alice / Tracy

The famously catchy Abracadabra jingle was written by the store’s owner, Hamilton Du Lieu, who gave up a very successful career in advertising for a better lifestyle on the Far North Coast of NSW.

1982

Abracadabra in Bangalow…
Little Alice / Tracy

In the early years, footage from previous years was recycled and incorporated with new footage.

1983

Biggest bunch of baskets…
Jordan / baskets / Tracy

Notice that in the eighties there were many versions of the jingle, but a decade later two of these had emerged as clear favourites and the others were dropped.

1983

Music intro…
Jordan / baskets / Tracy

You will notice that as well as the biggest bunch of baskets, back then we were a second-hand book store and also a hairdresser salon

1983

Abracadabra in Bangalow…
Jacqui / drop / Tracy

In 1984 a second TV commercial was filmed for Abracadabra in Bangalow. This advertisement ran until 1986.

1984

Biggest bunch of baskets…
Jordan / push / big vase

It would be hard to find a person who has grown up on the north coast of NSW who could not sing the famous Abracadabra jingle.

1986

Its a great show…
Jim / Tshirt / Melita

This is another version of the 1986 TV commercial which ran on our screens until 1988

1986

Love to see you down here…
Becca

Yet another variation on the Abracadabra theme song. This one is perhaps a lesser known theme

1986

We are Abracadabra in Bangalow…
Jordan / popup / laundry

Same as 1983 but alternative jingle

1986

Biggest bunch of baskets…
Jacqui / drop / Tracy

The story behind the jingle and the ad can be seen here in a little movie that uses 8mm film footage from the early days of Abracadabra

1987

Abracadabra in Bangalow…
Jim / Tshirt / Melita

From 1987 onward, there are only two jingles that are being used

1987

Abracadabra in Bangalow…
Becca

1987

Abracadabra in Bangalow
Jordan / popup / laundry

1988

Abracadabra in Bangalow…
Becca T shirt

1988

Biggest bunch of baskets…
Ali / shoestring

Until the 1990s, there were only two TV stations to choose from: the ABC, or NRN11/RTN8, known locally as 11/8

1988

version 3: Abracadabra in Bangalow…

If you were growing up on the Northern Rivers in the 70s and 80s, you saw our ads on 11/8 at breakfast time, while you watched cartoons.

1988

version 5: biggest bunch of baskets…