Milk Bar Memories

There’s no doubt that the humble local milk bar has played an important (and at times laugh-out-loud fascinating) part in our social and cultural history. Below you’ll find a delightful mix of memories that highlights the true cultural value of our oral history, which, if we are not careful to record, will disappear as fast as the physical presence of the milk bars and cafes themselves have seemed to. 

There are stories about drinks and desserts, but also dares, first dates, dreams, and dancing.  Milk bars it seems, have provided both a collective contribution to our culture and an assortment of specific individual experiences and memories as varied as the flavours of milkshakes they sold. 

We are very grateful to those people who have taken the time to share their stories below, and of course we would love to add your memories – from any time in history. If you would like to contribute a story, picture or other milk bar or café memorabilia, please drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

From cherished childhood rituals to tragic tales of embarrassment, a little bit of fun to the formation of lifelong partnerships, I have enjoyed reading about the antics of the authors of these stories and I hope you do too. 

Jason King
Milk Bar Crusader
(AKA the Bells Owner)

Bells Milk Bar

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The Baby Maker
“In the days of mini skirts and mustang cars it was a regular thing to stop off at “Dingy’s” … Our favourite was Coffee Royal.  Les Bell claimed that his coffee royals were the reason we had our son.”    Anonymous

The place to go for a milkshake
“No matter which side of the line of lode you lived on in the 1960s Bells was the only place to go for a milkshake.  Forty years later … The Hillside open air theatre has burned down, the Drive-In gave in to the tumbleweeds, and the Central Pool is full of dirt … but Bells is still the place to go for a milkshake.”    Jen Thompson    

Wedding Night Jitters
“We married on the 6th October 1962 and after the reception being a rather young and naive girl I was putting off the inevitable wedding night at ‘the Astra”.  We came to Bells for a drink.”  L Adams.

At The Mad House (movies)
“We would rush, run and yell our way to Bells to get spiders in cartons and rush back again hoping not to miss the next show, which was always difficult to hear with the ice rattling in cartons and all the slurping of ice cream.”  Lesley   

Basketball Thief
“Our basketball team would always meet here (at Bells) after a game… Mr Bell would sneak and steal our basketballs (which we had left lying around) and swap them for oranges, causing much carry-on.”  Lesley

Teary Walk Down Memory Lane
“The nostalgic feeling brought me to tears on entering this wonderful milk bar.  Mum would bring us here for spiders … It’s as beautiful to come (here) today as it was for us as children.  Thank you for still being here and bringing back all my wonderful memories.” Sandra Whiting (nee Lanthois)   

Hot Summer Nights
“On hot summer nights we would come from North BH to Bells for a cold drink; often we were in our pajamas and ready for bed … The milk bar rivaled any city night club for the number of people here on those nights.” Cathie Lincoln-Bouts

               
Paper Straw Heaven
“We couldn’t see over the counter but Les reached over to greet us.  I remember the soda fountain, the clash of ice, big dollop of ice cream, the cardboard container - Mavis would slide a sliver bar over and clamp it shut and then a paper straw – we would be in heaven.” Lynette Smith

All Weather Treats
“Hot nights were all spent at Bells sipping on a lime spider!  Summer days we would scrounge around for money and head for Bells for a strawberry nut sundae.  In winter Les developed a Hot Milkshake!!  The only thing was, the wax straw melted before you finished the drink.” Lynette Smith

Rewards
“If I sat on the counter and told Les a nursery rhyme, he would reward me with a clinker or fantale.” Alison Colbert Roell   

Hockey Fizz
“In the late 1950s a group of friends and I used to descend on Bells Milk Bar after playing hockey on Saturday mornings.  Bells strawberry fizz was a taste sensation!  We enjoyed the newly renovated décor and loved the singing and dancing fruit on the wall.”  Judy van Ruth

Tribute
“We couldn’t go home without coming to Bells.  You see, we buried a dear friend today, and as a tribute to her we’ve shared a Milkshake at Bells.  She so often talked about “The good milkshakes back home at Bells”.   M&J White                   

Special Treats
“As a young child, I would come to Bells with my twin brother and mother for a special treat.  I would have a refreshing Lime Spider bubbling and fizzing, topped with creamy ice cream.  I would admire the artwork and dream of flying about space in my space craft!” Andrew White

So many Memories
“I remember coming here (1950s) when I was little ( I am now 56).  I lived in Eyre Street and walked past every day on the way to Alma School.  On a hot night it was a treat to come to Bells and have a Creme Soda Spider and you had to queue out into the street,  When I started work, I worked next door in Dicksons.  I remember Mr and Mrs Bell – especially Mrs Bell with all her different hair dos.  All different colours.  This visit has brought back so many memories.” Gail (Florence) Rollitt.     

Quite a Queue
“We remember coming to Bells 1963 – 1965.  There was quite a queue outside waiting for spiders made by Mr. and Mrs. Bell.” Julie and Bob    

Little Green Mini
“My mother would bring us to Bells for a drink after school.  It would be stinking hot and we’d roll up in a little green mini.  In we’d walk through the multi-coloured fly strips and wait patiently to be served.  It was a very busy place on a hot day!” Anonymous

The Wedding Venue. 
“1970s… We took the kids for their Saturday afternoon treat – a Spider.  We had to compete with the full wedding party ordering their spiders after the ceremony.  Bride, veil, Bridesmaids, tuxedoes.” Ann Evers.

Wedding Party
“In 1973 I was bridesmaid for a school friend Annette, who was married at Wesley Church.  Between her wedding and the Reception (at the CWA Hall), Annette insisted on coming out the South for a “Pearly Bells Milkshake”.  The bridal cars were parked in Patton Street while we, all dressed in our wedding outfits, enjoyed our milkshakes.  (Luckily there were no mishaps on our clothes)”   Estelle Vincent

Family Tradition
Ever since I was a baby my parents have brought me to Bells.  My parents were born and grew up here in Broken Hill.  However I was born in Sydney.  It has been a long standing tradition to visit Bells and whenever we come back we can’t wait to drop in for a spider.  I’m now 15 and have told all my friends about Bells.  We are now on a week trip to Broken Hill and have already been to Bells twice.  Rebecca McKinnon       

Better at Bells
“Great to see nothing has changed!! Our parents ran a small shop opposite the Hospital, which sold in part, ice creams and milkshakes.  Somehow these always tasted better when we trekked over to Bells!!!  PS – Our first taste of choc chip and strawberry ripple ice cream exotic!!!” Fran Millard       

Interesting Flavours
“I remember coming to Bells when I was in High School.  I used to come to Bells with my first boyfriend and he used to buy me huge ice creams that I somehow managed to finish.  Bells always had the most interesting flavours!!” Luigina Webb   

Out the South
“Since I met my wonderful local Broken hill girl Katrina, she has raved about Bells Milkshakes, Thickshakes and Spiders.  Every trip up to the “Hill” she has tried to con me to go out to the South and have a Bells treat.  Each time I have refused.  This Easter 2007, I have finally given in to my now beautiful wife, and we are here.  This is my first Peppermint Crisp, but it won’t be my last.  Cheers to the Bells crew.”  Steven DeCorso      

 
School Favourite
“My brother and I enjoyed Mrs Bell’s Icypoles regularly as well as the delicious milkshakes and lollies sold in the shop.  My father had a shop down the street – ‘JM Turner Storekeeper’.  Mrs Bell was a favourite of all the children at the Alma Public School!” Milton Turner       

The Best Spiders Ever
“In the late 1950s (about the time the fruit murals were put in) Kay and Peter were courting.  Kay was a teacher at Alma School & Peter worked at his father’s pharmacy in the city.  Wednesday afternoons the shops closed so Peter used to pick up Kay after school and come to Bells for a spider.  They were married in 1960 and left B.Hill in 1962.  They return regularly, with grown up family and always make a point of returning to Bells for the Best Spiders Ever.”   Peter & Kay Anson               

Sunday Nights After Church
“As a young person in my twenties (in the early 60s) I remember we came here on Sunday nights after church with the South (Central) M.Y.F. group.  We had a good time talking, drinking your famous milkshakes, laughing and joking about our young lives we lived in Broken Hill… Now that I live in Adelaide when I return to Broken Hill I always visit Bells Milk Bar.”   Daryl Smitheram           

Unpopular Spider Spill
“In 1969 as a 17 year old, me and my mates would come out to Patton Street every Saturday morning to check out the latest clothes in Rudolph Alagich’s shop then come down to Bells for a Kola spider.  My claim to fame was tipping my newly made spider down the front of Mavis Bell and all over the counter.  I wasn’t very popular at Bells for quite a while.” Wayne Bartley

Name Your Flavour
“I was born in Broken Hill and we all grew up with Mr Bell's Milkshakes and Green Lime and Kola Spiders. We loved coming every chance we got. Mr Bell was such a cheeky man who used to stir us all but he would always make any flavour milkshake we could think of. He liked a challenge. Lots of lovely memories.”  E. Harris

Simple & Fun Days
“In the early 1960's when the boys in our Lane St Methodist Youth Group got cars we used to like to come out the south to Bells for the great milkshakes and spiders. It was the height of our social life - things were simple and good fun in those days.” Margaret Howse

Spiders After the Game
“With my baseball playing boyfriend after the game in the late 1950's. Just loved those spiders.” B Gilles

Suicide Hairdo
“Mrs Bell was renowned for her perfectly coloured hair which changed colour quite regularly. They claimed she did all the work on her hair and hence the nickname "suicide" - Dyed by her own hand.” Anonymous

Worth the Wait
“I remember visiting Bells as a teenager (about 1949) and standing in a queue quite long but worth the wait to have a green lime with ice cream.”  Barb Spangler                     
 

Hanging Out at Bells
“I was born in Broken Hill in 1951 and attended Alma public school where my father Ray Pulbrook worked as a school teacher.  I remember Dad always bringing us to Bells Milk Bar for a delicious ice cream or nut sundae.  As a child I loved hanging out at Bells or playing in Patton Park on weekends and after school.  Those were the days!” John Pulbrook.       

Standing Room Only
“Used to frequent here in the 40's, 50's loved the sodas and banana milkshakes. Sundays were standing room only.” N Astermann (nee Bottom)

Passing on the Childhood Memories
“My husband and I and our girls have been living in WA. For 11 years everytime the heat is on we say ‘could do with a Bells Spider at this time’. We love bringing our girls here to have the same tastes and memories of our childhood we now share with them.” Sharyn Mathews

Baby Celebrations
“We are from the Gold Coast and had heard about the famous Bells Milk Bar, being huge milkshake lovers we drove through the town and had the true awesome experience for ourselves before continuing through to Sliverton for 2 nights. We then had an ultrasound back in Broken Hill and just had to stop @ Bells for a milkshake to celebrate that we are having a baby!! The "Jamaican Surprise" Rocks!”  Ryan & Simone Knight           

Walk Home Via Bells
“During the hot summers in the late 1950's I used to walk home from Alma school to No. A Cottage on Zinc Corp Lease via Bells. The lime spider was my favourite and it still tastes the same. I was always fascinated by the cartoons of dancing fruit and drinks.”
Coral Fountain

Last Slurp Ecstasy
“In the 50's as a child/teenager I would come to Bells - no specific memory- more that the flavours of milkshakes - the last delicious slurp - fizzes and spiders- similar- the ecstasy! and then the agony of waiting to come again because we weren't "spoilt" and the delights were infrequent. It is therefore "fabulous" to come back now!” Anne Best

Scorching Summer Days
“I was born in Broken Hill in 1987 and spent the first ten years (the most formative years of my life) here. I still remember taking drives out to the south on scorching summer days (bottoms sticking to the car seats) and always ordering a vanilla milkshake or a spider. The milkshakes are still as good and it is awesome to see that it has survived.” Karlie Peipman

A Special Place For Broken Hillites
“I used to live just a block away on the corner of Comstock and Hebbard streets. My father was a GP - Dr Ronai, who lived here with my mother, Lotte Ronai, for a long time. We knew Les and Mavis Bell well, and their German Shepherd dog. This is the first time I've returned to Broken Hill since my parents left and it's great to see Bells looking in such good condition and how I remember it. It has always been a special place for Broken Hillites.”     Kay Ronai

Worth the Trip
“We have travelled 1000km to try your Milkshakes. We were not dissapointed with what we got. Fantastic shakes and flavours. Nut Sunday excellent as well. We will be buying your flavours and would recoment to all.”  Pollock and Yeats

First Time
“I had never been to a Milk Bar (I am 12) and this was the best! I had a blue raspberry spider, totaly awesome :)” Liam

Bells Before Relatives
“Whilst my mother was pregnant with me she craved for 'Bells' Ginger beer spiders and being residents at the time she drank them regularly. As a kid, I only liked Kola spiders. As an adult, I too love ginger beer spiders and as an ex-pat of Broken Hill I must return to the Hill for a visit to Bell's for a spider and perhaps a visit to a relative, but Bell's first.”
Ann Montgomery (nee Shirley)

Spider Treat
“When I was a child what a treat it was to have a spider, as it was for my children who when they return to the "Hill" never miss having a spider from Bells as do other friends and relations when they return to the "Hill". My wife and I (now 56 years old) still come to Bells for a spider or a beautiful cappuccino.”  Paul Kersten

Best Milkshake Bar in Australia
“When I was a child Bells was always a treat and it still is. We used to walk several blocks in the evening for a cool spider in summer. Whenever we come back we never miss the opportunity to come in for a milkshake, and we are now creating a new generation of Bells lovers. My parents and I still talk about Bells as the best milkshake bar in Australia.”  Linda Whittington

Spider Reviver
“I once fainted out the front on a hot summers day - Les Bell brought me into the cool and gave me a free spider – I’ve never forgotten his kindness.” Linda Whittington

One ‘I Don’t Know’ Coming Right Up
“In the mid fifties, my friend and I rode our bikes from the North to the South on a hot summery day. We arrived at Bells, very sweaty and 'exhausted' and Mr Bell asked what I'd like. 'I don't know' was my reply and he said 'no problem!'. Soon her presented us with two 'Idon't knows' and they were the most delicious fizzy drinks we'd ever tasted. We made many subsequent visits to Bells and always enjoyed an 'I don't know' before we faced the ride back to the North. It was months before we discovered that that mysterious drink was really a strawberry fizz! Still a favourite today, more than 50 years later.”  Jean Fotheringham (nee Edgar)

Movies, Fish ‘n Chips, and a Spider
“I used to come to Bells after the Saturday matinee - the picture theater is no longer there, it was in 1959. I would get fish and chips up the street and come in here for a spider with my mates before going home for tea. Now I'm 55 and still coming here.” Allen George

Two For You, Three For Me…
“As a child my sister and I used to share a nut sundae and a spider. We would each take turns to have 2 sips of the spider. It was over 20 yrs later in the seventies that she told me that every time it was her turn to have 2 sips she actually used to have 3. Bells had no regular hours but within 15 min of opening the place would be full.” Yvonne Hine

Bells Jealousy
“It was late 1961 when my sister had a birthday party at Bells. As a four year old, with my twin Brother, we joined the fun with mum. I was a little jealous that it wasn’t my party!” David Lyster

Memories of Bells!
“Les and Mavis owned the original business and recipes! Les and Mavis had no children but they owned a big black German Shepherd (Alsatian) called Sation! Les would always put a little extra on top of all the drinks or ice creams (a freckle or chocolate buddy).” Dennis and Alexis Kileen

Ice Cream Basin
“I lived in Patton street 40years ago. My memory is being sent to bells with a basin, to be filled with as many scoops of ice cream for the family dessert. If Les was in a good mood, I had to open my mouth to accept a spoonful of malt powder- result being: I was made speechless! But the flavour I will always remember!” Cynthia Aartsen

Other Broken Hill Milk Bars

What an Impression
“There used to be a big cafe in Argent St (Broken Hill) called 'Glenn's'. It was very popular with the young people. One night my uncle took his girlfriend in there for a drink. He was anxious to impress her and kept up a running conversation. In the middle of a story he paused for dramatic effect and flung his arm out just as a waitress came past with a tray of milkshakes. Uncle's hand caught the end of the tray and upended all the milkshakes on the floor. He impressed his girlfriend but not in the way he intended.” Grace Hawes

Broken Hill Jukeboxes
“I remember a visit to Broken Hill from Sydney in about 1966 as an exchange with the Catholic Girls School. I visited a milk Bar with jukeboxes in each cubicle. I remember the milk bar as being large and the jukeboxes were great then! The milk bar that I attended was in the main part of town. Great Memories!” P. Knowles


Sydney / Other New South Wales

Coogee Beachside Spider
“At Coogee Beach (Sydney) in the 1950s there was a famous milk bar called Stone’s Milk Bar.  It was next to the Coogee Aquarium, (of the one armed shark fame) and all the local teenagers gathered there.  They were particularly famous for their Stone’s Ginger Beer which they brewed themselves.  Stone’s was owned for many years by the same family.  My best memory is a ginger beer and ice cream soda after a great say swimming at the beach.”  Tina Sharpe

Fit to fill a bullock
“Central Café in Queanbeyan NSW serves traditional milkshakes filled to the top with fresh cold milk. Also served there are meals “fit to fill a bullock”.  The dare is that if one person can eat their mixed grill the person does not have to pay for it.” Peter Lord   

Hot Vanilla Malted
“A hot vanilla malted milkshake after a game of hockey.  I come from Brookwell and our café was named Nick’s Café.  Also a banana special with flavouring, malt and nuts.  Brookwell is 3000 feet above sea level and we get snow in winter – distance from Sydney 300kms.”  Jan Broke   

Saturday morning at the local
“The ‘boys’ in Tumut NSW used to meet after Saturday morning work at the “local” for a Bodgie’s Blood.  My folks wouldn’t let me work or hang out with my mates so the few times I snuck out and rode down into town were pretty special.  The Bodgies Bloods bring back many memories – Thanks Bells!”  Robert Hawkes   

Ice Cream in a Dish
“Back in the early to mid fifties it was a treat for me as a youngster to enjoy on “ice cream in a dish” for one shilling.  It consisted of 2-3 scoops with your favourite flavouring and topped with sliced banana and chopped nuts.  The milk bar was part of the Odeon Picture Theatre in Collaroy (NSW) where I spent my childhood.  The glass dish used was a long sundae dish with a thumb holder on one end.” Mrs. Wendy Nobbs               

Tutti Frutti
1 small scoop vanilla icecream
1 small scoop fruit salad
Small layer green jelly
Drizzle of strawberry syrup
1 scoop vanilla icecream
1 small scoop friut salad
Small layer red jelly [raspberry, strawberry or port wine]
Drizzle of lime syrup
Top with 1 scoop of vanilla ice-cream
Drizzle with a small amount of red or green syrup and sprinkle with mixed nuts.
Serve with a long spoon and wafer.
Fruit salad must be fine. I used to get this Tutti Frutti at a Maitland Milk Bar. A Taggart

Wax Straw Slurp
“When I was a little girl I lived in a shop on the corner of Arthur and Holden Sts in Ashfield. Every Saturday afternoon we'd go to the Movie Matinee at Kings Milk Bar next to Kings' Cinema. We would have waffles and chocolate milkshake - in a large silver cup which I slurped loudly through a wax straw much to mum's embarrassment. I will never forget Maria and Tony who ran the place. They loved kids and laughed every time one slurped!”  Donna Spillane 

Gosford Treat
“Bells took me straight back to my childhood in the 50's when a milkshake at the milk bar in the town of Gosford on the Central Coast was a very special treat indeed! And served in "real" metal containers too!” Jan Davis    

Chocolate Malted Mail Run
“During 1960 I worked in city of Sydney. Being a junior it was my job to take the mail (and collect) to the GPO (General Post Office) in Martin Place. Just along Castlereagh St was Dal's Milk Bar. They made the best chocolate malteds ever. I used to go there twice a day on my "mail run" - one day I got caught out by my boss who also called in for a "malted". For the rest of my employment there my punishment was to take him back a "chocolate malted" each day! Bonus an extra 10 minutes to get the mail.”  Maureen Williams

Tall Strawberry Shake
“In the 1960's I lived at Mascot/Roseberry NSW. On Saturdays we were given money to go to the Marina Pictures at Roseberry, next door was Nash's Milk Bar complete with stools. I would always order a strawberry milkshake and it would be huge in this tall glass. They were great.” Lynn Baker

Half Price Hooky
“If we had a substitute teacher, me and three of my friends would go down to the local milk bar and the owner would give us half-price shakes and spiders.” Jaymie Rodgers

Lime Spider the Key
“When I was a young boy I would visit my grandparents in Bogan Gate. As a treat my grandparents would take me and my sister to the Golden Key Cafe in Parker for a 'lime spider" each.  It was a memory that my sister and I recall from time to time.” Brendan O'Sullivan

3 Mile Cosy Corner
“Growing up in a small country town - Whitton in the M.I.A area NSW - my twin sister and I loved to visit the only cafe and general store in the town. On our way home from school [a 3 mile bike ride] we would stop at the "Cosy Corner" and have a creaming soda spider. Our special treat! The spider [creaming soda] I had today was as good as those days and brought back lots of memories.”  Annette Mahalam

Missing Shipmates
“All the busses in Newcastle used to leave from the top of Hunter St which was where Shipmates Milk Bar was. We would get a milkshake from there on the way back home from the beach and drink it while we waited for the bus. I was so disappointed when I went back years later and Shipmates and the bus terminal was gone.” Ian Hallett

Alcohol and Drug Free Fun
“50 years ago Hales Milk Bar at Betley Sydney was the meeting place of many teenagers savouring many malted milk shakes - there was no alcohol, no drugs but it was FUN.”
S. Laney

Havana Lime Ice Cream Soda
“In the mid 60's whenever we would "go to town" (Newcastle NSW) my mum would let me buy something at the Havana Cafe and Milk Bar in Hunter St. Usually I chose a lime icecream soda, it was beautiful. That’s why I chose one today, and it was just as good.”
Wendy Dillon

Opa’s Scoops
“My Opa [dutch grandfather) had a shop in Harn's Pack (near Paramatta). He sold milkshakes. The small scoop was used to milkshake ice cream, and the large for ice cream cones. He had the metal flaps with the churns of milk and of ice cream.”
Anonymous

Hot Vanilla After Hockey
“A hot vanilla malted milkshake after a game of hockey.  I come from Brookwell and our café was named Nick’s Café.  Also a banana special with flavouring, malt and nuts.  Brookwell is 3000 feet above sea level and we get snow in winter – distance from Sydney 300kms.”  Jan Broke   

Daring Paper Drop
“My friend Arthur’s parents had Nick’s Café in Toronto (Lake Macquarie).  I remember helping collect the bottles in crates and store them out the back.  We had a secret little access to the roof of Toronto’s Victory Theatre where we would go and spy on the Bodgies below.  Sometimes we would do something daring like drop a piece of paper on them.” G.F.       


Adelaide / South Australia

Sigala’s Extra Special
“In the 1950s Adelaide had a milk bar called “Sigala’s” in Rundle Street – now Rundle Mall – Just opposite Myer Emporium.  What was special was all the different flavoured milkshakes and ice cream delights.  I always went for their “Special” – a thick stemmed glass served with a scoop of ice cream and then a flavoured syrup, followed by another scoop of ice cream and a different flavour.  Around four scoops full.  Then a layer of mixed fruit salad topped with whipped cream, then crushed nuts, and to top it off, a cherry.  It cost me a huge price of 2/6 (25c) – absolutely fantastic.

I was transferred in my job to Renmark in October 1958.  Just opposite my placeof work was :Jones Milk Bar. I went there after work and instructed the young girl behind the counter how to make a “Sigalas Special”.  This she did and Maureen has been by my side as my wife since October 1961.  She can still make a “Special.” Adrian Theire   

Hot American Milkshakes
“One unusual memory from the 1950s was going to Sigalas Milk Bar in Rundle Street, Adelaide, where the craze for a few years was the “American Milkshake”.  This was made with hot milk, with ice cream on the top.  Great in winter.”  Trevor Oldman   

Long John PJs
“In the mid 1950s we used to walk from a hotel in Wakefield Street to Sigalas’s in Rundle Street (in our PJs and dressing gown!) The treat was a “Long John”- a tall glass with three different (scoops) ice creams, three different syrups, all topped with crushed nuts and whipped cream.” Jenny Curd     

Lads in Leathers
“As teenagers, a group of friends and I used to catch the train from Adelaide to go to Sigalas’s Milk Bar in Rundle Street.  All the motorbikes would be lined up outside and inside would be the lads in leathers with their girlfriends. We would order spiders.  A fantastic memory.”  Raylene Gribble     

Lunchtime at Dodges Café
“In the mid 1950s I went to Unley High School.  We had segregated classes.  The only chance we had to mix with the fairer sex was over the road at “Dodge’s” Café – at lunch and after school.  They had fantastic Milkshakes etc.  Great Memories.  Bells is set up the same.”  Dave Dowling       

Fizzing All Over the Table
“Today’s Lime Spider reminds me of when I was a young girl and mum took us to town (Adelaide) for the day.  It was a big event then when everyone dressed up in their best clothes and hopped on the bus.  We always went to Balfours for lunch in their café and I always had a pie with mushroom sauce and my favourite Lime spider – which by the way, always ended up fizzing all over the table as it did today.  Hahahahaha!” Roslyn Chambers       

Shopping Once a Week
“My early recollections of ‘Milkshakes’ date back to 1942, when I was at boarding school in Adelaide.  We were allowed to go shopping once a week, and usually ended up at the “Black & White” or “Sigala’s” Milk Bar.  Tasting your beautiful ‘Shake’ brings back all the memories.  In that era a shake cost 10 pence = 9 cents.”  Miriam Grist       

The Pictures and a Malted – Yum Yum
“About sixty-five years ago my dear old aunt would take me to the Black and White Milk Bar in King William St Adelaide after we had been to the picture theatre in Rundle St and we would have a malted Milk or a Raspberry Nut Sundae in the long shaped glass dish.  Yum Yum!” Fay A. Matthew           

Upside Down Thickshake
“My favourite thickshake was a chocolate thickshake with a large dollop of (real) whipped cream on top. The thickshake we had while growing up in the 1950's - 1960's in a town called Lameroo in SA was in a large cardboard container and could be turned upside down and not fall out.” Terry O'Loghlin.

Bitter Sweet Seven Days a Week
“In January 1961 when I was 15, my parents bought a deli (snack bar) in Goodwood, Adelaide.  We opened at 7am in the morning and closed the following morning at 2am, filled the fridges til 3am and then went to bed.  Seven days a week I served and washed curtains, wiped exactly the same tables that you have, made sandwiches and double cut rolls. 

Adjoining the front fridge was the lolly counter filled with 1 penny lollies with ‘bullets’ at 10 for 1 peny.  Half time at the nearby Odeon Movie Theatre was ‘hell’ counting out the 1 shilling’s worth of bullets after we had run out of pre-bagged ones. 

My mother and I worked hard at the shop while my father worked 8 hours a day at the Unley council and then home to the shop to put the rest of the hours in.  We would just sit down and someone would yell ‘Shop!” and one of us would have to get up and serve them.  My memories of my 4 years in that shop were bitter-sweet.  I missed the Beatles at the Town Hall, Adelaide because I was working and mum wouldn’t let me go into town. 

That January of 1961 we had 17 days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  The fridge broke down and we could not keep up with the demand of ice cream, Woodroffe’s Lemonade, and Coca Cola.  Those were the days.”  Olwyne Hughes

Crayfish as Big as Your Arm!
“As a teenager I worked in Mellov’s Café Eudunda SA and my friends always got extra ice cream in their Cottees flavoured milkshakes.  My boss collected the crayfish from the Railway Station (Steam trains).  Those crayfish were as big as your arm and made the best crayfish sandwiches.” AlisonKingston               


Melbourne / Victoria

Bananas, Chocolate Frogs and Musk Sticks
“Coming home from high school in the mid 1950's, I would look forward to getting off the school bus so that I could head straight to the local Milk Bar (Pasco Vale, Vic) and buy 6d worth of lollies to eat on the walk home. If I had the extra money, I would have a 'spider' for 1/-. Those were the days! A few banana lollies or chocolate frogs were my favourites - and sometimes fresh musk sticks.”  Gaye Morrison

Ireland’s ice Blocks
“In the 1950s we used to go to Ireland’s Milk Bar in Albert Street Windsor Melbourne, VIC – near “The Windsor” picture theatre – where they made the best ice blocks in town.  “Fruit salad and ice cream” half and half from fresh fruit and served in square cone cups.” Graham and Veronica Dobie -

Swanston Street Spider
“I grew up in Suburban Melbourne, Victoria and in the 1950s, as a teenager it was a treat to catch a train into the heart of Melbourne.  There you found a milk bar just up Swanston Street from Flinder’s Street Station.  An orange spider was the best! Great to find such a place in Broken Hill.” Raie Semmens

Meeting of the Sexes
“At 53 I can clearly remember milk bars not dissimilar to Bells. After high school, with my friends from Cheltenham Girl’s High we would fill our starving teenage stomachs with chocolate, vanilla or strawberry milkshakes (even caramel was too sophisticated for suburban Australia at that stage – it would have been more an American ‘thing” at that stage I believe).

Of course there were boys with the giggly group of friends – we went to a girls High School, they to a Boys’.  (This was a failed attempt to avoid the meeting of the sexes by both group’s parents and the Education Dept of the time… very naively they believed this would prevent teenage sex).

Before drinking the milkshakes we would remove our maroon gloves and hats and hitch up our box plated skirts above our knees, far higher than the height Mrs Bell, our severe faced head mistress would have ever allowed. We did this, of course, to attract the attention of the pimply-faced hunks from Epping Boy’s High.

We were successful of course even as pathetic as we appeared, the boys with raging hormones served our interest and once in a long while a brave one would talk to a more brazen member of our group, striking up a friendship, arrange a future meeting… which then sometimes led to a reckless intimacy followed by a teenage pregnancy.

So… milk bars in the 1960s fed our appetites in many ways.  We were far more naïve than teenagers today, far too innocent and uneducated about the pitfalls of our sexuality.

Thank you for the memories Bells, but thank you too to our heavenly mother that the world has moved forward.”  Anne Hillie        

Life Back Then Was Precious
“Bells reminds me of a time about 40 years ago when I was about 6 or 7 years old and we came visiting my Aunt and Uncle who owned a milk bar and fish and chip shop in Hamilton (Victoria).  Life was easy (for a child that is).  We would go hunting for rabbits and not care if they had mixamatosis or not as we would let them go after we caught them.  Then after more child-like things to fill in the day we would be welcomed home by our parents and be given a big glass of milk with a spoonful of malt in it.  Life back then was precious.”  Kevin Watterston

First TV at McMillan’s
“When TV first started we went across the road from where we lived in Greville St Prahran to McMillan’s Milk Bar and sat in rows of chairs to watch the TV because we didn’t have one yet.” Graham and Veronica Dobie

Ding Dong’s – Oh Yeah!
“1956 – Ding-Dongs Milk Bar Bridge Road Richmond Victoria.  Just down the road from the Picture theatre.  Booths – Juke Boxes, the best hamburgers and sodas.  Lots of boys and girls, full skirts, stove pipe pants and Brylcream, motorbikes and 56 Holdens.  Oh Yeah!”  F. Coles           

Karkeh Dragon
“From my memories of "The Delta" Milk Bar in Traralgon  Victoria my family built and ran for nearly 30 years up to 1963.  ‘Karkheh Dragon’ - Sarsaparilla and Lime cordial in a glass of milk with an ice cream floating on top.”  Leon Sweeney

[Note from Bells Milk Bar – we tried this and it is best with Bells Lime Syrup and Sarsaparilla Cordial. Tastes GREAT!]

Tarax Bar Blush
“Growing up in Melbourne- after basketball, we'd order drinks at the Tarax Bar in Burke St. I preferred an "Emerald Blush" Spider. Easy to make directions; Basic Lime spider with a dash of raspberry cordial! I recommend!” Shirley Lovel

Mildura Fruit Picker
“I spent a lot of time in the Black & Whites Milk Bar in Deakin Av Mildura as a migrant fruit picker from 1954-57 before I moved to Adelaide.”  Anonymous   

Christmas Tradition
“During the 1940's when Propr. of country Milk Bar (Ouyen Vic) brewed own horehound and Ginger Beer - this family custom was to have a "spider" on xmas eve. Keen to perpetuate the tradition, son seeks out local milk bar with reluctant daughter for a sentimental "spider". Not only was daughter not enchanted, she proceeded outside to be sick on the footpath! Max Volk

See How it Was
“The till and coffee maker in the exhibit area are the same as the ones I used in my parents milkbar in Frankston in the 70's. I hope one day my children will visit Bells to see "how it was". The milkshake mixture is the same of course. I still have milkshake containers. So lovely to pop in here Thank You.” D O'Bourke

Want To Rock N’ Roll
“In the early fifties I made many spiders and milkshakes in my parent's milk bar in Dandenong, I was 13 yeas old. This brought back memories for me, I love the fifties music, makes me want to rock and roll.”  Mrs Brenda McLeod

Broken Biscuits Every Day
“There was a milk bar in North Road, Huntingdale (Vic) which I had to pass on the way to and from primary school in the late 1950s.  We weren’t well off so it was only 1 milkshake every second Friday arvo BUT free broken biscuits every day.” John O’Brian        

Collins Street Hilliers Treat
“Memories brought back of delicious milkshakes and lime spiders at Hilliers in Collins Street, Melbourne during school holidays – What a treat!”  Di Hidson       

Devastating Price Rise
“Back in 1957 working as an office boy in the Melbourne CBD, as group of us would go out at lunch time to buy our Chocolate Malted Milks.  The cost was ‘one shilling’ (1/-) – in today’s money 10 cents!  We were devastated when the price went up by one penny, making our milkshakes 1/1d.”  Peter Gunston   

Ultimate Friendship Sharing
“I remember at the age of six, my first best friend and I consolidated our friendship based on buying 1c lollies from our local milk bar, Pauline Avenue in Dingley, Melbourne.  If we found 1c on the street, we would immediately run to the milk bar, buying a 1c chocolate buddy and split it evenly in half to share.  It was the ultimate in sharing between friends.” Mandy Z


Brisbane / Queensland

Memorable Soda Bar Open Past Midday
“Chemist Roush Queen St, Brisbane had a memorable soda bar. All types of drinks were mixed there served with ice. In the days when shops closed at midday, Chemist Roush stayed open slightly later and allowed patrons to finish their drinks at a leisurely pace.” D Butlers

Malted With Nutmeg
“I used to enjoy Malted Milks sprinkled with nutmeg at Finney's Milk Bar in Brisbane during the mid 1950's when I first started work in that city. Today is the first time since then that I have been able to enjoy a "nutmeg malted" (YUM!)”
Alan Luckman

Monthly Treat
“In 1945 - 46 I worked in my aunt's milk bar at Dunn's Corner Burood Rd opposite the old Astra Picture Theatre and all the items (at bells) were very familiar to me. The shop was open 7days from 9am to 11pm. My parents took my brother and me into Brisbane once a month as a treat and we always had a milkshake at the Black and White Milk Bar in the centre of the city near the City Hall.” George R Prendergast

Sunday Secret
“Frank was an institution in Graceville where I grew up.  He would exchange, no questions asked, my shilling intended (Mum, God bless her), for the Sunday School Collection plate, for a creamy chocolate nougat and a thripenny bit.  And that perfect silver coin (about 2/3 the size of a 5c piece) would shine with my little secret and Frank’s connivance in the collection plate each week.”   Eddiie King                   

Half Time Stop       
“I used to work as a ‘Baker Boy’ as a 12 – 14 year old on the Gold Coast in the days when bread got delivered to the home.  About half way of what was a 7 – 8 hour bread run, we always stopped at Nick’s Milk Bar in Labrador.  Because I was a working, growing lad, my boss would shout me a pint of milk into which dear old Nick would squirt milkshake flavouring (my favourite was strawberry) and then I would drink a bit and blow bubbles through the straw to mix the drink.  BEAUTIFUL!!!  I reckon that Milk Bar drink was good for me to run another 20km.” Mal McCann   

Hobart / Tasmania

Dangers of the Green Gate
“In the mid 1950's, a special school assembly was held to warn us of the dangers of the Green Gate Cafe in Hobart. Someone had heard 'bad things' about it, and we were banned from going there under pain of expulsion. Later on, I went there for good spiders and quick simple meals at affordable prices. Maybe a jealous competitor?” Joe Foley   

Friendly Green Gate
“I was transported to my youth in Hobart Tasmania when I tasted your Sarsparilla spider. I was 12 again sitting at the Green Gate Cafe - the local and friendliest place to meet. Even the highchair here has the same green formica found on chairs tables and benches around the window seats where we sat and watched the world go by.” Sandra Wilby

Wynyard Icy Slice
“In the early 1950's my aunt owned a milk bar in the small town of Wynyard on the north coast of Tasmania. I remember enjoying what was called an icy slice - a cone about 3 inches square and 1/2 inch thick and a special square scoop used to fill up the cone with ice cream. From memory I think they only cost 1 penny or maybe 2 pennies.”
Mrs Betty Lord

Perth / Western Australia

Joe Palooka Sundae – Ooh La La!
"At the tender age of 17 (I’m now 64) I worked to a shoe store named Cecil Bros - straight after work we walked down to Browne's Milk Bar in Barracil St Pert WA - our favourite was a Joe Palooka - Named after a boxer - starting with your choice of syrup on the bottom - scoop of ice cream - fresh cream- malt & crushed nuts - until glass is full - syrup and crushed nuts on top - Ooh La La!" Faye Caruthers

International

Big Ripple Nipple
“In a milk bar in New Zealand, the milk ran out.  So to create a bit of atmosphere, a cow was brought into the milk bar.  The staff milked it in time to the 1960s surf music cranking on the juke box.  The punters loved it, and in memory they still serve a milkshake there called the “Big Ripple Nipple.” Melissa Collins      
[Note from Bells: The validity of this story sounds a little suspicious to us but it’s a good read so we’re leaving it in]   

Black Cow or White Cow
“In Brazil we call coke and vanilla ice cream = black cow and lemonade and ice cream = white cow. I used to love it when I was a child. It was very popular then. Congratulations on your place. It is a "time travel". We loved it.” Paulo Selba

The Ice Cream Parlor
“We came from the year 2007 to the fifties.  As we entered Dad started another story about how, in Devon England, after school he went to the local milk bar, called an ice cream parlor, for an ice cream.  It’s funny how he can remember the shop owner’s name (Mr. De Vito) yet he can’t remember the name of a friend he’s just met in the street.  Thanks for wonderful experience.” Jack Shepherd   

Chrome ‘n Holiday Crowds at the Penguin
“Years 1952 – 1956:  Holidays in Eastbourne Sussex England.  School holidays place:  Penguin Ice Cream Parlour.  Black and white décor with chrome bars.  High stools to counters, Juke Box in corner.  Great times with crowds on holidays.” Derek Clarke


Miscellaneous Milk Bar Memories

Money Well Spent
“When my husband was a young apprentice in the early 1950's; he used to go down to the local church every Wednesday night to pick up his sister from Girl's Club and walk her home. He was in the habit of collecting ALL the girls and taking them to the local milk bar for sodas or milkshakes - needless to say his apprentice wages of 1- 20 shillings didn't go very far.” W. Haineworth

Flavoured Milk
“As a 14 year old boy, I worked after school at a service station (petrol station). Across the road was a milk bar and we would go to the milk bar and buy a pint of milk (in a bottle) open the foil top, drink the top (usually thick with cream), and the milk bar would add flavour syrup.  We would swirl it around and “hey presto” flavoured milk!  Now days it’s all pre-done.” Paul James   

Float With Coke
“The first time I had a “float with coke” (I was on holiday and this was a special treat – I was probably about 8 years old) the ball of ice cream was caught on the end of my straw – I held it up for “scrutiny” and it fell SPLASH on the floor!! Imagine my anguish – I had lost my precious ball of ice cream.  To make matters worse the milk bar owner brought out a mop and I had to clean the mess.  It was enough to turn me off “float with coke” for a long time.”  Robyn Hirst       

Fruitex
“My favourite drink as a teenager was a ‘fruitex’.It was made with a spoonful of fruit salad (golden circle) lime flavouring, strawberry flavouring, ice cream and filled with cola fizzy drink.  Delicious!!!”  Mary Acret   

Volkswagon Slip Shift
“I started working in a milk bar when I was 18 years old.  I finished when I was 21.  I met my husband who came in to buy a vanilla milkshake – he perved on my legs – He was a leg and tit man.  He still kept coming back for milkshakes.  He invited me out for a date in his brand new cream Volkswagen with gears in the middle!  His hand kept slipping off the gear stick.  I married him at 21.  I was still a virgin!!!

We have now been married for 40 ‘blissful’ years.  He has just brought me back this weekend for a family reunion.  We came to re-visit the milk bar experience.  Funny how things work out!  He brought his mother one day and me the next.  I came top share this story with his family and my daughter.  My husband was born in Broken Hill and came to Bells as a child.  He has spoken about his wonderful milkshakes and spiders.  Great place full of memories.  Well done!”  Raelene Evens   

You Beaut
“56 – 59:  Football, cricket, milk bars, pies
60 – 63:  Discovered girls, canvas seats of the picture theatre and THE drive-ins – WOW!
63 – 69  Back to football, sport, romance, Johny O Keefe, The Platters, then marriage –you beaut.”  Gary Hughes       

Half Time Job
“Early 1953 at interval time of the Saturday arvo pictures, I would cross the road to the milk bar (1 of 2) and serve the ice creams, milkshakes and spiders to the young children.  Soon as the pictures started I went back to watch then.  I remember the Penny Ice Blocks with Half Penny Ice Cream on top  Thelm           

Hot Chocolate Malted
“In the early 50's during winter I would ride my pushbike to Scouts on Friday nights. On the trip home I would ride through the shopping centre and stop at the local milk bar where I would have a hot chocolate malted milkshake.” B Kilbourn

Met Over a Milkshake
“Here we are 45 years on still together, Meet over a milkshake, I worked in the milk bar - John in the garage next door.” John & Diane Morrall

Paper Round Earnings Well Spent
“At 11 years old I sold Sunday papers - my round done pushing my bike to earn two shillings (20 cents) for my morning's work. Sitting down with my back resting against the Milk Bar's shop front drinking a coke spider was spot on. To be followed by a cherry ripe which together blew my whole two shillings. My experience is one of most cherished memories as a boy - I am now 70 years old.” John Farrant        

Decisions Decisions…
“As a child in the mind 60's, I relished the opportunity to walk down to the local Milk Bar, and spend my pocket money on:- bananas, clinkers, freckles, chocolate buddies, mint leaves, musk sticks, fruit pastilles, fruit tingles... These lollies remain my favourites to this day. I can still recall the sense of anticipation whilst opening the tightly twisted top of the white paper bag. Which one first? So hard to chose!” Linda Carter

The Ultimate Sacrifice
“I missed the Beatles at the Town Hall, Adelaide because I was working and mum wouldn’t let me go into town”. Olwyne Hughes