Obviously an important addition to any barber shop when implementing cut throat razor technology to clean away that daily, manly stubble.

The Barber Shop display is set up featuring R. A. Giddy’s barber’s chair. Mr Giddy came to Nyngan in 1904 and worked as the town’s barber until his retirement in 1964, at the age of 85.

He was a practicing barber for 70 years. A newspaper advertisement in the local paper in 1905 read:

“Why shave yourself and be miserable, when you can be decently shaved for sixpence.”

The ‘Zar-Ona’ shaving cream also utilised the press to its advantage. A 1927 news article reported about the shaving cream.

“A "Week-old" Baby immersed in a bath of Zar-Ona Shaving Cream, would emerge smiling, its delicate skin tissues would remain clear, clean and unaffected.

It is because there's no free caustic in ZAR-ONA, for this wonderful Shaving Cream is neutral to the caustic test. The rich, creamy lather soothes the most tender skin. The razor just glides through.”

The label on the jar states that the shaving cream is made in Sydney, Australia and is medicated. It would be interesting to know how long the seven lb jar of cream lasted Mr Giddy as he serviced the men of Nyngan with a shave and hair cut.

Visit Us Today: Monday- Friday from 9am to 4pm. Saturday’s from 10am until 12noon. (Sundays by appointment.)

Nyngan is located on the banks of the Bogan River in Outback New South Wales. In 1990 the Bogan River flooded the township and much history was destroyed.

The Museum was established by a wonderful group of locals wanting to collect local family history, relics and items of historical significance.