General
31 October, 2026
“Charlie The Barber” Donates Antique Barber's Chair to Historical Society
Inglewood and District Historical Society President Rick McDougall has accepted the donation of an antique Barber’s Chair from former Inglewood barber Charlie Parrella. Now aged eighty-five years old Charlie was part of a family of Italian migrants who came to Inglewood in the early 1940's.
When he was just sixteen and a half years old Charlie opened a barber’s shop in Inglewood’s main street in a small section of what was then the McCorkell Building and now owned by Pursehouse Rural.
It was the start of a lifetime career as a barber. His first barber’s chair was second-hand and purchased from Andy Tait, a former Inglewood hairdresser, who had used it for many years previously.
Charlie continued as a barber in Inglewood until 1968 when he moved to Hendra, taking with him the chair, which he installed in a small rented shop where it was used constantly for another fifty-eight years until his retirement a few weeks ago.
Charlie never forgot his early life in Inglewood and, over the years, organised several highly successful “Back to Inglewood” days.
His nickname “Charlie the Barber” was given to him by the townspeople of Inglewood and has stayed with him all his life. It was also the title of the memoir he wrote and had published.
In March 2026, as a tribute for his service to the community, Qld Minister for Health the honourable Tim Nicholls and Brisbane City Councillor Julie Dixon unveiled a new street sign near Charlie’s shop reading “Charlie Parrella Place”. Over two hundred people attended the ceremony.
Inglewood and District Historical Society President Rick McDougall said it was fortunate he and his wife Nonnie had been able to pick up the chair and bring it back to Inglewood where a place had already been set aside to display it.
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