WENDA BEauty salon-Gwendoline & Golda Bull

Two sisters Gwendoline and Golda Bull lived at 30 Dalgety St, East Fremantle with their family and during WWll (1943- 1949), ran a professional hairdressing salon from the front room of their house.

Their father James Henry Bull (1889- 1978) was born in Bunbury (one of 9 children of William and Elizabeth Gibson). He came to Fremantle in 1912, where he found work as a clerk and lived with his brother William Bull (carpenter), his brothers wife Elizabeth, and his sister Charlotte Amelia Bull at 94 McCleery st, South Fremantle.  In 1914 he married Delores Rose (1894-1978) in Fremantle, and the couple moved to Dalgety St, where they lived for 64 years.

James died 15 June 1978 and was buried in Fremantle Cemetery. Dolores died later the same year (8 Dec 1978) aged 84. For many years James Henry Bull provided for his family by working as a brokers assistant and was well known in the local community.

Walter James Bull, the eldest son was born 13 Feb 1915.  Gwendoline Rose was born 5 April 1916 and Golda Joan was born in 1919- all at 30 Dalgety St.

In 1923 the three children attended the funeral of their grandmother Lucy Janet Touchell. (reference). The children attended Richmond Primary School and seemed to have had a very happy childhood. Golda was dressed as a flower at the annual children’s ball in Nov 1925 (reference)

1927 I hope you will permit me to join your band of nieces. I am in the 7th class at Princess May School, which I think is a very nice school. I enjoy scanning the interesting Saturday's page. The weather is abominable, I think. After paying a visit, as we came home we stepped into invisible puddles, which resulted in wet shoes and stockings, but they were soon taken off. Gwen Bull, 30 Dalgety-street, East Fremantle. (reference)

3 March 1928 Mr and Mrs. J. Bull, of Dalgety street, East Fremantle, entertained over fifty young people at the celebration of their daughter, Golda's birthday. Games and music were enjoyed and high tea was served on the large enclosed verandahs (reference)

1929 Dear Auntie Kitty. I hope you will forgive me for not writing to you only when competitions are on. I painted the clown, but did not post it. My sister, too, did the clown, and is doing this one now. I hope you will publish my letter in the paper. My brother is away on holidays, and how I would like to be too. I am going into fifth this year, and I will be 10 in March. I hope my solution is correct, for, though I have sent in several solutions I have not yet won a prize. As I have no more to tell you I will close, being your loving niece. GOLDA BULL, 30 Dalgety-street, East Fremantle.(reference)

 1932 Golda who attended Princess May Girls School was the only one, of 15 girls there, who sat for a scholarship to Modern School, to win a Stubb’s Commercial Travellers’ scholarship. (reference)

In 1933 the two sisters and their mother did hairdressing apprenticeships with Aileen Armstrong who ran Aileen Permanent Waving Salon in a basement near Bon Marche Arcade on the Hay Street side. See the photo of hairdressing apprentices: Gwen Bull is at the left rear, her mother Mrs Dolores Bull is fourth from the left at the rear, and her sister Golda is seated at the right front. Aileen Armstrong is seated in the centre. (Fremantle City Library History Centre no 3589-reference)

Gwendoline Rose ran her first hairdressing salon from 1934 to 1939. It was situated at 7 William Street, over Swansea Cycles opposite the Fremantle Town Hall. See the photo of inside Wenda Hairdressing Salon in 1934 (Fremantle City Library History Centre (no 3588- reference)

May 1934 We are informed that the Misses Gwen and Golda Bull are opening a ladies' Modern Toilet Salon on June 11, at 7 William-street, opposite the Town Hall. The service will provide the latest in permanent waving and ladies' high class hairdressing, and early appointments may be made by ringing FM1472… Any enterprise which tends to stimulate and retain trade at the Port deserves every encouragement and we offer these local young women our best wishes for the success of their business. (Fremantle Advocate 31 May 1934 p 2) Reference

 June 1934 Successful Opening- Specialising in the latest modes of permanent waving and the art of coiffure, the Wenda Beauty Parlour, 7 William-street, has made a most successful opening in its attractive salon premises equipped with the most modern appointments. In addition to permanent waving, all classes of beauty culture is included, water waving, marcelling, trimming, manicure, facials and tinting, all under the careful attention of professional experts. (reference)

 1935 Mr and Mrs James Bull, of Dalgety Street, East Fremantle, entertained a number of young people at their home last Saturday evening, in honour of the birthday of their younger daughter Golda. Outdoor games and music provided entertainment, and a dainty supper was served. (reference)

 1940 The engagement is announced of Kathleen Joan, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Copley, of Reuben-street, Beaconsfield, to Walter James, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bull, of Dalgety-street, East Fremantle.(reference)

 In 1941 Gwendoline moved the Wenda business to the Wesley Building but the war interfered and from 1943-1949, she and her sister Golda ran the hairdressing salon and beauty parlour from the front room of the family home at 30 Dalgety St, East Fremantle.

Later Gwendoline relocated the hairdressing and beauty parlour to Stammers Arcade in 1972, before selling the business in 1975.

Gwendoline Rose never married. She lived at 30 Dalgety St with her parents until they both died in 1978. She sold it in 1979 and moved to 45a Coldwells St, Bicton. Later she said she regretted selling the house she had lived in all her life. Gwen died 14 April 2002, aged 86 and is memorialised at Fremantle Cemetery.

 In Feb 1946 Golda Joan passed her Nursing examination at Fremantle Hospital (reference) and In 1947, married Ernest Treacy Gordon in Fremantle. Ernest had a job as an accountant in Three Springs from 1949-1954 and Golda was recorded as working as a hairdresser there. They then farmed for many years in Koolanooka, Greenough/ Utakarra, Geraldton. Golda died 27 August 2010 at the age of 91 and was cremated at Karrakatta cemetery.

Walter James Bull became a clerk, and married Kathleen ‘Joan’ Copley (1922- 2014). She lived at 36 Oakover st, East Fremantle from 1943, when Walter enlisted to fight in WWll (Service Number - WX38691). He returned, worked as a salesman and they both lived in the house until Walter died in 1997.

Thank you to Joanne Taggart for correspondence and her generosity with photographs.