You may have seen Richard Marchese cutting hair out the back of the newly opened shop, Marlow Vintage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After moving to town last year, the former Brisbaneite said he had been overwhelmed by the friendly and welcoming nature of the wider community.
“People here are so friendly and very welcoming and it’s a very inclusive society here,” he said.
Originally from far north QLD, Mr Marchese had been looking for an opportunity to relocate to a country town for some time.
It was only by chance that he found himself stumble upon Glen Innes.
“I come from a farming family and that’s what drew me to the area … I wanted to go back to my country origin,” Mr Marchese said.
“I like that the temperature is a lot nicer here because it’s that temperate climate.”
Mr Marchese said he had been looking to move for quite sometime before deciding on the New England.
“I love the whole New England area … I was looking for a couple of years to reestablish myself,” he said.
“When I first left north QLD I trained in Melbourne as a hairdresser.
“Since then I had been living in Brisbane for 24 years and I had a salon for 20 years in Bardon.
“I used to drive through on my way to see friends in Tamworth but I didn’t really realise how nice it was because from the highway you don’t see the beautiful main street.
“So when I came to look at the shop, I saw the shop on the internet, I went and looked at the whole town as well and realised it’s a real hidden secret and it’s beautiful.”
Now, Mr Marchese runs his own salon where he services men, women and children.
But the hairdresser wanted to offer more than just great haircuts.
“I like vintage and antiques,” he said.
Each week he travels around the countryside finding new and exciting items to put on display in his shop.
But said wherever he goes, he will always be calling New England his home from now on.
“I just love it here and I’ll certainly stay in this area,” Mr Marchese said.