Ice cream evolution: Streets’ summertime legacy

Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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Summer and ice-cream go hand-in-sticky-hand, so with endless warm days just around the corner Megan Arkinstall gets nostalgic with Streets, the brand behind some of Australia’s favourite frozen treats.

More than 80 summers ago, in the 1920s, the story of Australia’s most iconic ice-creams, Streets, began in the back shed of Edwin (Ted) Street’s home in Corrimal, NSW, with the Penny Pinky.

Costing just one penny, this strawberry ice-cream in a cone was so popular Ted Street had to build a factory just to keep up with demand.

Many creamy treats and chirpy advertisements later, reminding us “It couldn’t be creamier!", Streets became one of the country’s best-selling ice-cream companies.

In 1953, Streets launched Australia’s first individual frozen treat, the Paddle Pop. Ron Street (Ted’s engineer nephew) was the brains behind the paddle-shaped ice-cream but Ted wasn’t taken by the idea: “It will be a nine-day wonder," he apparently said.

But the Paddle Pop changed the way ice-cream lovers could consume their frozen treats: instead of visiting the corner store for a scoop, they could keep a box in their home freezer. It was revolutionary!

Originally just available in chocolate, Streets added vanilla, fruit salad, blackcurrent, banana, rainbow and caramel to the flavours, and the iconic Paddle Pop Lion (“I’m the lion who loves Paddle Pops!") encouraged us to try them all. It worked: in the 20th century, the Paddle Pop was the world’s best-selling ice-cream per capita.

With the Swinging ’60s came the Gaytime, which originally comprised strawberry ice-cream encased in vanilla ice-cream, covered in a layer of chocolate and short-cake crumbs. But in the ’70s, the toffee version, known as the Golden Gaytime, became the chief flavour. Nostalgic advertisements suggest that it is “More like a party than an ice-cream" and “It’s hard to have a Gaytime alone".

Indeed, cheeky ads are part of the Streets story. One from earlier this year featured Bubble O’ Bill (the gumball ice-cream inspired by cowboy Buffalo Bill) and a Golden Gaytime in a confused exchange.

“Gaytime?" Mr O’ Bill asks, to which Gaytime responds “Whoa there Cowboy!", seemingly referencing Brokeback Mountain. Another shows a Calippo suggesting his new boss, Bubble O’ Bill, has a stick up his…

The latest Streets ice-cream to cause a frenzy is a hybrid of two classics: the Golden Gaytime and the Cornetto. The Gaynetto is the result of a campaign run by self-named Chief Golden Gaylord (creator of the Golden Gaytime Facebook fan page) whose legion of followers helped him convince Streets this dreamy combination would be a sensation.

Whether it joins the Paddle Pop Hall of Fame or becomes a distant creamy memory like the Penny Pinky, we’re licking up these sweet icy treats before they melt in the sun.

 

MORE REWIND STORIES 

→ The cameleers role in shaping Australia

→ Cobb & Co: the history of coach class

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Megan Arkinstall
Megan Arkinstall is a freelance travel writer who you’ll often find at the beach, bushwalking or boating with her young family. She loves reliving travel memories through writing, whether that be sipping limoncello in a sun-drenched courtyard of Monterosso or swimming with green turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tropical North Queensland.
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Your first look at Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

    Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

    Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

    Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon.
    Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

    Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

    Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

    Aerial view of Wilderluxe.
    Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

    Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’, all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

    On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

    A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe.
    Sleep beneath the stars.

    Style and character

    When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

    Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

    The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe.
    Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

    ‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience. Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

    Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

    Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

    While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

    The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake.
    Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

    No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

    Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

    Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

    Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

    A person kayaking through serene waters.
    Paddle into peace.

    The details

    A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

    The interiors of the glamping tent.
    Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

    Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.

    Ice cream evolution: Streets summertime legacy - Australian Traveller