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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Tory Shepherd

Nudes, prudes and a love triangle: the hunt for Adelaide’s most scandalous Stobie pole

Don Violi holding a photograph next to a stobie pole
‘It’s probably worth a considerable amount of money’: the Clifton Pugh Stobie pole was unveiled at the opening of Don Violi’s Adelaide salon. Photograph: Sia Duff/The Guardian

The great Clifton Pugh Stobie pole scandal began on a winter’s day in 1984 against the backdrop of a rollicking party.

At a hair salon in suburban Adelaide, a robot trundled around delivering drinks. Bodybuilders – men and women in skimpy outfits – flexed their muscles. Dozens of balloons floated into the air above a giant bubble bath.

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