The Australian housewife who stopped city's traffic!

If you were out and about in Newcastle 30 years ago, you might have spotted a famous face among the hordes of shoppers in the city centre.

- By DAVID MORTON

Dame Edna Everage, aka comedian Barry Humphries, during a visit to Newcastle in November 1995

(Barry Humphries)

It was November 1995 and television phenomenon Dame Edna Everage, the acid-tongued Australian housewife and alter ego of comedian Barry Humphries, was in town and intent on engaging in a spot of retail therapy.

The Evening Chronicle reported: “The colourful superstar made a beeline for her favourite women's shop, Peaches & Cream on Grey Street, just across the road from the Theatre Royal, where she is performing this week. And, once inside, it was straight to the underwear section to try on her favourite garments.

“Forget Rigby and Peller - the Queen's favourite undies - nothing beats La Perla for Dame Edna, and she was over the moon when the shop's manager presented her with a G-string and bag of goodies by her favourite designer.”