The boutique Newcastle has grown up with - Abicus celebrates turning 25
Twenty-five years after opening their iconic Darby Street store, Tiffany Minell and Tim McPhee continue to bring elevated fashion, music, and footwear to the people of Newcastle and beyond.
In the early years Abicus was just a couple of crates of vinyl and CDs, a few racks of emerging Australian brands, and a handful of t-shirts designed by Tim.
Tiffany Minell and Tim Mcphee
“We wanted to bring an offering to Newcastle that at the time wasn’t available in any store here,” Tiff says of the launch.
“To stock the brands we loved but couldn’t find locally, much of our inspiration came from trips to Melbourne.”
The start may have been minimal and simple, but the growth was exponential.
“We’ve always reinvested back into the business, to keep evolving and re-imagining what is known as Abicus today,” Tiff recalls of those early years.
A change of direction
As their reputation grew and the pace of seasonal fashion drops increased, Tiff and Tim opted to slow down and focus on a more classic and sustainable approach.
“We were briefly caught up in the fast-fashion chapter of the mid 2000s, then deliberately pivoted to sourcing more intentional items that align with our core values,” Tim explains.
“We focus our curation around well made, long lasting, functional pieces… simple timeless classics.”
Tiff adds, “When we’re booking a collection now, we ask ourselves: will this still feel great in 20 years, will it last and be passed on, or even could it end up in a vintage store one day?”
While Abicus quickly became Newcastle’s go-to destination for unique Aussie brands and the beloved German sandals Birkenstock, the couple’s deep love of music and creativity has long informed the store’s ethos.
“Music has always been the heartbeat of Abicus” Tim, a musician and producer, explains.
“Our vinyl offering doesn’t exactly keep us in business on its own, but it’s such an important part of who we are.”
By 2013 Abicus had moved across the road into its current dream store, a bespoke space Tim and Tiff meticulously designed and fitted out themselves.
In a very Newcastle twist, elements of the new interior were rescued and repurposed from the old David Jones store on Hunter Street; parquetry boards used in the counter-top, Oregon timbers for the denim walls and glass shelving from the perfume counters into their eyewear cabinet.
A new era
Many eras have come and gone but Abicus has been stitched into the Darby Street fabric after a quarter of a century of trade.
And in recent years with the addition of their online store, have expanded their ever-growing community Australia-wide.
“There have been many varied chapters across the last 20+ years on Darby Street, but right now, it feels the best it’s ever been,” Tim says of the local vibe.
“There’s a very real buzz again and renewed energy.”
They both speak fondly of classic local haunts and much-missed venues, and just as warmly about the present: places like Autumn Rooms and Baba Yaga and the recently reopened Newcastle Art Gallery.
Twenty five years and beyond
Twenty-five years on, Abicus remains what it set out to be: a thoughtfully curated and iconic Newcastle store, still blending music and wardrobe classics and led by Tiff and Tim’s ever-evolving vision.
“It’s very much a living, breathing thing that continues to grow and unfurl in its own way,” Tim says
"What a privilege it is to live in this amazing city by the coast, the food, the coffee, the pace, the community, with a family, AND to be 25 years into a retail business that is still growing. Wild!”
“Then to consider the influence our team continues to have on the success of Abicus, their input, energy, knowledge and care speak volumes.
“It’s ‘the people’ that inform the in-store experience and really, that’s what counts most.”
