An 85-Year Legacy: How One Lebanese Barber Built a Family Empire in Australia

In the opening episode of the “From Generation to Generation” podcast with Dima Alkaed, we explore the remarkable bond between Boutros Akleh and his children, Sarkis and Louise, who inherited not only their father’s life lessons, but also the craft he carried across continents. What began as a single pair of scissors in Lebanon became a thriving family legacy in Australia, passed with pride from parent to child, and now to grandchildren.

When Boutros Akleh landed in Australia fifty-six years ago, he carried little more than a travel bag and the craft he had learned from his grandfather and uncle. It was a family trade—passed from one generation to the next long before he ever imagined building a new life on the other side of the world.

In Lebanon, barbering was a skill. In Australia, it became his identity.

Boutros always hoped one of his children would carry the flame of the profession he loved. His wish came true twice. Sarkis and Louise grew up watching their father shape hair with the same precision and gentleness he used to shape their futures. What started as helping hands in childhood soon became a shared passion—and eventually a family enterprise.

I didn't force my children to learn my profession, but I was lucky that they loved it and inherited it from me.

Sarkis embraced the trust with pride. He began working alongside his father at the age of twelve. Today, he is not only a barber but a father and business owner, leading a chain of salons that grew from the foundations Boutros laid half a century ago.

But every family has someone who challenges tradition.

Louise was that exception. Breaking stereotypes within a proud Arab household, she insisted that “a daughter is her father’s secret too.” She mastered the craft, modernised it, and became a respected hairdresser in her own right—proving that legacy has no gender.

I was 12 when I started working with my father, and he has inspired me over the years to achieve more.

Like many migrant families, the Akleh story is not without its tensions, disagreements, or generational differences. Boutros never forced the profession upon his children, yet he managed to transfer a love for the craft so deep that it flourished naturally. Today, Sarkis and Louise run a successful business with dozens of employees and generations of loyal customers.

And Boutros?

At eighty-five, he still insists on working one day a week—not out of necessity, but out of devotion. The salon remains his sanctuary, the place where his journey began and where his legacy continues to grow.

This full story unfolds in the premiere episode of the “From Generation to Generation” podcast with Dima Alkaed.

Listen to the podcast on our website and on all your favourite podcast platforms.

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