Samantha Armytage shares shock throwback photo showing the stark difference between Australian parenting in the 1970s and today

Samantha Armytage has shared a shock photo of herself as a two-year-old.

The Farmer Wants A Wife star, 48, took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to share some childhood memories – with one image highlighting the stark differences in parenting between the 1970s and today.

While searching for photos of herself in a small frilled shirt she used to wear as a toddler, Samantha stumbled on a photo which revealed some very old school child-rearing. 

In the photo, little Samantha was drinking a can of Victoria Bitter as adults looked on amused in the background.

The TV star captioned the image, ‘I went looking for pics of me in the white frill shirt…ummm.’

‘Parenting ’70s style,’ she added, alongside several laughing emojis.

Another throwback image showed an older Samantha with little sister Georgie, who had inherited the same frilly shirt as a hand-me-down. 

‘And the best bit is, Georgie got to wear it when I graduated to a more “spiked” collar,’ Sam wrote with another laughing emoji. 

While searching for photos of herself in a small frilled shirt she used to wear as a baby, Sam stumbled on a photo which revealed some very old school parenting. Little Sam was drinking a can of Victoria Bitter as adults looked on amused in the background

It comes after speculation that Samantha is the frontrunner to be the host of Channel Nine’s new reality show, The Golden Bachelor. 

Entertainment journalist Peter Ford weighed into the debate last week, tipping that the host of the Australian version of the ABC US smash hit will be none other than Sam.

The popular presenter announced her departure from Seven in August after 21 years with the network.

Later, she shared another old photo, one when she had grown up a bit and was captured with her little sister Georgie. Older sister Sam now wore a red cardigan over another white shirt with a very long collar, while Georgie wore Sam’s old frilly shirt as a hand-me-down. Both pictured

Taking to X, Peter responded to a report on Inside Media about the likely host, claiming it would be almost certainly be the former Farmer Wants A Wife helmer.

‘If I were a betting man, I’d put money on @samarmytage,’ Peter suggested.

‘She’s now a free agent after leaving 7 and has been clear she was interested in new opportunities.’

The report itself scuttled rumours that previous Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg would make a return to the franchise.

Sam became the face of popular dating show Farmer Wants A Wife last year after first appearing as a guest host alongside former presenter Natalie Gruzlewski. 

But she shocked fans of the franchise last month by announcing she was quitting Seven after 21 years. 

Describing the departure as ‘sad and bittersweet,’  Sam told The Daily Telegraph that she felt her time had come to an end and that she was excited about her future.

‘I’m big on instinct. I listen to my instinct. I know when the time comes. I am proud of the fact that I back myself enough to say: “I’ve done what I can do here” and I move on,’ she said.

‘This is not the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.’