There are abundant perks to shopping at vintage stores: it’s affordable, collectable, good for the environment (you are recycling after all!), and the pieces are unique.
And the best part about shopping at vintage stores is that you never know what gems you might find! High-end pieces pop up from time to time and are resold for a fraction of the price.
Here are five vintage stores you need to visit in Canberra:
April’s Caravan
Various spots around Canberra
After some time setting up shop in different locations around Canberra (one of the great things about having a shop on wheels!), owner Netti Vonthethoff has settled into her own shopfront in Bailey’s Corner. The shop has definitely not lost any of the charm from its caravan days: 50s music streams from a record player, and every little spare bit of space has been filled with all sorts of knick-knacks you’d surely struggle to find anywhere else. Pre-loved vintage clothing, furniture and accessories from the 1940s to the 1980s makes April’s Caravan the ultimate vintage-lovers dream.
Down Memory Lane
34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick
For 17 years, Down Memory Lane has been a valuable member of the Canberra vintage scene. It is a family owned-and-run collectables store, meaning that there is a huge range of vintage jewellery, furniture, clothing, books and even cameras. With a ‘never-ending curiosity and passion for finding unique and unusual items from the past’, the staff at Down Memory Lane are happy to help people find exactly what they’re looking for.
Frith St
Lonsdale Street Traders, Braddon
One of my biggest (and yes, very insignificant-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things) fears, is going to a formal event and experiencing the incredibly awkward moment of “Oh, hey complete stranger, we’re wearing the same dress and now I’m trying to decide which will be less embarrassing for both of us: pretending not to notice or making a joke about it.”
Frith St, located in Braddon, specialises in unique vintage gowns and accessories for weddings and formals. Now I no longer have to worry about the dreaded ‘Same Dress Syndrome’, because the next time I’m shopping for a dress for a fancy occasion, I’m going straight to Frith St!
Jet Age Design
37 Townsville St, Fyshwick
When you’re next re-decorating your house, look no further than Jet Age Design, located in Fyshwick. Specialising in furniture, lighting and other ephemera from the 50s, 60s and 70s, Jet Age Design is the place to go, especially if your hoping to find something with a little more quirkiness than you would at a generic furniture store.
Landspeed Records
Garema Place, Canberra City
This one’s for you, music lovers! Landspeed Records is one of Canberra’s leading independent music store. A comprehensive and impressive stock spanning almost all genres means that hip hop, indie and punk rock lovers alike will find something to suit their tastes. But don’t just visit for the records – a huge range of band merchandise and vintage ladies’ fashion is also available.
Happy shopping!
