An antique shop guide to Sydney
There is something quite exhilarating about finding a vintage gem. You’ve done the hard yards – gone out of your way to travel to the antique store (you aren’t buying at malls), explored every nook and cranny of the shop, rummaged high and low and almost given up until you stumble on something truly one-of-a-kind. We know that satisfied feeling so we asked you – our Over60 community – for your favourite antique stores because who else is better equipped than the locals and the experts of our community? Luckily, Over60 community members were only too happy to share their favourite antique shops. So on your next trip to Sydney (or if you live here) you’ll want to take note of these. And for those of you across Australia who want to know about antique stores new you, stay tuned we will bring you more shopping guides in the coming months.
Charna Burdett, 69, from Kellyville, NSW, recommends A Little Bit of Trash and Treasure (Shop 51, Station Road, Toongabbie.)
They have a great variety of pre-loved and vintage collectable items ranging from furniture, bric-a-brac, knick-knacks, lamps, giftware and jewellery.
“I love to visit them because the items in the shop they buy from auctions are very old world and remind me of my childhood,” says Charna. “They have antique furs, old lamps, really beautiful old items which bring back memories!”
“I have bought a cast iron saucepan, a big basket and some gloves.”
If anyone is ever in the Central Coast area, Diane Koszek, 60, from Chipping Norton, NSW, favourite antique shop is Gumnut Antiques (296 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty).
“Gumnut Antiques has so much fantastic memorabilia – a real walk down memory lane,” says Diane.
“This is where my husband found my perfect 50th birthday present. It was a gold half sovereign depicting the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1887. This was on a beautiful gold chain. I have always had a fascination for Queen Victoria’s life and this gift could not have been better,” she shares.
“I also have seen things from my childhood Singer treadle machines which my grandmother used to show me how to sew on. There are so many other things which remind me of my childhood days.”
To score a bargain in the city, Cheryl O’Brien recommends Mitchell Road Antique & Design Centre (17 Bourke Road, Alexandria).
“Always full of interesting second-hand furniture and homeware, it is almost impossible to visit Mitchell Road without coming home with a bargain or something you have not been able to find elsewhere,” she says.
“What I also love about this antique store is they have arranged things so it feels like there are little shops within the space by arranging similar things together – for example all stools are together and all wardrobes together and so on. There is also a good range of garden decorator items, garden furniture and pots. And in another section they are a good range of silver cutlery, trays and also crystal pieces.”
Pam Talbot now lives in Queensland but remembers many good antique stores from when she used to reside in Sydney.
“There have always been a plethora of antique shops along the Great Western Highway between Parramatta and Mount Victoria,” she says. “Just the scenery is worth the drive.”
Pam recommends Kurrajong Antiques Centre (101 Old Bells Line Of Road, Kurrajong, NSW) for “good jewellery and glassware.” They have a vast collection of pieces including fine china, crystal and wooden items housed in an old Art Deco styled movie theatre.
In Windsor, Pam says to look out for Lucilles Interesting Collectables (22 Kable St, Windsor, NSW) for good jewellery or Thompson Country Collectables (11 New Street, Windsor, NSW) for Georgian, Victorian and later furniture, glass, porcelain and jewellery.
Michelle Rogers says to look out for Baker and Houghton Antiques (66 Planthurst Road, Carlton, NSW) who source their wares from France, UK and North America as well as locally.
“Fabulous shop, fabulous owners! I have a house full of their beautiful furniture!” says Michelle.
Beverley Hampson has founds a whole host of shops under one roof!
Southern Antique Centre (243-245 Princes High, Sydney, NSW). There are 20 different antique dealers here with an extensive and varied range of collectables whether you’re after furniture, china or jewellery.