What I love about the Paddington Antique Centre is that you can literally spend hours in there. This place is heaven for anyone who loves collectable antiques, vintage clothing and antique furniture. I have bought many presents for friends and relatives here and they have always been well received. One thing I love to do with my girlfriends at the Antique Centre is try on a pile of vintage dresses, last time I went there with a friends of mine, we literally spent 2 hours trying on the most extravagant dresses. This was a whole lot of fun but not good for our wallets as we each wanted to buy about 5 of the dresses we tried on but had to settle for one each. There are a number of stalls that sell vintage attire- all in impeccable condition too. And as for presents- the Antique Centre is also the place where I bought my father a vintage Yaschica camera for his birthday. The camera is from the 1940's but miraculously, it still works. I also bought my sister an antique perfume bottle (the type with the pump and tassels) which really stands out in her extensive perfume collection. The beauty of buying presents from the Antique Centre is that you can find things that are thoughtful and unique to give to your loved ones. The Paddington Antique Centre is never dull, make sure you pop in fairly often as they are always getting new treasures in stock. read more

Empire Revival - Antiques Near Me - Paddington, QLD

I cannot actually believe I've never been into the Paddington Antique Centre before. If you've ever driven down Latrobe Terrace, you'd have seen it. You can't miss it, really. But its simple exterior doesn't nearly do it justice. Walking into the Paddington Antique Centre is like stepping into another time; another world, another place filled with history and previous lives. I found it a delightful maze of history and whimsy and you really have to go slowly to absorb its equally awe-inspiring and humbling treasures. You can round one section filled with jewellery and wedding dresses and go around another corner and find yourself amongst a brass diving helmet and telescope (seriously, they have a diving helmet). They literally have everything including a very-well laid out nautical section that left me speechless. And they have stacks of old luggage, which is very appealing to me as I adore vintage luggage and carry it around like a badge of honour. Paddington Antique Centre has standard brown luggage, floral luggage, and some very quaint hatboxes to boot. They also have heaps of furniture if you want to add some character to your home. I stumbled across the most gorgeous writing bureau complete with vintage keys that are very popular as accessories these days. It's overwhelming to walk amongst all these items and know that they had former lives and that they carry so much history within them. Not only can you pick up a unique item for a bargain, you find yourself picking up things you don't even need. That's just the allure of their antiques. My favourite author once noted that the Paddington Antique Centre was inspiring to her, and now I understand why. Only go if you have a few hours spare because it's so easy to be transfixed and get lost in its world of history and whimsy. I cannot express my love for this place more; it's definitely a Brisbane treasure. read more

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This place is a huge building full of individual stalls. It is an old theater and you can still see some of the decor and structure. Each stall has their own particular style. You will find such things as retro clothes, tiki, melamine, Delft ware, English China, records, posters, 70s Tupperware, antique jewelry, figurines, ivory, silverware, furnishings, furniture, silky oak, tin wares, taxidermy, bronzes. So you see, it is quite the Aladdin's cave. However it is definitely not the bargains you be looking for. They see you coming!!! Includes a cafe and toilets. On the same strip are some other shops and cafes. read more

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This place has everything. Like, EVERYTHING. Which is very cool, but also means that you do need to do some digging around to find what you want. There's a bit of rubbish, and some absolute gold as well. Each little section within the Centre is run like a separate stall, and each stall may specialise in something particular like clothing, or military history, or glassware. There are some amazing jewellery finds as well - if you are after something a bit different and original with a bit of history attached then this is the place to come. If you're into sewing and knitting the section right at the front near the entrance is a complete treasure trove of vintage buttons, patterns, and crafty paraphernalia. Be prepared to spend a good half a day rummaging around looking at everything. That's ok though because when you need a break there is a cute little café inside that does Devonshire teas, and being Paddington there are also a heap of other eatery choices up and down Latrobe Terrace. read more

Originally a movie theatre (est. in the 1920s) the Paddington Antique Centre is one of the coolest heritage buildings in Brisbane, with its high ceilings and hardwood floors, you can even make out where the old screen would have once been revealed from behind the red velvet curtain. Due to its history it makes sense that it's been converted into a den of antiquities. As a boy growing up in Paddington, I used to love spending hours marvelling at the old military regalia, samurai swords and other curiosities housed beneath the glass. In my adult years I've moved my attention to more peaceful matters, having bought gifts here for my family and my partner. The centre operates on the model of allowing various different dealers to peddle their wares from different sections of the building. That said it isn't at all like a market in feel - you can walk around peacefully for hours without feeling like anyone will try to sell you anything. I've successfully bought earrings and a paua shell bracelet for my sister's birthdays, vintage cufflinks for my father and a necklace for my partner. When it turned out she didn't like the necklace, I was able to bring her in and trade it in for a couple of items she could bear to be seen wearing. All's well that ends well! read more

To be honest, I'd probably give the Paddington Antique Centre five stars even if there was nothing in there. For me, so much of this place's charm is about its exterior. This majestic old heritage building is perched above a huge gully in Paddington and with it's high ceilings and creaky floors it really does get you in the mood for some antiques. The Paddington Antique Centre is one of those antique places that is made up of a huge room with lots of separate sections owned by individual stall holders. I always find this system great for vintage and antique shopping because you're guaranteed a variety of different styles and eras. The only criticism I have of PAC is that there seems to be an unnecessary overlap of 'shabby chic' themed sections, but I know that shabby chic is very fashionable at the moment so it's probably just a matter of what's in demand and what sells. The combination of antiques and the heritage building make the Paddington Antique Centre really special. read more

As a long-time collector of antique Australiana furniture, in particular dining tables of Hoop Pine, wardrobes, chairs and other items of rare woods, the Paddington Antique Centre used to be on my regular calling card of places to sweep for rarities and great deals. However, unfortunately, deceased estate sales in places like Toowoomba and other regional cities which had much of these great pieces for sale are dwindling and such furniture is almost becoming as rare as the proverbial hen's teeth. Today, hence, most of the antique shops around Brisbane have turned to selling vintage clothing, jewellery and other household items that could only be classified as crap - hardly antiques - you could find at any garage sale, just name the suburb. Unfortunately, the Paddington Antique Centre has fallen victim to this as well with aisle after aisle of meaningless junk that would hardly pass muster on "The Antiques Roadshow," let alone find anyone willing to depart with their hard-earned dosh. It's sad, really, because buying antiques used to be fun, there was a taste of buying history and craftsmanship you don't see today, yet now all that's left are war medallions and swords, someone's idea of a pricey glass vase that you could get for $2 at Crazy Clark's, albums from the 60s and things which just simply aren't antiques in the real sense. Sure, throwing something on the shelves from even the 1970s could be called an antique today, but the real antiques of yesteryear have disappeared like the dinosaurs. Sorry, Paddo Antique Centre, you've lost your mojo, and that indoor cafe is a weird addition to what once was a great place without such trappings. read more

Empire Revival - Antiques Near Me - Paddington, QLD

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When you walk through the doors of Paddington Antique Centre, it's nearly impossible to know where to start. Do you want to walk around simply admiring the old theatre in which the centre is located? Do you want to browse for hours among the endless array of items for sale? Or do you just want to grab a coffee at the in-store café and enjoy the view? I generally like to do all three, so I make sure I've got a bit of time on my hands. The store is so huge that you'll probably need a sit-down somewhere in the middle of your hunt. You don't need to know what you're looking for. In fact, you don't need to be specifically looking for anything to enjoy the Centre. An icon in Paddington and Brisbane, the Paddington Antique Centre is a wonderful place to pass some time and maybe skip back a few decades. read more