A sign on the rise of the steps says 'Welcome. It costs nothing to look'…read more And there's plenty to see in this tiny shop. The other day I spied: - A brass bell in the shape of Queen Bess. - Decorative plates featuring Lord Beaconsfield and Mrs Gladstone (?!). - An art deco cocktail trolley (squeal). - Porcelain invalid cups. - The obligatory Norman Lindsay print. - Creepy 'Rape of Europe' pastel. It always amazes me how the word 'rape' is taken by some artists as a euphemism. Staff and lovely and kind, and unlike many antique stores, you're encouraged to just browse. Lovely.

I do appreciate treasure troves that would make Ariel herself jealous. Two floors overflowing with…read moreantique upon antique was fun, only slightly overwhelming and provided plenty of Annie Hall moments, awkward "racist: yes or no" banter, fingers, necks and lapels full of gorgeous jewellery, some seriously amazing senior photo/Glam Shots By Deb opportunities, and a stunning decanter. (Seriously. It's beautiful.) I too was asking myself "how many wonders can one cavern hold?" and I'd only seen the first floor at that point. I also appreciate affordability. I did a fair bit of antique snagging, but was only hit with a $55 bill. Prices are more than reasonable here. I don't appreciate rude staff. From the second we walked in we felt it - even the barristas at the attached coffeeshop were brusk. It wasn't blatant rudeness, but it was quite obvious the folks behind the counter (of both the antique palace and the aforementioned attached coffeeshop) were eager to get us out after what I have to imagine was a busy Saturday session. Or at least I hope this was the reason, because I really can't imagine the reason otherwise. It just wasn't the fairy tale ending I was hoping for. That said, you're not here for the customer service, you're here for the amazing antiques, so you won't be disappointed.

Great two story antiques and vintage mart. You'll find books, jewellery, artwork, plates,…read morefigurines, clothes and hats. Saw a lot of milk glass and wood furniture. Opens at 10am and closes at 5pm.

Lovely little his and hers antique shops hidden off the highway in Lawson. The couple who run them…read moreseem to play tag with who's open. When we got there, his (trains, old toys, kitchenalia) was opening up, hers firmly shut. 10 minutes later, he had disappeared, hers was wide open. So for his, we'll have to go back, the sputnik salt cellars in the window had my name all over them. Hers, the littler one, is a tiny treasure box, filled with antique and vintage jewellery, linens, bric-a-brac, and the odd gorgeous bit of furniture. There's buttons, laces and jewels in little drawers you can ask to look through, and a stunning flapper dress up on the wall that you never see the like of anywhere. I bought a 1950's lead crystal necklace here many years ago which I treasure, as well as lots of little gifts I've given to others. A real pleasure.

Full black, drowning-in-black, Victorian era mourning regalia I spied here once. Never seen the…read morelike. No way you could forget you're in mourning swathed neck to ankle in suffocating black crepe. There are often wonders lurking in here. While their opening hours can be a bit flexible (consider the above an approximation) it's always worth dropping off the highway and going in to see this store. Linens and books, tools and kitchenalia, they've a great range of antiques and collectables in store. Best of all, and for which I love and bless antiques centres, are the stories that come with the objects. Once, in purchasing a 1950's kid's book called 'Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars' and a very brown, very battered, I couldn't believe it antique sampler, I was given the piece's history. Bought out at Windsor, it was sewn by the daughter of the Dean of Surgery at Sydney Uni in the early days. A student myself there at the time (the uni, not the surgery) I smiled at the coincidence, and wondered if the name-lost daughter wanted to go to University herself rather than sit at home in hot Windsor and stitch. I treasure her work, in her memory. And the spinster in space story? Who could go past that?

Out of the various antique shops this is our favourite! They just have stuff that I would buy if I…read moreowned a bigger place! They even sell Chinese DVDs! How can you beat that lol

Ditch the mobile. I want the creaky wall phone on the left as you come in the doors. It's the turn…read moreof the century kind with a separate ear- and mouthpiece. I'm sure phone conversations were more interesting back then. None of this 'I'm on a train' rubbish. Clocks. Gorgeous antique furniture. Tiny little rooms filled with vintage clothes. Glass cases with bakelite bracelets and bizarre porcelain bric-a-brac. A lovely place to wander and gaze. The prices vary - I spotted an amazing, great big, blue kitchen table for what seemed like a very reasonable $220, and a hideous French knight on a steed brass sculpture thingy for $6600. Mmm, I'll take the table methinks. When I asked the man behind the counter when the store was open he replied in a booming French accent 'Eight days a week, young lady! We are slaves!' All with a great big smile.

Story of my life…read more This fab secondhand/antiques store has some great bargains for the stylishly strapped for cash. Furniture, a great pile of persian rugs, books, crockery, you name it. Adorning my wall right this very moment is a portrait I picked up here. It's just a study of a woman, it looks to have been done in the 1920s or 30s and it is very rough around the egdes. I love it. For some reason, the signature is upside down in the top left hand corner (unless the whole thing is meant to hang upside down) and the woman's white coat is rendered with the most wonderfully rough and scumbly texture. Everyone asks if it's me (looks NOTHING like me) but hey. And I'm so the type to have a whopping great portrait of myself on the wall. In another life. But the point is - fab old portrait study by someone who could really paint - picked up here a few years ago for $3. Yep, couldn't believe it myself. A must see place if rummaging is your thing, and the prices can be a lot better than you'd expect. If only they were open more often.

There's a wurlitzer at the top of the stairs. Four rooms packed with vintage delights as well as…read moresome modern reproductions. Stacks of hats and glasses (heart shaped sunnies anyone?) 1950's dresses and rockabilly repros. Lots of menswear too. Out the back there's a smattering of homewares, bric-a-brac and books. Love a shop where you can buy antique gloves and a stretcher to keep them in tiptop shape, a Superman tie or one of those weird turbans 1940's vamps used to wear in black and white movie just before they led some poor hapless chap to his doom.

40 dealers, one emporium of antiquey delights. Cheaper and more varied extension of Mr Pickwick's…read morenextdoor. Some of the items I discovered on this visit: - A barrel of 'Stout Walking Sticks' -$28 each. Good. Stoutness is important. - Netsuke. Wow. - An eight-foot high print of Frida Kahlo. - An amazing carved Victorian high chair. For the Baby of Quality. Or possibly the Prince Regent. - A somewhat battered Conquistador puppet who'd obviously been out subduing his neighbours in the Scary Idol Section. - An Edwardian book describing different themed 'Nights on the Town' in London. For $5. Kind of like an early Yelp. Came home with book and stylish vintage dress. Ready for 'A Basher's Night' in Hoxton. Really, that's what the book says.