Wonder Chamber! This is hands down, one of the weirdest…read morestores that I've ever been to. Need an authentic meteorite? They've got several. Cat skeletons? They've got plenty. They've got a remarkable collection of stuff that's more like going to a creepy old museum or a mad scientist's place. They've got medical and scientific apparatuses that date back over a century. Their collection of animal specimens is incredible! They've got stuffed creatures, sea creatures, plasticized chicken embryos- all kinds of weird, wild stuff. They've got one of the most diverse selections of insects for sale that I'd ever seen before. These items have come from across the globe to make one of the strangest collections of stuff for sale ever. The staff was nice and attentive, and was happy to just let me browse through the aisles of crazy curiosities. A guy came in with a bust of Winston Churchill, looking for a glass case to go around it. They were quick to help him. It really is like a museum that everything is for sale at.

Wunderkammer is my go to Christmas shop. Once that time comes around, you can definitely find what…read moreyou need for almost everyone on your list. Even if they're not into the more macabre stuff, there'll still be something there. It's like a more interesting version of the national geographic store, in a way.

What a find! I completely dropped my bundle when I stumbled upon Geoffrey Hatty Warehouse along…read morethis derelict section of Johnston Street. Of course I knew about Geoffrey Hatty Applied Arts in Prahran, but as someone who doesn't have a spare $20k to drop on a 1930's French armchair every few weeks, I don't go there often. The warehouse has 'other' 20th century pieces that have been hand picked and shipped from Europe (mostly France and Italy), but that have not been deemed worthy of the flashy Applied Arts showroom. I could not believe how incredible this stuff is - there's a massive pink velvet quilted bedhead, huge industrial brass ceiling lights, ultra-sleek modernist lounge suites and a sideboard that is big enough to hide over ten corpses in. Or, you know, a lot of crockery. The building itself is pretty cool too - it really looks like an old school warehouse, the type you'd want to convert into a home and fill with this furniture if you had a spare couple of mill. The warehouse is open by appointment, or on Saturdays from 10 til 4. Well worth a visit for lovers of antiques.

When I was younger it seemed a bit dorky to go antiquing, like something my mum and dad would do…read more But it's places like the Old Wares Emporium that make antiquing cool and I always love to drop in whenever I am nearby. You can find some absolutely stunning stuff here and end up making a wish-list of things to buy once you've won the Tattslotto. Globes of the world, old gaming machines, retro telephones and even kitchen appliances (however it is not recommended that you actually use them!) Old Wares is expensive as are all antique stores of such quality. But this is a great place to head if you are willing to splash a bit of cash on that birthday girl/boy, or even if you are looking for a wedding present with a difference. My birthday is coming up... You know where to head.

Typewriters, telephones and hairdryers! The Old Wares Emporium on Rathdowne Street has all my…read morefavourite vintage appliances in abundance. The couple that work here seem to know a lot about all kinds of redundant technology and are happy to have a chat to collectors or those who are simply curious. The Emporium is a great spot to dig around little bits and bobs from days past, but it you won't find a lot of china or purely decorative pieces from the past here - it has a definite bend toward the industrial and commercial. For anyone decorating their homes with a vintage theme, a trip here is worthwhile as they've quite a collection of 'from the past but hot right now' items like world globes. The opening hours are limited, but if you're in dire need of a new walking cane from the 1930s then you can make an appointment and head in at a more suitable time.

Bizarre Bazaar! This cramped flea market is in the heart of…read morethe shopping district of Chapel Street in Melbourne. It's tucked into a strip shopping center, but this store goes on and on and on! The store is made up of various vendors' booths, each independently run, each with different themes or types of vintage and collectible items. The shops run from antique records, to vintage clothing to old posters. There's some strange stuff in here, but a lot of what you'd expect to find at a flea market. If you're getting dressed up for a costume party, or are just a hipster, this is a good place to go. When you enter, you are required to leave any bags at the door, and then allowed to wander the store. Many of the items weren't priced properly, leaving you to guess at the prices. Most of the booths were unmanned, so if you need to get a closer look at something behind glass, or inquire on the price, you're outta luck. One booth had a very overzealous merchant who kept trying to haggle with me over items that I had zero interest in. The bazaar is rather cramped, as you'd expect a bazaar to be. I felt nervous that I was going to break some priceless artifact the entire time!

Where can you have a retail experience and history lesson at the same time? You guessed it. Right…read morehere at Chapel Street Bazaar. This large second hand shop on Chapel Street is the site of many lost hours. Hours spent rummaging through countless area's filled with all manner of things. The space is segregated into over 70 market type stalls for you to get your forage on! You can expect retro furnishings, toys from your childhood, huge cult classic movie posters, funky retro fashions and vintage home ware and jewelery but you will mostly find what you don't expect. For a second hand goods Chapel Street Bazaar is over priced, but it needs to be or the stock would rush out the door and the huge space would be empty, and we can't have that. Don't worry though, its still good value! This place defines the term treasure trove. Get there and see what you can find!

Furniture, medical and science tools, signage, books, tools and the list could keep on going, it's…read morehard to tell where the list would actually end, given the maze of rooms filled with pleasurable antiques in this store Wally is a pleasure to chat to, and to negotiate with ;) Definitely worth a visit.

What a gorgeous shop front. Those windows! And that's just the exterior…read more Inside, it's even better. The ground floor is full of mint condition mid-20th-century furniture. Beautiful pieces of furniture in such good nick can demand a high price and they do. Knowing I can't afford much on this floor, I usually cast a quick glance over the goods just as a treat to my eyes, and then head up the stairs to the vintage clothes. I'm always pleasantly surprised by the prices here. For this location on Smith Street, the stall holders could really ask for more for their vintage finds, but they don't, and I for one, am not only grateful, but feel vindicated for being annoyed at retailers for upping the price tag just because they can. This is how it should be done. Beautiful store filled with earthly delights for all the enjoy (and possess).

A treasure trove of antiques and vintage furniture, if you wanted the decor of Mad Men all you need…read moreto do is visit the Smith Street Bazaar. Beautiful tables, sleek chairs and intricate sideboards are scattered throughout the enormous store. There are also some fantastic lamps, tea sets and vases, that look as thought they belong in your grandparents houses in the 1950s and 1940s. Up towards the back is a modest clothing section that has a great range of shoes, bags and accessories too (90s backpacks are back in people!). They also have an impressive range of costume jewellery. It isn't surprising that the Smith Street Bazaar always has some devoted retro fans or artists crawling through and marveling at the woodwork or kitsch posters. Last week I was very tempted by a slick wooden chair that was low, sexy, and remarkably modern, but with a price of $700 (quite reasonable for a quality piece but a mere dream to a student), I unfortunately had to kiss that beautiful piece of work goodbye. One day when I have an income and a house, I'll buy some furniture from the Smith Street Bazaar. But until then, it's always a pleasure to just look.

The flouncy and flowery Empire Vintage is about as kitsch as they come. Situated inside the…read morecharmingly named 'Suit Hospital', the store's window is crammed with retro beauties. A hidden treasure in the streets of Albert Park, Empire stocks hand-picked, genuine vintage finds, exclusive custom made products and contemporary wallpaper. It is an absolute Aladin's cave of finds, with delicate chiffon fifties dresses and fragile hand-beaded cardigans placed side by side with industrial wooden letters and old ladders. There are also tiny satin heels and a fantastical array of hats and fascinators, as well as a kooky array of knick knacks. Where ever you reside in this fine city, Empire Vintage is well worth travelling to the leafy streets of Albert Park for. This place is an old world goldmine.

My goodness is this place beautiful. 70s tiki bars, leather Danish sofas, oak desks and red-striped…read morebutterfly chairs - everything that would get your apartment immediately photographed by Frankie Magazine. I stumbled upon this store walking home from Barkly Square. I spotted a bamboo tiki bar (with matching bar stools) in the window and immediately gravitated towards it - it was so damn beautiful. Naturally, as most things are, it was hugely out of my price range but WOW it was nice to imagine it in my living room. Angelucci 20th Century don't just do furniture! They also have great homewares, mirrors and a variety of knick knacks (everyone loves a knick knack). A great warehouse for Saturday afternoon browsing or if you have a nice budget to spend on home-decorating or are looking for a gift with a difference. This is the second Angelucci store, sister to the Fitzroy store, and acts as more of a warehouse than a retail store.