I can see why this place is called MOST WANTED. Every time I…read morestep into this little store I inevitably end up lusting over some vintage do-dad or furnishing. The space isn't big but the owners have cleverly made the most of it making you feel like you have stepped into a store straight from the 50's. These hand-picked vintage pieces range from furniture, groovy lamps and sparkly costume jewelry to home wares and art deco statues. (My favourite part of the store has to be the small collection of records and comics.) The only shame is their lack of online presence, It would be good to see some of their awesome collection on the interweb but as such it's hard to see their name pop up under anything. (even the yellow pages.) Conveniently located on Boundary st, I recommend you give these guys a visit.

What a strange combination of items this place sells. Their sign states they are purveyors of fine…read morejewellery, antiques and retro furniture. It would make sense that the jewellery is second hand considering the other items they sell, but I'm not sure that it is. I think what's happened here is that a retiree has decided to open a shop selling exactly what they feel like, which has resulted in the odd combination. Moving on from their stock, it's a nicely set out shop and most of their stuff is really quite lovely, especially their range of furniture. It's definitely worth a look if you're after a one off piece to complete your home.

Upon entry, New Farm Antiques doesn't look quite as impressive as the centres in Paddington and…read moreWoolloongabba. Don't let that put you off though, because this place is absolutely packed with treasures from times gone by. Some of the furniture at New Farm Antiques is absolutely incredible, and the stock appears to include some of the most genuinely antique pieces around. I came across oh so many things that I wanted to take home that it is probably a good thing that a) my credit card was at home and b) none of the bigger items would fit through my tiny apartment's front door. The staff are lovely and are happy for you to browse for as long as you want. You'll want to put plenty of time aside, because the store goes on and on and on and everywhere you look you'll find another little corner to explore.

This May marks the New Farm Antique Centre's 20th year of antique trading, and I actually cannot…read morebelieve I haven't fallen across this place yet. I was amazed and utterly awestruck when I walked up the ramp and found myself in this absolutely spectacular shop. Its plain and unassuming exterior belies the world of wonder you find yourself in as soon as you walk through the door, and that magic only intensifies as you meander through the quiet maze of antiques and collectables. Naturally, that consists of your staple antique items such as china, silverware, candelabras, chandeliers (lots of those), old telephones, clothing, jewellery, and bags. But the real drawcard for me here was the books. Oh my goodness. I bought a work of Sir Walter Scott's poetry with an inscription from 1871. 1871! The book is in incredible condition and the lovely gentlemen who run the centre obviously take great pride in preserving and selling these beautiful works of art. Speaking of works of art, they also have a few of those splattered across the walls. Near the entry you'll find one wall with framed pictures on it (of which, yes, I did buy one) and in the back you'll find a range of prints without having to pay through the nose for them. It's simply divine walking in here and I was utterly spellbound for at least an hour. It's not as big or winding as the Wooloongabba Antique Centre, but it's got a quixotic charm that envelops you the instant you walk in. It's like stepping into another world; opening the cupboard door and finding yourself in Narnia; it's mesmerising. You find yourself singing along to whichever soundtrack features that day (when I went in it was Abba) as you stumble across things like a Japanese pinball machine, a Singer sewing machine, and old charm bracelets. The more unique element about New Farm Antique Centre is that it's more culturally diverse than other antique centres I've visited, and that includes the Paddington Antique Centre. Where in other centres the shop is split into rooms in a home and categories, here things are split according to the culture to which they belong. I'm talking Aboriginal weapons, didgeridoos, and artwork; Oriental dressers, vases, and cupboards; African art pieces; Buddha statues positioned ever so casually. It was all I could do to not get too overwhelmed in its brilliance and breathe it all in. The lovely gentlemen here greet everyone as soon as they walk in the door, and they make you feel comfortable instantly. And then down the far back corner there is even a reading space where you can take a load off and pore over the old books in the bookcase. I'm in love with this place, and it has completely bewitched me.

This may be a beautiful store in which to shop for antique jewellery, but a recent unpleasant…read moreexperience there has turned me off. To start with, I was ignored as the shopkeeper was busy with another customer in the adjacent room. When the shopkeeper finally came out to see if I needed help, I was treated condescendingly and as if I were a bother. I simply went in to ask if they could look at some jewellery and tell me whether the stones were precious or not. She told me she doesn't have the expertise to tell whether a stone is precious or not, which is fine, but that I would have to see a valuer who would charge around $80 a piece. When I said that I wasn't after a valuation, simply someone who could tell me whether the stones are real or not, she said, "Well, no service is free, sweetheart." I left, seething, and went into another jeweller in the arcade who was very helpful, looked at my jewellery and was able to tell me what was what. I will be very reluctant to return to Kellie's Antiques.

Awesome books, unfortunately they closed several years ago but I believe they are still online.read more

I don't know what it is about the owners of certain small businesses. I'm talking about your cult…read morevideo owners, your music shop owners, and rare book sellers. They're always charismatic in the most unusual and undeniable way. They get under your skin. Bill, of Voyager Rare Books, Maps & Prints is no exception. Currently he's overseas on a book buying trip. Extravagant, much? Voyager Rare Books, Maps and Prints is a den for those with an interest in history, (definitely a history in books), maps, and other curiosities and oddities. It's like a real life version of the Cluedo library. Most items are locked behind glass cases, and you get the feeling that everything in there is precious. In the second room, just across the corridor, there's a room that exhibits the prints and maps that Bill has collected over the years. There's old world maps, botanical illustrations and sketches, and a boxed up, taxidermied pheasant on offer (Yes! I was just thinking I needed a pheasant for my dining room centrepiece). Voyager Rare Books, Maps and Prints really is my favourite refuge in the city. It's where I come to relax, get high on stale book smell, hang out with Bill, and learn oddball facts about the past. If you want a rare book, you can bring a $50 and try your luck, but I'd suggest clearing a few thousand on the credit card first.

Hobohemia is a collection of vintage charm, retro kitsch and a truck load of effort from the two…read moremasterminds behind this operation who source the store's wonderments. The items given space on the shelves, floor and outdoor area of this converted cottage are exceptional and have earned their stripes with a story from yesteryear. The range might be smaller than other locales but you know they've been hand selected and vetted. I've admired Hobohemia for a while but what really stamped them in my heart as a great antique, vintage and more store was recently talking to one of the owners Mike about wanting to hunt down old Queenslander doors for a bit of a DIY project. They didn't have any at the time but a few weeks later I got a wonderful message from Mike saying they'd had a few doors come in and was I still on the hunt. It's this commitment to the cause that makes Hobohemia a wonderful delight to visit.

As you're walking up the garden path towards the front door of this eccentric little antique store,…read moreyou feel a little like you're in some kind of gypsy camp thanks to the quirky range of odds and ends littering the yard. It was with great trepidation that I stepped over the threshold, but I was thrilled to find a delightful store packed with treasures. Not only do they have great stuff like vintage rocking horses and rustic old tricycles, but the prices are a lot more reasonable than I expected. It's a must for anyone that likes something a little different in their home.

This two levelled antique store is a world of all things outdated and old school. At times, it's…read moreeven historical and educational. The sheer size of their collections leaves one in awe. There are multiple cabinets devoted entirely to what I call 'man face mugs'. If it's ceramic, has a man's face moulded and painted into it, and it contains a liquid or solid- it's a 'man face mug'. Then there's the cabinet of rose pink glass wear. Be amazed at the cabinet full of egg holders and salt and pepper shakers, not to forget the cabinet of ceramic clown dolls, and try not to make a scene when you lay your eyes on the cabinet full of old, ornate pocket watches. There's a huge section of the store that houses military paraphrenalia. They have old war uniforms, badges, rifles, hats, navy gear, war propaganda posters- you name it, they've got it. There's your usual antique store wears: vases, tea sets, dry food canisters, books, clothes, and jewellery. They keep the furniture downstairs. What's neat about the furniture is that some of it has been organised into scenes. If you go downstairs and look to the first scene on the right, you'll find a dining setting that conjures up ideas of 'early colonial Australia'. The dining scene is set against a wall hanging of indigenous Australians walking through the desert. Again, 'early colonial Australia' pops up (actually, the last scene of The Proposition comes to mind, but banish that). It's up to you to decide whether it's tasteful or not. I can't afford anything in this store, not even a thimble, or spoon. It's an antique store, and so the prices are always jacked up, but this particular store's prices a bit over the top. A pair of no frills clip on earrings? $26- $40? No thanks. I will happily spend hours looking through your pretty things though. Thanks.

The unlimited possibilities that hit you when you walk into Southside Antiques is overwhelming. As…read morean avid fan of the Paddington Antiques Centre, I had a lot of high expectations walking into here. The thing I love about different antique centres is that they all stock the same types of things, but never ever stock the exact same things. That's the point right? They're antiques, sold for whatever reason from a previous owner with the possibility of delighting a new one. Well, Southside Antiques may be smaller than Paddington Antiques Centre, but it doesn't dull in comparison by any means. There's a beautiful ancient phone set just near the entrance that we aren't allowed to touch guys, just ask for assistance before you attempt to examine that one. There are antique tea sets that cost over a thousand dollars, vintage shoes and clothes, and the most beautiful and intricately crafted wooden chair I have ever seen in my life. There are even clogs for those of you who are Dutch! Everything is appropriately sorted into areas, and the kitchen looks like it's been lifted from a quintessential 50s advertisement with country-style drawers, old-school utensils, and nostalgic signage on the wall. Stumble along a little further and you'll find old movie posters, magazines, sewing patterns, and LPs, which I thought was just fantastic. You get so caught up in the glory of upstairs that you forget there's a whole untapped area of furniture downstairs with sets and singular pieces and clocks still ticking away marking time. There are some really beautiful Singer sewing machines and a fully fledged and restored washing mangle. Some of the items in this place fill you with wonder. So if you're scouting around for great antiques centres, make sure this one is a stop along your itinerary.

Holy dooley. I was lucky enough to discover this treasure trove open on a Sunday. Welcome to…read moreWilston's Lifeline Supa Store. It's a two storey jungle of rare as hen's teeth second hand wares. On the lawn outside of the store, there was a $89 mint condition black leather wheelchair as well as a whole range of bikes, some for little ones, and some for adults. The rooms are decked out like small themed rooms, in a similar fashion to how some antique stores set out their goods for sale. The only difference is that you'll pay less than half the price you'd pay at an antique store. They've got a violin for sale there for $50, imitation Chasseur slow cookers for $59 (which is cheap, let me tell you), old school pentax and polaroid land cameras (enquire about prices) and vintage coffee percolators for $20. They've got loads of your standard op shop finds: a killer book and record collection, toys galore, and troves of crockery and cutlery. It's not a bad place to come looking for some new furniture either. They've got a lot of stuff that looks like it was taken from your grandma's house, but in saying that, there are some great retro finds in there. It's not great for clothes- it's more of a odds and ends, nic nacs kind of place. While you're upstairs take a look at the original, aged and worn wooden trusses that hold up the curved corrugated iron roof. I can assure you, if you dare go in here, you will walk out with something great and unexpected.

If you love op shopping, this is the David Jones of them. They have antiques n kitsch, furniture,…read moretoys, collectibles, books, clothes, shoes, cutlery, crockery, cookware, decor, paintings