You can usually get a feel for an antique store the moment you walk in. If you’re met with the musty smell of old books, they’re playing classical music on some AM station, and the old dude behind the counter is wearing tweed and peering over his specs at you, chances are you’re in a fairly traditional antique store run for collectors of ‘fine artifacts’. You might find some art deco stuff if you’re lucky, but you’ve got slim to nill chance of finding anything mid century modern! And other times you walk in and they’ve got some funky blues or jazz record playing, the guy behind the counter looks like he might have been a beatnik in his day, and he greets you with a smile, well chances are you’re going to find some great vintage items.
I find the Southern Highlands generally tends to have a lot of the first style of antique store. There are some gorgeous cottages and scenery and it’s a great place for a cruise, however the general vibe with toffs wearing their sweaters draped over their shoulders in their Porsche and BMW SUVs just makes a little vomit come up the back of my throat. However there are some cool things to find if you look hard enough. Here is some stuff which caught our eye last time we were there.
The details on this little boat like the wrap around windscreen, wings and sidetrim just scream 1950s. It was actually off a ride, I’d imagine something like a carousel.
Old school pokie.
Golden fleece sheep is apparently cast alloy, and wearing its original paint. Would look great on the shelf.
This is an original shop display from the ’30s from Ballarat Bitter featuring ‘Ballarat Bertie’.
Amazing mid century prints from Qantas, from the early ’60s.
Arcade style shooting game.
