A Local's Guide to Thrift Shops in Melbourne, Australia
When I first moved to Melbourne, I owned one pair of pants and one sweater. I was desperate to fill my closet with clothing suitable for Melbourne’s chilly winters and boiling summers, but I was in luck. I have thrift shopped everywhere from Athens to Vietnam, and I can confidently say that Melbourne has one of the best thrift shopping scenes in the world.
As a very environmentally-conscious city, thrifting has become a significant part of the culture and fashion trends in Melbourne. They have lovingly nicknamed their thrift shops, “op shops,” as a shorthand for the opportunity that secondhand shopping gives you to contribute back to society.
Whenever I travel or move somewhere new, I have found that thrift shops are the best tool for finding the trendiest street in any city. This is how I found my favorite neighborhoods in Vienna, Byron Bay, Dublin, and other cities around the world.
If you know where to look, there are a lot of options for thrifting lovers in Melbourne. Here is a guide to some of the best thrift shopping in Melbourne, Australia:
Thrift Shops by Suburbs
Thrift Shop Chains in Melbourne, Australia
These chains are scattered around the city so you're likely to stumble across them. Here's a general vibe guide to some of the most popular thrift shop chains in Melbourne.
Salvos
In classic Aussie fashion, Salvos is a nickname for the Salvation Army. It is much more service-oriented than any of the other thrift shops on this list, but that you are still likely to find solid pieces at very reasonable prices.
Vinnie’s
Short for St. Vincent de Paul Society, Vinnie’s is the Catholic Australian equivalent of a Goodwill. They’ll accept anything and they tend to have a lot of options for whatever you’re looking for. I found it was a nice for stocking up on thermals, sweaters, and other warm weather clothes. When I lived in Melbourne, I signed up for a loyalty which made it even cheaper.
Savers
Savers is not for the faint of heart. It is a massive op shop that requires to dig through rows and rows of secondhand clothes, but they have some serious hidden gems at insanely low prices. I also always looked through their book section to find my next read.
Goodbye’s
Goodbye’s is more curated than many of the thrift shop chains mentioned in this list. The American equivalent would be a Buffalo Exchange. They sort through donations to carefully preserve their reputation for selling high-end pieces. If you take a look at the colored tags, you’ll find that many of the items go on sale the longer they stay on the rack.
Mutual Muse
Mutual Muse is similar to Goodbye’s with their strict selection process (RIP that one time I brought a massive of clothing and they only accepted one item). They have fewer locations than the others, but it’s always worth a short snoop.
Secondhand Markets in Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne has several, regular secondhand markets that are available most weekends. If you are interested in finding the more lowkey, hidden markets, they tend to have better deals and fewer crowds. The best way to find them is to follow your favorite vendors on Instagram because they’ll usually post the details.
Camberwell Secondhand Market
With 400 stalls, the weekly Camberwell Market is Melbourne’s biggest marketplace for secondhand goods. They have furniture, fashion, and food. It's a great way to spend a Sunday morning and you can sip on some of Melbourne's famous coffee.
Rose Street Artists’ Market
Each Saturday and Sunday the Rose St Artists' Market gathers some of Melbourne's most exciting artists and designers. Walk around the warehouse to check out the handmade fashion, decorations, and art pieces that are for sale.
Footscray Finds
Footscray Finds shuts during the winter, but when it's open, this monthly market is absolutely bursting with vendors. The stalls are different each month, but you can expect everything vintage clothing, locally designed and made goods and homewares, vinyl records and even locally grown fresh produce.
Thrift Shops in Fitzroy, Melbourne
Fitrzoy is one of the best suburbs for thrift shopping. Whether you are looking for curated stores or basic op shops, there are plenty of options on Brunswick Street or Smith Street. Learn more about the best things to do in Fitzroy.
Lost and Found Market
You could spend an entire day wandering around the Lost and Found Market on Brunswick Street. It's a warehouse of vintage resellers and they have a lot of designer brands, accessories, and even sneakers.
Out of the Closet
Out of the Closet curates rare vintage designs such as band tees, party shirts, and spray jackets. They also have great deals on winter coats.
Vintage Sole
Vintage Sole has an online shop, but the store is fun to walk around and it's located right in the heart of Fitzroy. It is best for those who are interested in 80s, 90s, or Y2K looks.
Thrift Shops in Brunswick, Melbourne
If you close your eyes and throw a rock down Sydney Road, odds are you will hit about three op shops. Learn more about the cutest cafes and beer gardens in Brunswick.
Melbourne Vintage
Melbourne Vintage is a collection of curated vintage goods with a focus on sustainable shopping.
Vintage Threads
Vintage Threads has streetwear, vintage clothing, and activewear. They will work with local artists to recycle old pieces into newer designs. My friend got a gorgeous recycled Carhartt jacket that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Still Good Recycled
Still Good Recycled has a good variety of clothing at reasonable prices. It's on one of Sydney Road's side street, so it is a bit more hidden than other thrift shops on this list.
Thrift Shops in Prahran, Melbourne
Chapel Street Bazaar
This is one of Melbourne's most iconic and longest running vintage stores. There are a lot of vendors in the shop, and you can haggle for a better price on most items.
Stupid Vintage
Stupid Vintage is very curated with trendy pieces and a beautiful design. They are closed on Sundays because they travel around to participate in local markets.
Shag
Shag has great accessories and other statement pieces. It can be a bit pricier, but it's good for festival shopping or other splurge-worthy events. They also have a location in Collingwood.
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