Looking for the best op shops and vintage stores in Canberra? You’re in the right place. Our guide covers top spots across the city where you can find everything from budget-friendly fashion to unique vintage finds. Canberra’s op shops are great for anyone wanting to shop smart, find something unique, or support sustainability. We’ve done the legwork to find the stores most worth your time, making it easier for you to discover great deals and interesting pieces.
Material Pleasures, Fyshwick
Material Pleasures is a consignment boutique in Fyshwick that specialises in good quality, second-hand designer fashion. The store offers a wide range of pre-loved Australian and international designer labels like Country Road, Oroton, Zimmermann, Camilla, David Lawrence and more. Material Pleasures is extremely selective about the clothes they accept, meaning you don’t have to shift through racks and racks of clothing to find something really special. It’s a great place to shop sustainable designer clothing without breaking the bank by buying it new.
While some pieces at Material Pleasures can feel a little dated (and not in the cool Y2K way), I’ve always found that it’s a great place to find timeless pieces like purses, leather jackets, and shoes in near-perfect condition. I’ve purchased many, many items there over the years.
Here’s what one of their 5-star Google reviews had to say:
‘Every time I visit Material Pleasures, I find something I can’t resist. The quality is always good, looking like new, and the prices are even better! The staff are friendly and helpful, and clothes are arranged so it is easy to find your size in different categories. This morning, I bought a winter jacket ($65) and a woollen jumper ($40). I’m sure I saved at least $200.’
Goodbyes, Lonsdale Street
Goodbyes is reminiscent of Material Pleasures in many ways – they’re also a designer op shop that only sells high-quality clothing – except they feel slightly younger and more hip. The window display is often perfectly curated with the latest fashion microtrends, and it’s almost impossible not to be drawn in. Goodbyes offers a great alternative for following trends while opting out of fast fashion and supporting sustainability. You can always expect a great range of Dickies, Carhartt, Converse, Doc Martens – or any other currently sought-after brand. Goodbyes can run a little on the pricier side, but the prices match the quality, and I’ve found lots of great bargains during sale periods.
Here’s one of their 5-star Google reviews:
‘Goodbyes is one of my favourite places in Canberra. The staff are always extremely welcoming, and I always feel comfortable being there. They have a great selection of clothes and accessories of all different styles. The price point is always on point, and even better when they are 50%!’
The Green Shed Underground, Canberra CBD
The Green Shed Underground, just off the corner of Garema Place in the centre of the city, is one of the biggest op shops in Canberra. The store is a haven for bargain hunters and vintage lovers alike, with rows and rows of vintage finds, second-hand treasures, and unique collectibles at affordable prices. The Green Shed is always worth a visit thanks to its vast, ever-changing selection. From vintage clothing and homewares to books, linen, and bric-a-brac, the store is like a treasure trove. You can easily spend a few hours in the basement hunting for unique second-hand clothing and good deals.
I often find myself at The Green Shed before a theme party or Halloween – the huge range of stuff they have makes it the perfect place if you’re looking for something really specific and maybe a bit kitsch.
Here’s one of their 5-star Google reviews:
‘The Green Shed is my favourite store of all time. Dramatic, I know, but over the years, I’ve started shopping more sustainably. I have gotten more than half of my clothes, bags, and accessories from here. As well as a number of records. The staff are amazing, and are so welcoming to everyone who comes in. Also, the best prices I have ever seen in thrift stores.’
Dirty Janes, Fyshwick
Dirty Janes in Fyshwick is definitely worth a visit. It’s as much a museum experience as much as it is a vintage precinct. It offers a market-style vintage shopping experience with over 100 carefully curated stalls in a massive warehouse. This includes restored mid-century furniture, antique art, and racks of pre-loved clothing from bygone eras.
Each stall within Dirty Janes is operated by individual dealers, so there’s a massive selection of vintage and antique treasures that are part of a specific curation or theme. This diversity means you can find truly one-of-a-kind niche pieces. I once spent months trying to find the perfect mahogany chair to accompany my vintage writing desk, only to find it within 20 minutes at Dirty Janes. I also picked up some vintage leather gloves on my way out.
There’s also a petting zoo, cafe and playground on-site, meaning you can keep the whole family entertained while you vintage shop until you drop.
Here’s one of their 5-star Google reviews:
‘Great place for kids. It was the biggest vintage shop I have ever been to. We found lots of amazing things to buy, and we were only there for coffee and cake. I highly recommend this place. Lots of local sellers set up among the vintage items. It’s a really cool place. Great food as well and absolutely child friendly.’
Down Memory Lane, Fyshwick
Down Memory Lane in Fyshwick is a hidden gem that offers a wide range of authentic vintage items from the 1920s to the 1960s and retro items from the 70s to the 90s. You can expect to find some truly unique items you’d struggle to source anywhere else in Canberra, including vintage fur coats made from materials like mink, rabbit, and fox, as well as leather goods crafted from crocodile, eel, and snakeskin.
All up, Down Memory Lane is the perfect place to go if you’re after truly authentic vintage that has been certified and vetted by experts. Forget about ever showing up to a party in the same outfit as your friends ever again – I bet no one else will be wearing a mink coat with eel skin shoes and Murano glass jewellery. These are truly one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
Here’s one of their 5-star Google reviews:
‘I have bought many wonderful items here, some of which I had been searching for for a very long time. Books, kitchenware, clothes, art glass, furniture… The range seems endless… I nearly always find something, and I visit at least six times a year and have done so for many years.’
Red Cross, Vinnies, And Salvos Stores
You can’t go wrong when it comes to the classic op-shops: The Red Cross, St Vincent De Paul’s (Vinnies) and the Salvation Army (Salvos) charity stores. You can find them all around Canberra, including Tuggeranong, Woden, Mitchell, Belconnen, Jamison, and Weston Creek. You’re almost guaranteed to find quality items at an affordable price no matter which store you go to, thanks to the large amount of donations they receive. You’ll find a whole range of household items, clothes in every size, occasion wear, and a few luxe items. I find op-shopping at charity stores is a great chance to find essentials that don’t cost an arm and a leg, like classic workwear and winter coats.
The Vinnies in Dickson is one of Canberra’s favourite op shops. They have a massive, well-organised range and some great buys. However, it’s often swarming with people on the weekend! It’s clear to see the secret is out. Here’s one of their 5-star Google reviews:
‘Visited over the wknd. This has got to be one of the most organised Vinnies I’ve been in. Thank you for ordering items by size- this makes it so much easier to find things. The staff are also a delight! Quite a busy store, too.’
Did We Miss Anything?
There are so many fantastic op shops across Canberra that it’s hard to cover them all in one article! Some other honourable mentions are Designer Op Shop Emporium in Braddon and Another Chance Op Shop in Scullin. Let us know if we missed out on your favourite op shop in this article or if you’d like a part 2! There’s also a variety of secondhand markets we’d love to cover.