MELBOURNE — Smith Street is a wonderful milieu of retail outlets, cafes, restaurants, bargain shops, and other assorted curiosities. The street draws a line between Collingwood and Fitzroy, and the public housing that lies in the heart of each suburb, ensuring that even the oddest characters and haunts are welcome. Smith Street Bazaar is a relatively new addition to the street’s landscape. Behind the building’s striking green front lies a trove of carefully selected 20th Century goods.
The ground floor is devoted to furniture, with a lovely selection of mid-century Danish pieces — think beautiful 1960s Brazilian-rosewood buffet — as well as art deco standards. Needless to say, vintage touchstones such as Borsani are represented: a black dining room table stands resplendently and is simply adorned by fellow Italian great, Olivetti.
The second level of the bazaar is home to more stalls. The arrangement of stalls ensures that objects don’t merely exist to be sold, but also fulfil a decorative function within the space. The clothing and accessories predominantly cater for females. The selection of records in the bowels of the bazaar is truly fascinating — the ‘50s and ‘60s are generously represented, and the breadth of this genre is rivalled only by the intimidating collection of 12” hip-hop singles.
There are cabinets of what one could describe as “milkbar paraphernalia,” all Coca-Cola, Cadbury and Big M. The collection of Game & Watch consoles is impressive, as is the Waltron GEC “space age UFO” stereo system. More furniture can be found towards the back of the second level and a careful combing of the space will reveal beautiful Italian leather shoes, Bakelite heirlooms and a grand butcher’s block.
The bazaar’s arched windows look out onto Smith Street and it’s terrace buildings, which act as shops on the street level and homes a staircase above. Collingwood’s commission flats peer from behind the row of terraces and their reflections are seen on the rosewood buffet.
Mon 12pm - 6pm
Tues - Fri 11am - 6pm
Sat - Sun 1030am - 5pm
