Apr
29
Sunshine of my Love
picture courtesy of the Guyndah Museum http://www.gayndahmuseum.com.au/vintage-vehicles.html
I went to Sunshine yesterday. Or as I call it ‘the suburb that should be done for false advertising’. It’s named after the Sunshine tractors that used to be made there. Sadly, visiting is normally a dreary experience. But it’s always full of surprises so I do keep getting drawn back again.
The best thing about Sunshine is the op shops. They’re amazing. And with a distinct lack of ‘hipsters’ in the local population there’s not much competition for the good stuff.
I thought it was time to get around to my guided tour of the Sunshine op shops as well as showing off some of my new vintage finds.
First up and the best of the lot is the Sunshine St Vinnies (map link). Every time I go there I get ace stuff for not many dollars.
Sunshine St Vinnies (SSV) is actually where the Op Shop Goddess lives. If you need something and you want to buy it second hand, just think about it for a week and then go there. Chances are you’ll find it.
When Tara was old enough to need some furniture I thought ‘gee, wish I could find some lovely handmade wooden chairs for her’. Went to SSV the next week and found two of these:
I can’t remember how much I paid but it was either $3 or $4 each. And they’re handmade! And super well made, will last WAY longer than some cheap plastic numbers.
And THEN I’d been thinking for ages that I needed to get the materials together to make a beanbag ’cause they’re such awesome things to have around the house. Popped down to SSV and lo and behold:
$5! And it’s a perfect stitching seat!
SSV is also a ripper spot for picking up vintage fabrics and clothes. Half my apron collection comes from there. This was the latest yesterday:
Surely enough ranting about one store. But it’s a great place for cute things for the kitchen and books and even plants sometimes. I’ve not found it that great for clothes as it does target the young girls market a bit much for my liking. But still managed to pick up a couple of good ol cardies. And the best bit is that it’s across the road from the train station and bus terminus so very easy to get to!
Next up and just around the corner on Hampshire Road is the Goss n Shop shop. I think it’s run by the Anglicans? Can’t remember… It’s a great place for clothes, especially kids clothes and has a pretty good kitchen section. But the best thing about this place is the craft supplies section. It’s awesome, and extremely well organised. They clearly have a volunteer or three who understand the importance of a well organised stash! The fabric is all rolled up and clearly labelled with price and size and the buttons are all organised by type in cute little containers. My ONLY problem with this place is that some of the craft stuff is way too expensive. Like, more expensive than the same item brand new. Yet, the completed craft work is very undervalued. One day I was in there and saw tapestry working frames for $8 and completed tapestries that would’ve taken hours and hours to make for $5.
Sigh.
But a genuinely nice place to visit and there’s even a place to pray if you’re that way inclined..
By this stage you will be needing a rest. I suggest you pop across the road to Miel. Their food is healthy and yum and their coffee isn’t too bad either. Double shot isn’t default so make sure you ask for it if you like your coffee with coffee in it.
After Miel you should head through the arcade next to the discount pharmacy across the street. Make sure you check out the Indian food shop in there. It rules. Lots. There’s also some groovy stuff in the African shops. Check them out!
Then head out the other side of the arcade and across the carpark and across the street on Clarke Street is not one but TWO op shops!
In October(ish) last year the Salvos opened a new store there. It’s pretty swish and has a lot of new stuff but you can find some really good things. I’ve seen a couple of sewing machines in there and last time I visited they had a gorgeous white portable typewriter for only $10. It is generally on the expensive side of things but it’s a really nice clean store and the staff are really friendly and helpful.
Next door is the Market op shop – I think it’s called something a bit different but does have Market in the name! It’s part of the Unitarian Church on the corner. It’s an incredible shop. It’s not open all the time and even when it’s supposed to be open it sometimes isn’t but it’s worth getting in there. It’s a very cluttered shop and has a fair bit of stuff you won’t be able to dig deep enough to find but it’s absolutely worth a good rumage. The stuff in there is pretty cheap too. I’d describe it as one of the last country opshops left in the city where you can find really old, rare antique vases holding the knitting needles!
I picked up a couple of beautiful old hand made pieces yesterday:
Look at the amazing detail on this!
I also picked up this insane ‘thing’. Would love to hear if anyone can think of any suggestions as to what is might have been made for. It’s got no fingers or thumbs so it’s not a glove. It’s too small to be a bag caddy, would probably only fit two plastic bags. The hole is at the top so it’s not a puppet. Any ideas?
I’ve hung him up in the bathroom so he can enjoy the afternoon sun.
There is another op shop ‘over the tracks’ which I just heard about but have yet to visit. Will report when I do.
The other good things about Sunshine are: awesome Indian food shops, awesome Library, awesome vege shop on Devonshire Rd and some pretty good Pho in any one of the yummy Vietnamese restaurants.
But yes Sunshine does have it’s fair share of gloom. It saddens me that in a part of Melbourne with very bad numbers on all the health and education indicators that there aren’t many healthy options around. Even the advertising is all for really unhealthy stuff. Outside every school there is ads for junk food. It makes my blood boil. I wonder what sort of start a lot of these kids are getting when their diet is made up of sugar, salt, fat and colourings before they even turn one..
Bak to the sunshine though! We do have community gardens and urban orchards and sewing groups and language groups and we’re working on bike paths and slowly we’re making this part of town a more healthy and sustainable place to live. So I have hope.
Hooray!
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