Macarthurs Arcade Katoomba

For those who like to dig through treasure troves of vintage and antique items, Macarthur's Arcade in Katoomba is simply heaven. Located on the main strip of shops on Katoomba Street, I'm not over-exaggerating when I say that hours can easily be wiled away here.



The entry of the shop is flanked by jam-packed glass windows, and a sign out the front declares that dogs are allowed inside as long as they are on a leash (a water bowl for thirsty pooches is also provided). Walking in, you'll go past the counter with staff who love to chat about their objects, and immediately find yourself surrounded by numerous glass cabinets.



These cabinets are filled to the rim with bric-a-brac, including antique toys, vintage sunglasses and rare jewellery. Further on, you'll encounter racks of vintage fur coats, dresses and jackets, and the beginnings of what turns out to be an enormous collection of antique furniture. Peering down from high shelves are an assortment of antique tins, many of them from classic Australian brands.





Further on, the room opens out to an enormous expanse of antique clothing, hats, furniture, collectibles, housewares and more. Dig around and you'll find all sorts of surprises – a collection of vintage sewing patterns jammed in an old suitcase; a display of hand-knitted tea cosies, and entire picnic sets. You name it, you'll probably find it.



Every decade is covered here. Whether it's colourful 1970's nightgowns, bright 1960's bucket chairs, or decorative 1930's hats; it really is like taking a history lesson in the most fun way possible. The prices are reasonable too, ranging in conjunction with the age and quality of the item. Of course, more rare finds such as some of the exquisite turquoise jewellery pieces have more of a high cost. But it doesn't cost you a cent to look.



Every time I go to the Blue Mountains, I always have to stop in Katoomba just so that I can visit this store. I don't think I've ever spent less than an hour in it - there's simply too much fun to be had to spend any less time there. If you've got an interest in history, love hunting for antiques, or just want to spend some time doing something a little different; I would definitely recommend a browse of this store. Who knows, you might even find yourself a little something to buy.



Rating: 10/10

Where: 84 Katoomba Street, Katoomba.
Why: Because it's so much fun to hunt through
Cost: What you spend is up to you
When: Seven days a week 9:00am to 6:00pm

Good for kids: Yes, they'll be tempted by all the vintage toys.

Categories:

#blue_mountains
#katoomba
#antiques
#shopping

%sydneyfun