From a sleepy river town, Brisbane has burgeoned into a shopping haven of vibrant upscale precincts and eclectic inner-city suburbs. Gather a few good girlfriends, put on your best dresses and shop till you drop.
For the glitz and glamour
In the heart of Brisbane is Australia’s largest open-air pedestrian mall, Queen Street Mall (Queen Street, QLD 4000). This half-kilometre stretch of sparkling shopping centres boasts over 700 specialty stores inaccessible by cars, an exclusive privilege for shoppers to move from mall to mall without dodging traffic. Luxury boutiques with the likes of Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton lavishly occupy the exquisite Queens Plaza (262 Queen Street). Queensland’s largest one-location departmental store, David Jones, is located at Lower Ground, Ground and Level 1.
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Wintergarden (171-209 Queen Street) is a stone’s throw away, donning a gorgeous nature-inspired facade and home to Queensland’s only Coach store. Check out upmarket Australian brands such as Sambag and Mecca Maxima.
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Home to Queensland’s biggest Myer departmental store and over 180 specialty shops, The Myer Centre (91 Queen Street) is your six-storey, one-stop shopping destination. Make this your final shopping stop. Drop your bags, sit back and enjoy a good blockbuster movie in the eight-screen cinema at level 3.
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For indie finds
Affectionately called ‘The Valley’ by Brisbane locals, Fortitude Valley (Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006) is a bustling inner-city suburb buzzing with life. The Valley is lined with eclectic eateries and a sprinkle of art galleries, offering some of the best indie shopping to be had in Brisbane. Take a walk down the quaint narrow streets of The Valley to unveil Brisbane’s favourite designers like Gail Sorronda, Easton Pearson and Pistols at Dawn.
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Setting foot in Brunswick Street, spot the hidden chamber shop, Fallow for a well-curated collection of fashion buys that you won’t find elsewhere in Australia. Well-loved local designers’ labels are gems to find in shops such as Ultra Suite and Blonde Venus dotting the alleys of Ann Street, while a detour into Winn Street brings you into The Valley’s quirky laneway featuring Tym Guitars for guitar gadgets, The Outpost for independent brands from around the globe, and Kunstler for small print publications. Drop by Chinatown Mall (33 Duncan Street) for exotic Chinese products or simply drop the pace to sip cocktails at chic bars with live bands and the occasional street theatre acts.
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For everything vintage
With rolling lush green hills, quaint cottages and pockets of picturesque streets, Paddington (Paddington, QLD 4064) is indisputably one of Brisbane locals’ favourite hangouts. Gently scratch the surface of this historical inner-city to unveil a treasure trove of quirky keepsakes, retro goods, vintage fashion and antique treasures. Paddington Antique Centre (167 Latrobe Terrace) occupies an old theatre on Latrobe Terrace, attracting over 50 antique dealers locally and internationally to gather under one roof. Latrobe Terrace is also home to Green Tangerine, a proud supporter of locally designed products and Sheets on the Line, Australia’s favourite organic bed liner designer.
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Take a walk down the hilly paths of Given Terrace and be flanked by charming neighbourhood boutiques like Paddington’s retro-veteran Retro Metro and the eccentric Ra Ra Superstar, offering a unique collection of genuine vintage pieces. Exploring like a local can take you off the beaten track and into the edgy Rosalie Village, tucked behind Paddington. Here, locals’ favourite Yesterday’s Thrift Shop sits in a bright red cottage, welcoming vintage hunters into its labyrinth of rooms packed with pre-loved bargains.
