As a shopping centre Epping Plaza serves its purpose, but it is hardly a place that I would…read morerecommend people go out of their way to visit, especially if they live in Dandenong, or Sydney. There isn't really all that much beyond it being one of those large regional shopping centres. It has all of the major stores (as well as a couple of little gems hidden away), a cinema, and an entertainment strip with restaurants (and a rather ordinary pub). The annoying thing I find about it, especially since I don't own a car, is the length of time it takes me to walk around it to get to the cinema (and home again) on a saturday evening (and late of a Friday night). Oh, and there is never a cab at the cab rank when you actually might need a cab, which is also incredibly annoying.

I can see someone else has already talked about this place but I go here a lot! I find it amazing!…read moreThe food courts. The stores! In the end you will be walking out broke!

Rainy Day Books is a little bookstore in The Basin selling second hands books of all varieties…read more From newer titles to old classics, the books here fill the shelves and walls to the point of breaking, and its no surprise that the sign on the door reading "Not buying books at the moment" hasn't moved for over a year now. I usually head to the music and movies section, where you'll find autobiographies, cinephile and some interesting titles on either musicians and actors or music and movies themselves. Books are fairly priced and a visit to Rainy Day Books helps keep honest second hand bookstores alive and kicking.

This Bookshop is an Aladdin's Cave of delights. No matter what your favourite author or what your…read morefavourite genre, Rainy Day Books will and can suit the most discerning book-lover. It's just amazing what you'll find there. Shelved in selected categories it is easy to navigate around the shop and you'll even find a sofa on which to sit and peruse a couple of books before you buy. There's so much to choose from and you'll never go home without at least one book under your arm. Rainy Day Books has some real treasures, not least of all old classics and children's books from the early 1900s which are collectors pieces for both young and old. For modern youngsters, the children's section is always popular not only with the kids but also with their parents and it's great hearing the giggles and chuckles of glee when a book is chosen especially by it's little buyer. It's no wonder that people drive from the other side of the city and as far afield as the Mornington Peninsula and Central Victoria to visit this bookstore, as hard-to-find and rare books from around the world are quickly accessed and found, and delivered to an excited waiting client. This little bookshop is a "must" to visit when visiting The Basin, at the foothills of the Dandenongs. At the roundabout in the Basin, you'll experience the friendliness of a bookshop proprietor who really knows her books and shares her knowledge so willingly. After spending time in the bookshop and coming away with at least a few, I also take advantage of having a cuppa at either of the great little coffee shops in the same shopping centre - they're always crowded.

Small but seriously good stock. Retro rehab is in the business of sourcing predominantly Australian…read moremid century designs and lovingly restoring them to brand spanking new. "Occasional" furniture .....I think is furniture you don't use ALL the time......but more than NONE of the time...........making its use ......occasional. Anyway they stock some cute occasional furniture, good for adding a little retro love to a room. I have found their pricing to be lower than that of the larger vintage traders which makes the pieces more accessible for a younger market. There are the larger/$$ pieces of furniture but also a selection of smaller, affordable bric a brac straight from the kitchens and lounge rooms of the 60's. Its new and its on the 112 tram, worth a visit.

Posh Gully is pretty hard to find as it is tucked off Ferntree Gully Road in a block that looks…read morelike factories. It is right opposite Mountain Gate Shopping Centre and is really worth a visit, so hang in there. I can guarantee that you will find it eventually. Look out for the giant Salvos store on the left. Posh Gully is a division of the Eastern Bargain Centre but it stocks completely different things. It has beautiful home decor items mainly but it also stocks random things like jewellery and toadstools that are actually the size of a stool. Those were particularly cute I must say. Last time I went they had just put out all their christmas stock and they have some great stuff - really unique. The staff here don't make themselves obvious and if you want help you will have to head over to the counter and ring a bell before you get it. That's the price you pay for great bargains I guess. The prices here are fantastic and most of the stuff looks a lot more expensive than the price tag affixed to it.

The little lady and I went to Early Settler when we needed some new lights for the house…read more The catalogue suited us and our style to a tee, and we were surprised at how affordable the furniture was once we arrived at the store in Mitcham. Early Settler stock furniture, lighting, bathroom ware and many other bit & pieces for the home & garden. The style is a mix of French provincial, rustic and country home products, of which most stores get away with charging a small fortune. Early settler had a great range, and the staff at the Mitcham store were very helpful. Check out the discount corner for items that may have a slight bump & have been reduced to clear...you'll often find a gem tucked away for a great price.

Know how you know an op shop is First Class? When you're fighting off consignment store owners for…read morethe best pickings! I live just down the street from this op shop, and I've probably been in no fewer than 50 times in the last year. It's a bold statement, but... this is the best op shop I have found in Melbourne! And trust when I say, I know second hand. This store is a treasure. Something about the grit of Grey St and the snob of St K come together in a beautifully affordable syncretism that is a new-with-tags French Connection dress or a stunning 1950s painted bureau. The staff here are always wonderfully friendly, working hard to add new stock in daily. The store itself is not much on looks, but the racks and stacks of donated goods are well worth a dig. A word of advice: If you see it once, you won't see it twice. This shop is top pickings for the acquainted, so if you think you might want something you'd better snag it while you can.

Bags of bargains to be had here! There is always something handy or funky at the Sacred Heart Op…read moreShops. They're not overpriced like some op shops, but be quick, the turnover is high! I like them even more for the work they do in the St Kilda community.

Beautiful vintage mid-century furniture, incredible retro lamps, an unparalleled selection of…read morevintage Playboy and Esquire magazines and more, Northcote's Retro-Active is the holy grail of vintage shops. Sure, a sixties armchair will set you back a cool $1800 but for dedicated window shoppers, serious collectors and more, Retro-Active is quite possibly the best vintage boutique in Northcote. If not one of Melbourne's best. I spotted a gorgeous rosewood shelving unit at around $1100 which is a lot, but when compared to the prices at bog standard high street furniture shops, impeccable design of a good vintage like this doesn't seem all that pricey. Staff are friendly and helpful, the shop is full of great stock without feeling like a museum and Retro-Active's buyer clearly knows their stuff. All in all an incredible little spot for vintage.

An appreciation for high quality modernist design and "retro" furnishings make this store a must…read morefor avid collectors of mid century design. Its uncluttered selection allows the store to be viewed more as a comfortable gallery than retail store. High quality accessories and selective danish furniture are cleverly arranged to feel inviting and allow the visitor to visualise practical home arrangements. The store also has a high kitsch factor with a strong 60's beach blanket vibe. There are vintage Playboy magazines, records, surf and chrome wheel memorabilia, lamps and interesting crockery. A standout feature was the Lea Stein brooches. Adorable jewellery, however I have seen similar in Chapel St Bazaar for slightly less $$. The furniture pricing is relatively high but the stock is unique and of good quality. Interesting for a browse or next "investment" piece.

What a gorgeous shop front. Those windows! And that's just the exterior…read more Inside, it's even better. The ground floor is full of mint condition mid-20th-century furniture. Beautiful pieces of furniture in such good nick can demand a high price and they do. Knowing I can't afford much on this floor, I usually cast a quick glance over the goods just as a treat to my eyes, and then head up the stairs to the vintage clothes. I'm always pleasantly surprised by the prices here. For this location on Smith Street, the stall holders could really ask for more for their vintage finds, but they don't, and I for one, am not only grateful, but feel vindicated for being annoyed at retailers for upping the price tag just because they can. This is how it should be done. Beautiful store filled with earthly delights for all the enjoy (and possess).

A treasure trove of antiques and vintage furniture, if you wanted the decor of Mad Men all you need…read moreto do is visit the Smith Street Bazaar. Beautiful tables, sleek chairs and intricate sideboards are scattered throughout the enormous store. There are also some fantastic lamps, tea sets and vases, that look as thought they belong in your grandparents houses in the 1950s and 1940s. Up towards the back is a modest clothing section that has a great range of shoes, bags and accessories too (90s backpacks are back in people!). They also have an impressive range of costume jewellery. It isn't surprising that the Smith Street Bazaar always has some devoted retro fans or artists crawling through and marveling at the woodwork or kitsch posters. Last week I was very tempted by a slick wooden chair that was low, sexy, and remarkably modern, but with a price of $700 (quite reasonable for a quality piece but a mere dream to a student), I unfortunately had to kiss that beautiful piece of work goodbye. One day when I have an income and a house, I'll buy some furniture from the Smith Street Bazaar. But until then, it's always a pleasure to just look.