Shopping
Residents of Melbourne take their shopping seriously and this is reflected in the number of shopping arcades and markets that are dotted throughout the city. Some of the arcades are architectural masterpieces in their own right. Melbourne Central, Lonsdale Street, has a magnificent glass cone covering the famous Shot Tower, the only feature remaining from the Lead Pipe & Shot Factory. There are over 200 shops, including many Australian designer outlets and the Daimaru international department store. The Block Arcade, Collins Street, Melbourne’s main shopping street, is a grand Victorian building. This is reflected in the shops that sell elegant leatherwear, glassware and couture. Nearby is the Royal Arcade, which features antique and gift shops. Linked by a footbridge to Melbourne Central, Myer is a city institution established over 80 years ago and the biggest single department store in Australia. Next door is David Jones, a department store noted for its tempting food hall. Many of the department stores stock typically Australian products and the best goods to look out for are woollen garments, bush gear, handcrafted jewellery (particularly opals), woodwork design and ceramics.
The exclusive shops along Toorak Road offer the latest designer labels, while young, independent designers have outlets on Chapel Street. Crown Entertainment Complex houses designer boutiques including Armani, Versace and Tiffany & Co. Shoppers with more bohemian tastes will find Brunswick Street in Fitzroy a veritable Aladdin’s cave of clothing shops and gift and book stores. The cake shops of St Kilda, a traditional German Jewish area, are marvels to behold. The bayside suburb also features bookshops and trendy cafs.
Melbourne has a number of markets located throughout the city, although the most outstanding is the Queen Victoria Market, on Victoria Street. This market was traditionally a place to buy foodstuffs but it is now possible to buy almost anything in the various halls and quaint shops. The market is open Tuesday and Thursday 0600-1400, Friday 0600-1800, Saturday 0600-1500 and Sunday 0900-1600.
Standard opening hours are 0900-1700 Monday to Saturday with late-night opening on Fridays and, in many cases, Thursdays until 2100. Many major department stores and shopping centres are also open on Sundays and a few supermarkets are now open 24 hours a day. On 1 July 2000, Australia’s 10% Goods and Services Tax came into force, with a resulting overnight increase in prices – price tags almost always include the GST. There are several duty-free shops in the city centre, as well as at the airport. To obtain a refund, shoppers must show their passport and onward ticket upon collection of goods.
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Shopping