Retrospectrum in Fairy Meadow is one of nine stores that make up the Illawarra Vintage Trail. Photos: Supplied.
The South Coast is turning back the clock with the newly launched Illawarra Vintage Trail, a journey through nine of the region’s best antique, retro, and vintage stores from Thirroul to Nowra.
Spearheaded by Illawarra vintage store owners, the trail celebrates timeless treasures that were built to last, sustainable shopping, and a shared love of all things nostalgic, from fashion to furniture.
Retrospectrum owner Dannielle (Dann) Fletcher and Dreams and Memories owners Alison and Richard Ainsworth often talked about the idea of creating a trail as a way to promote one another further and drive foot traffic to what were a diverse array of vintage offerings.
“We’ve been talking about doing this for a couple of years now,” Dann said.
“One of our customers, who is a graphic designer, offered to help and we all just decided to get it going this year because it’s been pretty quiet on the retail front.
“If all these interesting shops like ours go, then what’s going to be left?”
Dann said she was surprised at just how many vintage stores there were in the Illawarra as they began putting the trail together, which included nine businesses with their own distinct specialties and vibes.
“There’s probably others that we’ve missed as well,” she said.
“When it’s all on paper, it’s like, oh, actually, there’s quite a lot of cool places to visit.”
Dann said the list included Wombat at Thirroul, with a mix of antique, rustic, and retro items; Black Diamond Antiques at Bulli, with furniture and collectables; and Dreams and Memories in Bulli, which not only featured vintage and retro treasures and vinyl records, but recently opened a boutique next door with multiple sellers.
In Fairy Meadow, Supertrash caters to high-end mid-century enthusiasts, and Dann’s Retrospectrum specialises in 1960s to ’80s clothing, furniture, and decor.
Wandering Merchants in Wollongong supports the music scene, from vinyl records through to styling band members; while VanQ in Wollongong, Rekindled Fashion in Gerringong and Spaghetti Junction in Nowra all specialise in vintage clothes and fashion.
Dann said the appeal of vintage shopping went beyond just the “cool factor” – it also aligned with a growing environmental consciousness.
“A lot of people are going down that route because you’re shopping small, shopping local, you’re supporting small business, and you’re saving things from going into landfill,” she said.
“It’s pretty much a throwaway society these days.
“To go into a vintage shop or antique shop, you’re buying something that’s actually got a past, it’s special, it’s not mass produced and these things were made so beautifully that they look good but they also are designed to last.”
Dann said she first started her own store in Sydney’s inner west before launching Retrospectrum in Fairy Meadow more than seven years ago, stocking clothes, furniture, bric-a-brac, linen and anything else from the ’60s to the ’80s that she particularly loved.
“That came about because I had a mental breakdown,” she said of the Sydney store.
“As I was getting better, I wanted to do something creative and something for my mental health and that’s how the shop actually came about.
“I’d always collected, but it was a saviour in that sense.
“Then I moved down here, and wasn’t going to open another shop, but I found that little shop and it’s done really well.”
She said the appeal of the ’60s and ’70s stemmed from being born in the ’70s and growing up “pretty poor”.
“My dad would make our furniture, and my mum would do the cushions and the upholstery,” she said.
“When I discovered op shops and garage sales when I was 16 or 17, I’d always buy the weird stuff.
“Once I really discovered the ’60s and ’70s and the vibrancy of it – the cool patterns and designs – I just fell in love.”
Dann said by banding together, the vintage shop owners hoped to preserve the unique character of their communities and inspire a new generation of collectors.
Follow the Illawarra Vintage Trail by visiting Facebook or Instagram for a copy of the trail map.
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