17 minute read
Unique Shopping
Visitors to the Upper Blue Mountains are always impressed by the great diversity of shops to explore – whether you’re seeking antiques and collectibles or the very latest in fashion, jewellery, homewares, eco-friendly products or goods handcrafted by local artisans, you won’t be disappointed.
Stroll along Station Street in Wentworth Falls and you’ll find a row of specialty shops. Book lovers appreciate lamdha books – a secondhand and antiquarian bookshop that specialises in rare and out-of-print titles. Take a leisurely browse through the eclectic range of titles, which includes new and old books on the Blue Mountains (contact: 02 4757 1420). Schwarzes Bakery is one of the most popular businesses in the village, delighting locals and visitors for several decades with a delicious range of European style cakes, pastries and savouries along with excellent coffee and wicked hot chocolate. For a genuine Chinese cuisine experience try Canton Palace Wentworth Falls. d’vine Cellars is the store to supply your every wine, spirit and beer desire with an extensive range of stock.
One of the region’s premier shopping spots, Leura Mall is lined with a fascinating mix of fashion, homewares, vintage goods, jewellery and furniture stores. And nestled in this picturesque village, Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms is home to the world’s largest private collection of teapots. A visit to Ainsley Fine Jewellery will reward you. Ainsley designs and manufactures much of the collection.
If you have an appreciation for crystal and gems, stop by Wollemi Gems, where the knowledgeable owner has over 20 years of experience in cutting opals and semi-precious stones. The display here offers some truly beautiful examples of rare geological samples polished and presented artistically, along with some amazing fossil specimen. (contact: 02 4782 3733). The lower end of Katoomba Street is where three galleries are gathered. See pages 8-17 for more on galleries
The village of Blackheath is spoilt for choice in cafes and restaurants, antiques and collectables shops, galleries and specialty shops. It has several boutiques including Ravir on the main street in the old post office building. This shop enjoys lots of natural light and is filled with garments with quality labels. The shop looks gorgeous and inviting filled as it is with beautiful colours. The service is most friendly and helpful with experienced staff.
At Blackheath, The Victory Theatre Antique Centre presents sixty dealers over two floors with wares ranging from jewellery, books, vintage clothing, paintings, dolls, ornaments, light fittings, fine china and porcelains, through to furnishings and furniture, and boasts the greatest variety of stock in the Blue Mountains. www.victorytheatre.com.au
Across the road from the Victory Theatre is Susanne Hosking Antiques, a smaller shop packed with so much nostalgia. Susanne’s specialty is jewellery, costume, quality antique jewellery, furniture, clothing, china and many other surprises. This is a must-see stop and is open every day.
Colliers Gems in the Collier Arcade is a tranquil shop where gems and crystals will hold you in awe at nature’s wonders. Many other wonderful and unique shops are to be found in towns and villages across the Mountains.
Autumn at Everglades House & Garden, photo by DeepHill Media
Beautiful Jewellery
Ainsley’s inspiration is found in fluid and circular dynamics in nature. Her appreciation of the distinct elegant qualities of gold, the brilliance of sparkling diamonds and the radiance of colourful semi-precious gemstones has led to the creation of her many beautiful designer pieces. Favouring fine filigree and softly textured finishes to her chic modern designs, Ainsley’s signature handcrafted pieces can be customised to suit individual desires. Ainsley’s passion is making unique handcrafted engagement and wedding rings, and creating one off pieces that become a part of her client’s story and everyday lives. “Seeing the joy on my client’s faces and bringing their visions to reality is the best part of what I do”. “Knowing that the jewellery I create can be passed down through generations is a wonderful feeling”. Ainsley’s love of gold and gemstones lead her into studying Jewellery Design at the Design Centre in Enmore where she received an Associate Diploma of Arts in 1998. Ainsley then started her training with renowned jeweller Jan Logan of Double Bay, completing her apprenticeship (Certificate III in Jewellery Trade) in 2001. Ainsley furthered her training in completing a certificate IV in Gemmological Studies in 2005. After working with Jan Logan for 7 years, Ainsley spent 6 months working as a diamond grader after completing a course in Practical Diamond Grading in 2006 at the Gemmological Association of Australia. However, she preferred the creativity of jewellery design and manufacturing and went on to work for acclaimed jeweller Melissa Harris of Double Bay as a manufacturing jeweller. Ainsley resides in Leura in the beautiful Blue Mountains with her husband and two young sons, working from her boutique studio where she is surrounded by endless design inspiration. Ainsley Fine Jewellery is situated in the Aspects of Leura Arcade – Upstairs Shop 10, 166-168 Leura Mall, Leura. 02 4784 2807 Open 6 days Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm (Closed Sundays). gallery@ainsleyjewellery.com.au
At Wollemi Gems you’ll find a great variety of QUALITY OPALS from souvenir to investment grade at realistic prices.
SPECIMENS, CRYSTALS and other AUSTRALIAN GEMSTONES also available.
Visit us @ 51 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780 M 0412 720 244 T 02 4782 3733 www.wollemigems.com.au
OPEN 7 DAYS Just 2 minutes from Katoomba Station, a different and relaxed shopping experience
Blackheath family shoe store
Offering a range of specialised shoes to help problem feet feel comfortable
Stocking: - Semler - Ecco - Arche - Florsheim - Merrell - Waldlaufer - Peter Kaiser - Pikolinos - Josef Seibel - Rieker - Arcopedico - Gabriele - NAOT
open seven days (02) 4787 8263 - 4 govetts leap road, blackheath
0411 396 838
A fantastic shop with an incredible range of items on offer. Something there to intrigue all ages and well priced too. Very friendly and helpful staff.
Boutique Op Shop 150 Bathurst Road, Katoomba
One of the oldest buildings in Katoomba. Originally six Victorian terrace houses, now a shopping haven of thirteen departments, immaculately and elegantly presented.
CLOTHING - ACCESSORIES - BOOKS - MUSIC LINEN - CRAFT - HOMEWARES - COLLECTABLES EXTENDED RANGE OF FURNITURE Warehouse 58 Megalong Street, Katoomba
Newly opened Warehouse with a rustic flavour. Stocked with unusual items for home and garden décor.
BRIC-A-BRAC - ART GALLERY LIBRARY - GARDEN - VINTAGE and RETRO FURNITURE
OPEN Mon - Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 2pm. OPEN Wed - Sat 10am - 3pm. Closed Sun - Tues
COLLIER’S Crystals & Gifts
Gifts of Natural Beauty
Extensive collection of crystals and mineral specimens and crystal jewellery, soaps, incense and biodynamic products.
Shop 8, 23 - 25 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath
Ph: 02 4787 7403
www.collierscrystals.com.au Em: crystals@collierscrystals.com.au
Where to find quality knitwear for men
A Hidden Gem
Colliers Crystals & Gifts, a long established family business is still operating in Blackheath, by the third generation. Specializing in crystals and mineral specimens from around the globe. Quality is of paramount importance in our selection of these crystals and minerals. We also have an extensive range of quality jewellery set in sterling silver, including jewellery with tektites and meteorites. A limited range of fossils are also stocked. Himalayan salt crystal lamps, soaps and other products are always available. Giftware, books CD’s and an extensive range of soy and other candles, and biodynamic soaps. New to this range is Bellesoap natural hand cleanser and lime, rosewood and May Chang pure essential oils. Belle body care palm oil free soaps and cosmetics are handmade in Melbourne using all natural ingredients and pure essential oils. At Colliers Crystals & Gifts we pride ourselves on customer service. We were delighted to be awarded the Gold Award for Excellence in Customer Service 2013, by Australian Business Quality Awards. We are located in shop 8, 2325 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath. If there’s one thing Ravir Boutique in Blackheath is known for, it’s their range of beautiful quality knitwear. In winter the shop all but overflows with stacks of jumpers, jackets, vests and thermals.
The most popular by far is the large range of possum and merino, mostly imported from New Zealand. This unique combination of fibres results in the ultimate warmth and comfort. It’s ultra-light and ultra-warm, due to the possum fur’s hollow fibres.
Ravir also carries pure merino garments from the well-known Toorallie brand, and from New Zealand. There are some great workwear jumpers as well, with styles including half -zip and collar, crew necks and V-necks. From time to time Ravir also carries some beautiful chunky Irish knitwear. If you’re looking for warmth and quality, it’s definitely worth a look. Open seven days a week.
Faulconbridge Antiques, commission exclusive designs from world renowned Moorcroft Art Pottery.
This is the first time in nearly fifteen years an Australian Moorcroft retailer has commissioned their own exclusive designs from this art pottery company which is based in Stoke-on-Trent England. The Gang Gang Cockatoo and Blackheath Rhododendron have been immortalised in a range of small limited edition art pottery pieces.
The Gang Gang Cockatoo, one of Australia’s most charismatic birds is painstakingly outlined in three different panelled images in liquid clay, the artwork is hand painted on the pretigious Moorcroft shape under the skilled direction of designer Kerry Goodwin. Kerry has designed the pair of male and female Gang Gang Cockatoos as they perch proudly on Golden Wattle with heads tucked in tightly together. A demure slate grey body and a scarlet red head and crest on the male bird, with the feathers of the underparts of the female edged in riveting salmon pink and mustard yellow to contrast against her dark grey body, against the blue background.”
Faulconbridge Antiques have also ensured that the 50th birthday celebrations of the Gardens of Bacchante Street, Blackheath are set in clay with their Blackheath Rhododendron design. The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens were created in 1970 on 18.5 hectares of Australian bushland and are managed and maintained by the volunteers of the Blue Mountains Rhododendron Society of NSW.
“Moorcroft designer Emma Bossons weaves a soft, fairy-floss pink rhododendron from the gardens on the highly collectable Moorcroft ginger jar shape, vase and lamp base with a matching shade, lifting the pale-pink blooms in a graceful ascension into powder-blue.
The stunning art pottery pieces are only available to purchase from Faulconbridge Antiques and are sure to sell out quickly due to the small edition sizes! Goldscheider Art Deco Hollyhocks Jug
Carlton Ware Art Deco Hollyhocks Jug
Moorcroft Meadow Medley Vase Ltd Ed 15 Royal Worcester Roses Group
OPEN 7 DAYS 9.30 - 5pm - Phone 4751 7627 448a Great Western Hwy, Faulconbridge www.faulconbridgeantiques.com.au
A fledgling French art glass ‘industry’ made great strides in the late 19th century through the ‘verrerie’ or glassworks of the Daum family in Nancy, some 200km from Paris in the north east. In the same city lived Emile Galle, whose exceptional talent epitomised Art Nouveau, with his sinuous, curvilinear, flora & fauna embellishments in coloured and cameo glass. (So sought after are Galle vases today, that a word of warning may be appropriate – good quality reproductions have flooded the antique market.) Galle died in 1904, his artistic legacy and influence well-established.
Victory Theatre Antique Centre
Over 60 stalls of beautiful and varied pre-loved items
In 1905 Rene Lalique opened his first shop in Paris. Lalique (1860-1945) became France’s most celebrated and prolific glass artist. By 1905 his status in ‘Fin-de-Siecle’ Paris drew the patronage of the Rothschilds and actress Sarah Bernhardt. His shop was near the Coty’s ‘Parfums de Luxe’ for whom he became a designer of bottles and labels in the Art Nouveau style. He also worked with Worth & D’Orsay and Guerlain at a time when the demand for luxury items was growing.
Lalique began his career as a jeweller, his prodigious drawing abilities securing him an apprenticeship with a goldsmith, followed by two years in England studying silversmithing. He experimented in placing coloured glass alongside semi-precious gems. The entrancing colour of moonstone’s pale blue opalescence so captivated him, that his emulation of this into glass became the most renowned feature of his work. Lalique embarked upon merging sculpture and glass. Applying time-honoured mould and casting techniques used in jewellery and sculpture, to that of glass making, allowed him to mass produce high quality glass items in the decorative arts; vases, bowls, boxes, lights and even car mascots.
Stylistically, his exceptional aesthetic sense and abilities were inspired by the natural world: birds, insects, plants, and the human figure. By the 1920s and 30s he was offering the best of Art Deco elegance on a vast scale. His new large factory in Alsace opened in 1921 when he was sixty years old. Exports reached America and expanded throughout Europe. Lalique died in 1945, his son Marc taking over the company, who introduced lead crystal into glass production options. On two huge levels in this fabulous old theatre building you will find so many treasures. There is jewellery, books, collectables, furniture, china, clothing, lights, lamps, toys, decorator items, mirrors, even a convict used ball and chain was recently sold. So if you’re looking for something it’s probably here and if you want to be surprised, this is where to come.
19 - 21 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath Ph: 02 4787 6002 www.victorytheatre.com.au Open 7 days from 10am - 5pm
Original Rene Lalique designs continued to be produced, along with new modernist creations. Following Marc’s retirement in 1977, his daughter, Marie Claude filled his place. She died leaving no heirs and in 1994 the Company was sold to the Pochet Group.
A wide selection of Lalique glass can be found in the Victory Theatre in a new cabinet dedicated to French art glass. Called ‘007’, it displays Daum glass, early Lalique perfume bottles, a range of 1930s and 20th century Lalique bowls and a diverse selection of charming bird and animal sculptures.
Etling, another Art Deco French glass company created designs in the style of Lalique. Examples of Etling glass are in the nearby Vintage Sisters Jewellery and Antique Shop, easily identified by large images of Marilyn Munroe and New York’s Art Deco Chrysler Building.
The Victory Theatre is open 7 days, 10-5pm.
With so many antique and collectables shops across the Mountains, many choose to specialise in particular fields. Add to this the numerous antique fairs and markets regularly occurring in the area and you have a collector’s treasure trove. Below is a sample from the many antique retailers in the mountains.
At Faulconbridge Antiques browse through an eclectic array of high quality antique porcelain, glass, furniture and other interesting pieces. The shop specialises in Royal Worcester, Belleek, Carlton Ware, Crown Devon, Shelley, Clarice Cliff, Royal Albert porcelain, late 19th and early 20th century glass, including Thomas Webb, Lalique, Tiffany and many other makers. Contact: (02) 4751 7627. Nestled in the picturesque village of Leura, Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum & Tearooms is home to the world’s largest private collection of teapots. It is also the largest private emporium of antiques and collectables in the Blue Mountains. Turn back time as you browse antique jewellery, furniture, fine china, dinner services and toys. www.bygonebeautys.com.au
Adjacent to the clock arch over Katoomba Street at the top end of the street, you’ll find antique furniture, second-hand wares, memorabilia, gardenalia, French Linen, ironware, china and porcelain – all this and more is on offer at the elegant old two storey post office, which is now Katoomba Vintage Emporium. Contact: (02) 4782 6996.
At Blackheath, The Victory Theatre Antique Centre presents sixty dealers over two floors with wares ranging from jewellery, books, vintage clothing, paintings dolls, ornaments, light fittings, fine china and porcelains, through to furnishings and furniture, and boasts the greatest variety of stock in the Blue Mountains. www.victorytheatre.com.au
Blackheath’s Victory Theatre Antique Centre
Since it was turned from a picture theatre into an antique centre, The Victory Theatre has stood like an Art Deco cathedral of treasures in the centre of Blackheath. Tucked behind the much loved Victory Theatre cafe, the entry to the antique centre becomes a surprise portal to another era, with a gathering of over 60 stalls of all things past.
One can almost feel the ghosts of the past walk with them around the store as objects from every era jump out at you, competing for your attention. Beatles memorabilia, records, strange paintings of bullfighters, original European birdcages weaponry from eras where we lost too many men and other pieces of history clutch at your consciousness to respond and feel. Precious items almost too delicate to hold rest in locked cabinets waiting to be held once more and furniture that was born before mass production waits to tell you its story.
Some very exciting new stallholders have recently joined the display at Victory Theatre. One has brought a container load of antiques fresh from England and another is an exciting space upstairs taken by Hat Hill Gallery with a great selection of new and quality used records, Cds, Dvds, books and fine art prints and cards.
Antiques and the WOW Factor! Susanne Hosking Antiques Blackheath
One store yet so much variety
22 Govetts Leap Road with a huge range of quality jewellery
This antique shop carrying Susanne’e name is proving popular with visitors and locals alike. At 22 Govetts Leap Road, it is open 7 days from 10am-5pm.
Those who enjoy a rummage are finding all sorts of gems from the large range of beautiful China and vintage collectables to the fine range of 1920s to 1950s costume jewellery. There is furniture from Victorian to Retro and a great selection of Oriental collectables.
This is a fun store where you will see a whole world of surprises. Susanne has just received a new range of gold and precious stone jewellery including diamond, ruby, sapphire and pearl.
You will also find China, collectables, jewellery, furniture, clothing and more. Ph: 0428 042 965
KATOOMBA VINTAGE EMPORIUM
Amazing collection of furniture, collectables, clothing, linen, jewellery, crockery, clocks and many more categories. Rare and unique items, small and large on two floors set in the imposing heritage listed former Katoomba Post Office.
59-61 Katoomba Street, Katoomba (ample parking at rear) Open seven days.
