Federation Trading

Federation Trading is an anomaly in the centre of the city — a homely-​looking old stone building sitting quite comfortably among its multi-​storey neighbours. Inside, past the old architectural items displayed on the footpath in the time honoured fashion of storekeepers, is Aladdin’s cave, or really Peter’s cave, of salvaged architecutral delights.
If you’re renovating, or building, or just interested in the beautiful, quirky or hard to find remnants of demolished buildings grand and humble, you will enjoy a ramble through the crowded galleries of this shop.
Things of iron, brass, wood and glass meet you at every turn — things still glowing with the warmth of the long gone hands that made them. A list of items to be found here would be too long to write, and would still miss thingsout.
There’s also ‘upstairs’ and ‘out the back’, so it’s worth asking Peter if you haven’t stumbled across what you want during your wanderings. If he hasn’t got it, chances are he’ll know where you can get it.
Long may this place hold out as a haven of curiosity in the CBD!

The man to see at Federation Trading is Peter; he will tell you what he things will work if you are trying to locate a marble surround for a fireplace, hang a door or add some lead light (among many other things) for your authentic federation home restoration.
His has got to be one of the most enticing businesses for a home renovator who loves all the classic old stuff. Posts, iron work, tiles, generally speaking its all called architectural fittings and it can be pretty difficult to find. Maybe you have inherited an old house full of these items and you are looking to sell it all off before you demolish and start again — talk to Peter.
You only have to glance in the door to be hooked into the wonderfully diverse world of old wood and metal artistically rendered or defined by a craftsman who knew his work would outlive him. I love browsing here and found it very useful when my brother was restoring an old B&B.
If Peter can’t help you directly he is the sort of chap who knows where to refer you on, so it is certainly worth going in and having a chat with him.