Retro-Active

Great little shop filled with mid century finds and the prices are reasonable! That’s hard to find these days when anything 50’s or 60’s seems to be overpriced. Parking is the only issue around this section of high st. The owners Tony & Wendy are lovely, very helpful.

Beautiful vintage mid-​century furniture, incredible retro lamps, an unparalleled selection of vintage 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 for 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.