On Formby Road in central Devonport, the Antique Emporium announces itself before you even reach the door. Pieces spill onto the footpath, and the Mersey River sits just across the street. The building runs to four floors and roughly 20,000 square feet, with more than 40 dealers trading across the space. That scale could feel daunting, but the layout is well organised and the experience builds naturally as you move upward.
The second floor holds two named sections that give this level its own distinct character. The Shed draws buyers after vintage tools, architectural salvage and taxidermy — the kind of industrial and rustic material that suits a workshop or a considered spare room. Right alongside it, Sheila's Kitchen takes a different angle entirely. Retro kitchenware, vintage magazines and mid-century Australian household objects fill the section, giving it the focused atmosphere of a specialist shop rather than a general floor. The contrast between the two makes the second level worth a proper circuit.
The third floor opens into the main dealer hall. China, clocks, medals, coins, cameras, stamps, postcards, dolls and antique furniture spread across the level. Quality ranges from rough finds to serious pieces, and serious collectors tend to move slowly here. The book floor above is a different experience again — quieter, more deliberate, and arguably the building's most distinctive feature. Over 15,000 used and antiquarian titles cover Australian history, natural history, cooking, travel and genre fiction. It functions less like a bonus section and more like a specialist bookshop that shares a building with everything below.
Antique Emporium opens seven days a week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Devonport is a natural gateway to northwest Tasmania — Spirit of Tasmania passengers, road travellers and those using the city as a regional base all pass through. A seven-day schedule suits that traffic well. First-time visitors should allow at least a couple of hours, and those drawn to the book floor or furniture should plan for longer.
For visitors arriving by public transport, the Devonport Interchange is the most practical starting point — approximately 600 metres from the venue and served by bus route 25. Don Junction train station sits around 2.9 kilometres away and is the closest rail option, though checking current timetables is advisable before travelling by train.
Antique Emporium suits collectors chasing specific categories — Australian mid-century domestic objects, industrial salvage, antique furniture, militaria — as much as dedicated book hunters. The turnover across 40-plus dealers means repeat visits tend to surface new material. The book floor alone sets this place apart from most multi-dealer antique stores in regional Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many dealers trade at Antique Emporium, and what categories do they cover?
A: More than 40 dealers trade across four floors and roughly 20,000 square feet. Stock spans antique furniture, china, clocks, medals, coins, cameras, stamps, postcards, dolls, vintage tools, architectural salvage, taxidermy, retro kitchenware, mid-century Australian domestic objects, and over 15,000 used and antiquarian books on the top floor.
Q: What makes the second floor worth a separate circuit?
A: The second floor holds two named sections with genuinely different personalities. The Shed focuses on vintage tools, industrial salvage and taxidermy — practical and characterful, useful for upcyclers and collectors alike. Right alongside it, Sheila's Kitchen takes a domestic angle: retro kitchenware, vintage magazines and mid-century Australian household objects, curated closely enough to feel like a specialist shop.
Q: Is the book floor a serious resource for antiquarian collectors?
A: Yes. The fourth floor holds more than 15,000 used and antiquarian titles covering Australian history, natural history, cooking, travel and genre fiction. It functions as a specialist bookshop in its own right rather than a general overflow section, and serious book hunters should set aside dedicated time there.
Q: What are the opening hours, and is it worth visiting more than once?
A: Antique Emporium opens seven days a week, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. With 40-plus dealers, stock turns over regularly, so repeat visits consistently surface new material. Check ahead around public holidays before making a special trip.
Q: How do I get there without a car?
A: The most practical public transport option is the Devonport Interchange, served by bus route 25 and approximately 600 metres from the emporium. Don Junction train station is the nearest rail point at around 2.9 kilometres away — check current timetables before travelling by train, as services on that line can be limited.
Add a review