A vivid purple building on Colac's main road does most of the advertising for How Bazaar Antiques and Collectibles. Travellers moving through western Victoria's tourist corridor catch it at speed, do a double-take, and often pull over. What greets them inside is a different kind of surprise — floor space packed so densely with objects that the eye needs a moment to settle.
The shop traces its roots to the owners' years of buying and selling antiques through the 1990s. They opened How Bazaar as a dedicated retail space in 2006, then relocated to the current Colac site in 2019. The move gave the business room to breathe and to stock a broader, more ambitious range than the previous location allowed.
Part of what makes the floor so unpredictable is how the stock arrives. The owners source many pieces personally, but independent traders also set up alongside them. That mix of hands means the selection shifts regularly. Large industrial and transport pieces anchor one corner — old gas pumps, vintage road signs, bicycles worn in all the right ways. Domestic finds fill another layer: lamps and lighting fixtures, chinaware, sewing machines, suitcases with worn brass clasps. Tucked among all of it are the curiosities that collectors specifically chase: model airplanes, typewriters, vintage toy cars, and the kind of objects that resist easy categorisation.
The building itself has a long history in Colac, reportedly in use since 1952 as a factory, workshop and storage facility. High ceilings and open floor plans carry that industrial past well. Even when every surface holds something, the space never feels claustrophobic. It feels generous instead — the kind of place that rewards a slow circuit rather than a quick pass.
How Bazaar is not a boutique where every piece is lit and labelled. It is a rummager's shop in the best sense. Finding something specific means committing to a proper look around. If that sounds daunting, it helps to know that the owners can locate almost anything on request — a useful quality given the volume on the floor, and the detail that transforms a warehouse browse into something warmer.
The shop suits collectors with a category in mind, browsers with none, and road-trippers who just need a reason to stop. How Bazaar opens Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm, making it accessible most days of the week.
Getting there by public transport is straightforward for a town of Colac's size. Colac train station sits roughly 640 metres away and connects the town to the broader regional network. For local bus services, the Hart St/Connor St stop is the closest option at approximately 220 metres, served by bus routes 1 and 3. The Colac Bus Interchange on Gellibrand Street, about 400 metres away, adds routes 1, 2 and 3 for broader connections across town. All distances are approximate straight-line distances from the shop's location near Skene Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of stock does How Bazaar carry, and how often does it change?
A: The floor mixes large industrial and transport pieces — old gas pumps, vintage road signs, bicycles — with domestic finds like lamps, chinaware, sewing machines and suitcases, plus collectibles including typewriters, model airplanes and vintage toy cars. Because independent traders set up alongside the owners' own stock, the selection shifts regularly and no two visits look quite the same.
Q: Is it worth visiting if you're looking for something specific rather than just browsing?
A: Yes — the owners have been buying and selling antiques since the nineties and know the floor well despite its density. If you can't locate something in the rummage, just ask. They can typically point you straight to it, which makes the experience feel considerably warmer than a standard warehouse browse.
Q: When is How Bazaar open?
A: The shop is open seven days a week — Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and weekends from 10am to 5pm. That consistent availability makes it a practical stop for travellers moving through the Colac region on any day.
Q: Can I get there without a car?
A: Colac is reasonably accessible by public transport. The train station is around 640 metres from the shop and connects to the broader regional network. The Hart St/Connor St bus stop, served by routes 1 and 3, is closer still at approximately 220 metres. Confirm current timetables before you travel.
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