Lismore is fast becoming a hub for antique and collectible wares with another premises set to open its doors tomorrow in Woodlark Street.

Three antique businesses are now homed in the old Peugeot building; David and Anna Manby of Lismore Collectables, Anton and Nora Covre of Eclectica, and Nollie and Luke Nahrung of Punt & Crick. 

Each business has years of experience and deal in a wide range of retro, vintage, antiques, collectibles … everything from clothing, books, vinyl records, Australian pottery, glassware, retro furniture, carvings among many other items.

Mr and Mrs Manby have owned Lismore Collectables for approximately ten years, and have been in business in Lismore for fifteen years after also owning another antiques store.

Needing to move from their previous location Mr Manby said that when the old Peugeot building came on the market they decided to purchase it.

“We’re very happy to be in this building,” he said.

“We’re the second owners in about eighty years.

“It was the first building on Woodlark Street, originally a blacksmith shop and it dates back to the 1850s.”

Mr Manby added that they can assist people with acquiring a valuation yet commented that traditional valuations today are more or less a do-it-yourself online job.

“The antique dealers of old where they would value an item no longer happen today.

“It boils down to what an item sells for is what it’s worth.

“We can certainly assist people; we certainly don’t mind people coming in asking us what something is worth then we can point them in the right direction and give them that assistance.”

The three proprietors bring a wealth of experience and knowledge and are open to buying locally, whether a single item or an entire household lot.

“Come in and talk to us, we’re always looking for new stock,” Mr Manby said. 

Common items within the Northern Rivers include vintage milk cans, tools, old farm equipment, vintage signs, old wooden crates with Lismore cordials or Norco printed on them.

“They’re always quite sought after and a lot of tourists like to buy them if they’re coming through the area. 

Collectors may want something to remember the Northern Rivers by so a bottle from Casino, Ballina or Lismore are always good items to sell.

“We also see a lot of Australian 50s pottery, 60s glassware, lots of different things, it’s a real variety.

“We’ll be opening tomorrow from 10.00am. 

“Normal operational hours will be Monday to Friday 10.00am-2.30pm and 10.00am-2.00pm on Saturdays.” 

The three dealers have all been collecting for around thirty years and selling from around fifteen years in the local area.

According to Mr Manby old antiques especially old brown furniture has ‘gone off the boil’ in the last five to ten years whereas the mid-century modern stuff like mid 50s through to mid-70s items are really popular.

“It’s hard to sell vintage brown cupboards but it’s easy to sell beautiful bright red laminated tables from the 50s and 60s. 

“Kitch items are also trending. Some of the pictures we used to throw away to the op-shop are now actually quite trendy.

“Also, kitchen canisters. Years ago the enamel canisters were really big and popular, nowadays some of the bright coloured plastic canisters from the 60s are far more popular.”

Across the road, Adam Bailey is relaunching his store Northern Rivers Collectables to coincide with Punt & Crick.

“I’m relaunching the store after it’s been closed for about a month and a half, and now it’s wholly and solely myself and I’ve got some local artists that have put their artwork in as well.”

Mr Bailey said that Lismore has a burgeoning antique and collectibles precinct with each shop offering something unique and different.

“We’ve got The Fairmarket Lismore Antique Centre in Keen Street, which is a fantastic shop, and also Carrington Bazaar which is really good.” 

 “We want to make Woodlark Street the place where everyone can come down and revel in all these antiques,” Mr Bailey said.

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