16 must-visit record stores in Australia

Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
hero media
These analogue-first stores and bars should be on every Australian music fan’s radar.

Whether you’re dipping your toe into the world of LPs or have years of collecting under your belt, everyone is welcome in the world of vinyl. And with World Record Store Day on 20 April each year, it’s our time to hit the decks.

From cafe-meet-record stores to listening bars stocking enviable vinyl collections, here are our top picks of the best record shops in Australia.

Victoria

1. Greville Records

Just off Chapel Street in this upmarket portion of South Yarra in Melbourne is Greville Records : which is more about edgy vintage than the surrounding trendy boutiques. Stop by here for a huge range of new and second-hand vinyl, uber-cool posters and vintage gig flyers.

the exterior of Greville Records near boutique shops
Explore edgy vinyl at Greville Records.

Address: 183 Gertrude St, Fitzroy Vic

2. L’Espresso Ballarat

This cafe-meets-record shop  in Ballarat serves up brunch, lunch and music to locals and travellers.

Smash a delectable eggs benny before heading to their wall-to-wall stash of records and flicking through their collection. Just make sure to wash any leftover yolk off your fingers first…

the records on display at L'Espresso Ballarat
Flick through their amazing collection.

Address: 417 Sturt St, Ballarat Vic

3. Rocksteady Records

After some local vinyl? Rocksteady Records in the Melbourne CBD stocks plenty in the way of Australasian tunes, alongside international reggae, funk, soul, jazz and more.

the vibrant interior of Rocksteady Records with vinyl on display
Stock up on some local vinyl at Rocksteady Records.

Address: Mitchell House, Level 1, 358 Lonsdale St, Melbourne Vic

NSW

4. Repressed Records

A Sydney institution smack bang in the alternative, nonconformist neighbourhood of Newtown.

the store exterior of Repressed Records
Repressed Records is a purveyor of independent and underground music. (Image: Destination NSW)

Step in to peruse Repressed Records’  new and second-hand collection of independent and lesser-known Australian vinyl, as well as high-quality Japanese pressings. Music zines, magazines and tapes are also stocked.

a person browsing through vinyl records at Repressed Records
Discover lesser-known vinyl treasures at Repressed Records. (Image: Destination NSW)

Address: 413 King St, Newtown NSW

5. TITLE store

Among the boutique shops, bars and cafes of Crown Street, you will find this informal and well-curated bookstore  that, along with poster art and eclectic group games, has a carefully picked selection of contemporary and vintage records.

the TITLE record store in Surry Hills
Hunt down records at TITLE in Surry Hills.

TITLE also has a shop at Barangaroo.

a look inside the record store at TITLE, Bangaroo
TITLE Barangaroo has all the classics.

Address: 501 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW and Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

6. Abicus Records

This Newcastle local has an assembled stock of unique jewellery, Birkenstocks and odds and ends like tarot cards and art journals. But obsessive analogue fans will be drawn in particular to the dedicated area of the shop  with limited editions, new releases and classic vinyl.

a look inside Abicus Records, Cooks Hill NSW
Get lost in Abicus Records.

Address: 103 Darby St, Cooks Hill NSW

Tasmania

7. Suffragette Records

Suffragette Records  is a passionate ode to the power and talent of female musicians in a tiny, well-loved space in southern Hobart. Open since 2022, the owners work hard to counter the male-dominated industry of music with their collection of singles and albums created by women.

an all-female catalogue on display at Suffragette
Suffragette celebrates music by women with an all-female catalogue.

Address: 52 Sandy Bay Rd, Battery Point Tas

8. Tommy Gun

New records, second-hand and bargain low-cost vinyl collections, band t-shirts, turntable parts and everything in between. Whatever your vintage music needs, Tommy Gun  in the Tassie capital has it all.

vinyl records on display at Tommy Gun, Hobart
Tommy Gun has all your vintage music needs covered.

Address: 127 Elizabeth St, Hobart, Tas

Western Australia

9. Astral Weeks Listening Bar

The concept of a listening bar (or HiFi bar) may have started in Japan , but the last few years have seen the unique nightlife design spread everywhere from Hong Kong  to New York  – and now, Australia.

In Perth’s Chinatown, Astral Weeks  provides this all-analogue listening bar, where customers sit and listen quietly to the staff-selected record, sipping high-class wines and cocktails as the music plays in a shared cultural experience.

Address: Shop 12/60/66 Roe St, Northbridge WA

10. The Record Finder

A Western Australian cultural centre that has been selling and buying records across the world since the ‘60s. Today, there are thousands and thousands to choose from in The Record Finder ’s two-storey collection. Visit to browse their rare, original pressings, used and new records, or call to request specific items.

The Record Finder signage, Fremantle WA
Browse The Record Finder’s catalogue.

Address: 43 High St, Fremantle WA

Queensland

11. Wax Espresso Record Store and Cafe

Why rush an enjoyable afternoon poring over records when you can kick back with a coffee at the same time? As well as caffeine and pastries, the Sunshine Coast’s Wax Espresso Record Store and Cafe  is particularly known for its electric selection: techno, house and ambient vinyl in particular.

guests inside Wax Espresso Record Store and Cafe
Hit up Wax Espresso Record Store and Cafe for pastries and vinyl.

Address: 35 Duporth Ave, Maroochydore Qld

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

12. The Record Exchange

Claimed to be the largest record store in Australia, The Record Exchange  is hidden away in a laneway in the Brisbane city centre. Its crowded collection of second-hand vinyl is augmented with CDs, posters, go and even the limited nineties retro-esque VHS collection of concerts.

Address: 1/65 Adelaide St, Brisbane Qld

13. Ruby My Dear

A vinyl listening bar meets jazz cafe meets live music performance space – this time north of Brisbane. The izakaya-style cuisine at Ruby My Dear  highlights the Japanese origin of listening bars, with pork katsu, pickled mackerel with wasabi and soy and sake negronis.

the dimly lit interior of Ruby My Dear
Sit down for live music at Ruby My Dear.

Address: 12 Longland St, Newstead Qld

Northern Territory

14. Air Raid Records

Looking for tracks up in the Top End? The Darwin-based neighbourhood store of Air Raid Records  is not known just for its second-hand vinyl.

people browsing vinyls inside Air Raid Records, Woolner NT
Air Raid Records is Darwin’s only dedicated second-hand record store.

It also hosts kid-friendly live local DJ sessions and the chance for the public to practice their wax-spinning skills.

the record for spinning at Air Raid Records, Woolner NT
Spin the record for freebies.

Address: Air Raid Arcade, 48/12 Charlton Ct, Woolner NT

South Australia

15. Clarity Records

With special deals for Adelaide artists who want to stock their releases, as a result, Clarity  has an enormous variety of local musicians in their shop. Their well-organised collection in their bright central city store is complemented by tote bags featuring bands, and books written by (and about) musicians.

a look inside Clarity Records in Adelaide
Clarity has an enormous variety of local musicians.

Address: 60 Pulteney St, Adelaide SA

16. Streetlight Adelaide

Come for the records, stay for… well, the records. But among the hoard of culture at Streetlight , there are plenty of other treasures for you to discover. With arthouse films, books of poetry and musician memoirs, you might find it hard to leave this independently-owned store.

vinyl records on display at Streetlight Adelaide
You’ll find it hard to leave Streetlight Adelaide.

Address: Shop 2/15 Vaughan Place, Adelaide SA

Kate Bettes
Kate Bettes is a freelance travel writer. Whether having a picnic in Vietnamese jungle with new friends, or partying in the back of a limousine in Hollywood, Kate’s experiences have left her with the sneaking suspicion that the best travel memories happen when you least expect. It’s this feeling - and how to get it - that she loves to write about.
View profile and articles
This app can predict flight delays up to 25 hours in advance
Australia

This app can predict flight delays up to 25 hours in advance

Using live data and smart technology, this flight-tracking tool is keeping travellers one step ahead.

Read more
A pink-hued full moon in the sky
Australia

Why you shouldn’t bother looking for a pink moon tonight

Despite the name, the moon won’t, in fact, be pink.

Read more
aircrafts on field of Alice Springs airport in the Northern Territory
Australia

Australia’s most delayed flight routes revealed

A new report has ranked Australia's worst-performing domestic and international flight routes.

Read more
Krinklewood Winery, Hunter Valley
Australia

Affordable Easter getaways in every state to beat soaring fuel costs

Skip the fuel sting with these affordable Easter getaways and staycations across Australia.

Read more
hero media

The best new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
    Continue
    A new wave of retreats, hotels, glamping sites and more is encouraging visitors to savour their time spent along the Great Ocean Road.

    Long holding a place as one of Australia’s most rewarding drives, cliffs, curves and shifting coastal light continue to draw travellers to Victoria’s coastline year after year. What has evolved more quietly is the range of new accommodation along the Great Ocean Road to add new dimensions to the drive.

    Rather than competing for attention, these stays are shaped by their settings. They sit beside rivers, among vines, on the edge of lakes and close to town centres where local life unfolds at an unhurried pace. Together, they point to a way of travelling the Great Ocean Road that values time spent in place, as much as distance covered.

    1. The Monty, Anglesea

    inside a classic room at The Monty Anglesea Great Ocean Road
    Settle into The Monty’s unique style.

    Anglesea has always appealed to travellers drawn to a quieter stretch of coast, where surf culture, bushland and river scenery blend into one. The Monty complements that character with a recent rebrand and refresh with traditional beach road trip nostalgia in mind. Mid-century retro decor means rooms are contemporary and funky, without being over-styled.

    A highlight of the stay is Nina Cantina, the on-site Mexican restaurant overlooking the Anglesea River. Opening in 2026, it will undoubtedly become a popular gathering point, bringing together locals, day trippers and overnight guests. Watch the river flow while tucking into plates of tacos, before enjoying a digestion swim in The Monty’s pool.

    Mornings in Anglesea often begin quietly. Kangaroos are a familiar sight on the nearby golf course, and walking tracks wind through heathland that reflects the natural landscape of the Surf Coast. From here, the road south feels like a continuation rather than a departure, easing travellers into the next stretch of the journey.

    2. Basalt Retreats, Port Fairy

    Basalt Retreat Private Villa interior
    Discover this new adults-only retreat.

    Near Port Fairy, Basalt Retreats is an adults-only delight set among a 24-year-old vineyard at Basalt Wines . The accommodation is a mixture of luxury and linens (and ultra comfy beds), allowing the long stretches of grapes to take centre stage. As the sun sets, Basalt Retreats settles into stillness. With minimal light pollution, the night sky becomes part of the experience, and star-searchers will delight in the uninterrupted views of our vast universe.

    Poombeeyt Koontapool lookout
    See Poombeeyt Koontapool from the lookout.

    Staying along the Great Ocean Road western region gives you en route access to coastal landmarks. A visit to Poombeeyt Koontapool at Loch Ard Gorge is a must for those fascinated by natural blowholes, with enough walking trails to tucker out the most seasoned hiker.

    The Poorpa Yanyeen Meereeng Trail between Timboon and Port Campbell reveals how wetlands, farmland and coastline connect across the region, best appreciated on foot or by bike.

    3. Lake Colac Holiday Park, Colac

    cabin at Lake Colac Holiday Park
    Book into a cabin at Lake Colac Holiday Park.

    Lake Colac Holiday Park introduces new cabin accommodation set along the edge of a broad volcanic lake. The cabins are modern and light-filled, designed to make the most of the water views and open skies.

    Lake Colac plays an important role in local life, hosting community events and everyday rituals alike. Staying here offers insight into the agricultural heart of the Great Ocean Road region, where the pace is shaped by seasons rather than sightseeing schedules.

    Brae Restaurant great ocean road victoria
    Have a delicious lunch, then join a farm tour at Brae Restaurant. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Colac’s central location places visitors within reach of standout regional experiences. Otways Distillery’s Birregurra cellar door reflects the surrounding forest in its approach to spirits. While Brae Restaurant’s guided farm and kitchen garden tours offer a closer look at the land that underpins its acclaimed dining. Together, they highlight the strong connection between produce, place and people.

    4. Glamping tents, Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve

    Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve Glamping
    Take a breather in Apollo Bay with brand new glamping tents.

    Back on the coast, Apollo Bay has always been known to be a natural place to take a breather, sitting roughly at the Great Ocean Road’s midway point. The brand-spanking new glamping tents at the Apollo Bay Recreation Reserve offer comfortable accommodation that remains closely connected to the outdoors. With ensuite bathrooms and thoughtfully designed interiors, the cabin-tent hybrids offer enough privacy and luxuries to make the trip feel more luxurious than your standard camping affair.

    Set near the river and within walking distance of the town centre, the location allows guests to move easily between beach walks, forest drives and relaxed meals.

    A session at The Corner Sauna fits naturally into a stay here. The wood-fired sauna has become part of Apollo Bay’s way of life, offering warmth and restoration after time spent in the elements (also known as a frolic at the beach).

    Apollo Bay Fishermens Co-op
    Enjoy fresh seafood at Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op.

    Apollo Bay has enough to entertain and dazzle travellers more than your average town. Graze on fresh seafood at local cafes – like Graze or Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-op – before venturing to nearby waterfalls. Spend hours kayaking among real-life seals, try your hand at surf lessons taught by understanding and patient guides, or simply spend your days reading a book while the surf crashes in front of you.

    Together, these new accommodation openings highlight the Great Ocean Road’s continued evolution. With more places that invite travellers to slow down and stay a little longer, the journey becomes less about rushing between landmarks and more about engaging with the unique towns along the way.

    Start planning your next trip along the Great Ocean Road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au .