Beat's guide to Melbourne's best record stores, the crème de la crème of crate digging.
There’s no greater pleasure than an afternoon spent rifling through the stacks at a local record shop. Luckily for wax heads, mild enthusiasts and newcomers just dipping their toes into the rapid, winding river that is vinyl obsession, Melbourne has hundreds of shops to choose from.
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Dutch Vinyl
Dutch Vinyl source records from all corners of the globe, both second-hand vinyl records and new vinyl records, which are all for sale from their store in Abbotsford, Melbourne. Every year they travel to Holland to source Dutch and European vinyl record pressings, which are known for their superior quality. Very reasonable prices are stuck on their crystal clear blake record sleeves and they clean records with our professional record cleaner. No dirty fingers when you leave!
Find Dutch Vinyl at 269 Johnston St, Abbotsford.
Northside Records
If Northside Records’ moniker, ‘The Soul of Melbourne’ didn’t give it away, well… I don’t know what to tell you. Northside Records are Melbourne’s soul specialists, with a huge variety of new and old records simply begging for discovery in store. Also offering some hectic in-store/street parties at different points of the year, Northside has become a bit of a touchstone for the Melbourne hip hop and soul community. The collection always has some hidden surprises for you, while their list of records are also great for those on the hunt for rare cuts and second-hand discs as well. Stocking all soul-adjacent genres, including jazz, hip hop, reggae and funk, Northside has you covered on all bases.
Find Northside Records at 236 Gertrude St, Fitzroy.
Record Paradise
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Sydney Road is local gem Record Paradise, an independent store in Brunswick on Sydney Road with a huge selection of new and second hand vinyl, DVDs, CDs, books and vinyl accessories. Owned and operated by local music lovers, Paul Allen and Renae Maxwell, the store specialises in local 7” releases.
Find Record Paradise at 159 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
Greville Records
Boasting the title of “the South’s best”, the shop has it all – spanning genres and styles with a focus on the unique, obscure and unusual. Opening over 40 years ago, at the height of the era of punk, Greville Records became renowned for its punk and independent records. Greville Records are a staple of local Melbourne record store culture – a culture that keeps the city vibrant and alive. On their website, Greville Records themselves have summed up this sentiment perfectly: “what’s a city without a cool record store?? sweet f.a.”
Find Greville Records at 152 Greville St, Prahran.
Oh! Jean Records
A great space for browsing a tightly-curated collection of vinyl, seeing in-store sets, grabbing a coffee and even catching some basketball on TV, Oh! Jean has become a favourite over the last year. Zac (co-owner) is a hip hop head too; his knowledge on the genre is great, his appreciation for vinyl even greater. Oh! Jean Records stocks everything across indie through to jazz and hip hop, championing Australian releases and offering a hands-on approach; if something you’re looking for isn’t in, they’ll make you a priority and source it for you to the best of their ability.
Find Oh! Jean Records at 276 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy.
Thornbury Records
Step into a vinyl lover’s paradise at Thornbury Records, Melbourne’s revered cultural icon. This gem of a store – still called Thornbury Records even though its now, ya know, in Northcote, boasts an extensive collection of vinyl records and offers advice on turntable parts and repairs.
Check out Thornbury Records at 374 High St, Northcote.
Heartland Records
Since its inception in 1992, Heartland has been a go-to destination for vinyl enthusiasts, now settled in a spacious Victoria Street shop. Whether you’re after new releases or nostalgic classics, their extensive collection caters to all genres. With a focus on heavy metal and punk, especially Australian bands, be prepared to spend hours exploring this vinyl haven.
Find Heartland Records at 420-422 Victoria St, North Melbourne.
Plug Seven Records
A particular haven for jazz, hip hop, Afro and soul music fans, Plug Seven is awesome to check out if you’re not pressed for time. Thousands of records are housed here, curated by Ari Roze, who is attentive and always on the lookout for new music to bring into the fold from overseas too. This is a store I find I can rely on for the hard to find, left-of-centre records. You walk into this store looking for one item and you come out with four or five extra additions to your collection.
Find Plug Seven Records at 313A Smith Street, Fitzroy.
Licorice Pie
Among the world’s best record stores, with its international reputation preceding it, Licorice Pie is well known for global rarities, attention to detail and fascinating finds. Their new location is in the latest addition to the inner north’s cultural scene, the Collingwood Yards.
Find Licorice Pie in Collingwood Yards: 3/30 Perry St, Collingwood.
HUB301
Embracing the vinyl revival within the party scene, HUB301 specialises in new records across house, techno, disco and soul. With a focus on the unique, HUB301 is your go-to for eclectic wax. You’ll also find plenty of local artists sitting beside the internationals.
Find HUB301 at 301 Johnston Street, Abbotsford.
Profile Music
Run by vinyl connoisseur Steve Giardina, Profile Music boasts an extensive collection of new and second-hand records across soul, funk, disco and more. The tightly curated selection offers the digger an exclusive experience – an opportunity to uncover some of the rarest records going ‘round town.
Find Profile Music at 147 Greville Street, Prahran.
Rathdowne Records
“The most jazz” reads their Facebook bio. And it’s probably true. While they don’t specifically specialise in jazz, it’s absolutely how it started. Back in 2007, owner Joel Shortman began selling records as a side hustle to his DVD rental business. Long story short, Rathdowne Records quickly became known as one of the best jazz record stockists in the city. It now purveys – in addition to the most jazz – a wide selection of hip hop and funk.
Find Rathdowne Records at 230 High St, Northcote.
Sonic Rendezvous
Among the array of record stores on High Street, this gem stands out with its excellent collection of vintage vinyl from the ’60s and ’70s, all at fair prices. Delight in the loveliest service while exploring their well-curated selection, especially if you’re a heavy metal vinyl aficionado. Finding secondhand records like this is a rare treasure in today’s music landscape.
Find Sonic Rendezvous at 513 High St, Northcote.
The Searchers
With crates chock full of finds from across the world, The Searchers is a digging paradise. Spanning genres and across international borders, the eclectic mix at Searchers guarantees you’ll find what you’re searching for.
Find The Searchers at 93 Smith St, Fitzroy.
Poison City Records
Stocking everything from punk to hardcore and beyond, this skate-meets-record shop was Fitzroy’s beloved community hub for over a decade. Now calling Preston home, it’s still a go-to for all your vinyl and skate merch needs.
Find Poison City Records at 60 Gilbert Rd, Preston.
Tamura Sake Bar and Records
Combining the owners’ love of sake and music, Tamura Sake Bar is more than just a bar. The venue has a huge stock of imported Japanese records on the spin every night and they’re all for sale. The curated selection encompasses jazz, soul and hip hop, and includes rarities unheard of outside Japan.
Find Tamura Sake Bar, Records and Jazzy Kitchen at 43 Gertrude Street Fitzroy.
Dixons Recycled
If it’s old, used and secondhand you’re after, Dixons has it. One of Melbourne’s longest-running secondhand record chains, over 40 years in the game, Dixons is a success story of how an independent store can stay in the game so long. They do one thing, and they do it very, very well.
Find Dixons Recycled at 237 High St, Northcote and 100 Railway Road, Blackburn.
Strangeworld Records
With a particular focus on garage, metal and punk, Strangeworld offers an insight into the obscure, unique and interesting. There you’ll find new and old gems across post-punk, pop, noise, experimental, garage, soul and more.
Find Strangeworld Records at 519 Brunswick St, Fitzroy North.
JJ’s Vinyl
Melbourne’s cherished vinyl haven, JJ’s Vinyl, beckons true enthusiasts with its treasure trove of fresh arrivals, timeless classics, and delightfully obscure gems that awaken hidden desires. From audiophile pressings to jazz, alternate and classic rock, hip-hop, metal, electronic and more, you’ll be hard-pressed (pun intended) to leave the store empty-handed.
Find JJ’s Vinyl at 279 Wells Rd, Chelsea Heights.
Union Heights
You’ll find more than just records at “Melbourne’s destination for all things hip hop”. Community-driven Union Heights stocks independently released music, with a focus on local talent. The store also has a wide range of graffiti art supplies, DVDs, publications, collectibles and apparel.
Check out Union Heights at 136 Chapel St, Windsor.
White Rabbit Record Bar
Nestled away in Kensington, The White Rabbit opened up in 2002, it was the brainchild of three mates who were massive vinyl junkies – they love all types of genres, so you’ll fit in no matter what you like. This also means that the White Rabbit Record Bar has a massive array of vinyls on offer, they’re full of your favourite releases.
Find White Rabbit Record Bar at 176 Bellair St, Kensington.
Plug Seven
This vinyl haven boasts an expansive collection spanning jazz, Afro, soul, rock, Latin, disco, and blues. Whether you’re buying or selling, they’ve got you covered with an impressive array of records and vinyl.
Find Plug Seven at 313A Smith St, Fitzroy.
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