The Six Best Record Stores for Vinyl in Melbourne

Specialising in soul and funk, Gertrude Street’s Northside Records is where it’s at if you’re looking for music to get down to. Northside stocks both new releases and rare second-hand vinyl, and thankfully they have listening facilities if you’d like to try before you buy. On top of being generally awesome, Northside Records is also a record label — they’ve released work from new soul bands like Saskwatch and Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes.

Affectionately known as T-Recs, this little Thornbury gem has a quality selection of records, assuring us of the discerning taste of the folk who run it. At Thornbury Records, the crew understand their clientele most likely use digital technology alongside vinyl, and thankfully offer vinyl to CD/MP3 transfers for those who want the best music on any platform. Thornbury also do repairs on record players, which we can say from experience has been extremely helpful and efficient.

This legend of Sydney Road may not always be an easy one to spot, but once you’ve found it you’ll never look back. It’s the personal touches that really make Round and Round so delightful, from the custom-built wooden record racks, to the staff-written stickers with reviews and artist facts placed on particularly excellent albums. R&R’s division of genres is very specific, saving you time if you’re after something rather particular. But really, when we come to visit Round and Round we’re never in a hurry to leave.

While we think record hunting with your crush makes for a particularly adorable date, it can also be pretty thirsty work. Thankfully, Kensington has the answer in the form of White Rabbit Record Bar, where you can either grab a coffee or an Alice in Wonderland-themed cocktail. As you can imagine, vinyl spins day and night, and food is available if you need sustenance between searching sessions.

Record Collectors Corner merged their stock with the late and great Missing Link in 2010, thus creating a megastore that caters for a diverse crowd. They get the latest imports from the USA and Europe, as well as supporting local musicians both popular and independent. Missing Link used to be well known for its punk and metal music, but now Record Collectors Corner covers everything from classic rock to psych, prog, indie, blues, jazz, hip hop, reggae, soul and funk.

Smith Street’s record haven is unpretentious and laidback, leaving you to browse uninterrupted. Music is separated by genres and major artists at The Searchers, who also keep their newer releases separate for those who aren’t interested in trawling through the second-hand section (their loss). We’ve had a surprising win in their hip hop and rap sections before, but it’s the old school rock ‘n’ roll and disco sections that are particular goldmines.