An empty Freo piazza has been transformed into Perth’s home of vintage
We know we’re not alone in feeling dismay every time we see an empty shopfront or disused space… With high rent costs and ever-increasing cost of living concerns, it can feel impossible for the little guys to get a foot in the door.
Thankfully, the legends at Spacemarket are valiantly fighting to pair “disused spaces with useful people”, filling up Perth’s empty shopfronts and quirky spaces with the local small businesses, creative pursuits and activations – without cripplingly high rents and long leases.
Over the last decade, they’ve brought life to spaces like the now-demolished Fremantle Myer building, Perth CBD’s Moana Chambers, the Heathcote Cultural Precinct, Victoria House and more.
Since 2022, Spacemarket has been working closely with Pete Adams from Parc Developments to revive one of Fremantle’s former bustling hotspots: South Terrace’s Piazza. Best known as the home of the Pickled Fairy (now in its 33rd year!), the Piazza changed hands in 2022 – and while it awaits a more substantial refurbishment, a charming ecosystem of local businesses have taken up residency, forming one of Perth’s most impressive vintage hubs.
Hunter & Robinson are the most recent to join the ranks, bringing a timeless selection of vintage threads alongside a pared-back selection of records. Prior to this, Hunter & Robinson also spent a month camping out upstairs at neighbours Freo de Janeiro.
In one of the Piazza’s most stunning tenancies (anyone else remember Into Camelot?!), with that crisp white interior, distinctive wrought iron balustrade and Juliet balcony, Freo de Janeiro’s highly curated vintage fashion leans towards the Y2K, with an even more tightly curated, select range of retro homewares.
Ready to rehabilitate our wardrobes with more vintage goodness, the Piazza is also home to the technicolour Yeah Vintage (we’re obsessed with those pieces made with vintage tea towels and tablecloths!), boho vibes at Vintage Lily, plus more Y2K aesthetic at Mothballs Vintage, Neighbourhood Vintage, Morgan Thrifts and Perth Surf Vintage.
Want your home looking at stunning as your new wardrobe? The Upcycling Mutz were one of the first tenancies to move in last year, stocking a selection of vintage furniture, homewares, clothing and curios from the 1950s on, lovingly curated by the vintage finders.
If you’re not a vintage fanatic, there’s still more goodies to be found – the Piazza is also home to art collective and studio space Ratbags, Big Bite Studios, a dopamine-drenched decor brand with a sustainable ethos, as well as home-grown fashion label Hickey Hardware, known for their distinctive graphic prints and ready-for-anything style.
In the nearby Fremantle Malls, Spacemarket have also found homes for outdoor supply store Packwards, clothing and pattern maker Elbe Textiles, with neighbours Wonky Mugs, Junction Records and T.O.P Coffee all well worth a visit.
Cover image credit: Morgan Thrifts (Wild Red Media)