Melbourne's Ultimate Record Store Guide: A Crate Digger's Paradise

For the true audiophile and seasoned crate digger, Melbourne offers an unparalleled record shopping experience. The city is a veritable treasure trove of vinyl delights, where every turn of a corner reveals another hidden gem of a record store.

Each shop boasts a carefully curated selection of rare and collectible records, spanning genres from jazz, funk, soul to hip hop, reggae and beyond.

The joy of record shopping in Melbourne lies in the thrill of discovery—unearthing that elusive first pressing, a forgotten classic, or an obscure B-side that completes your collection.

Melbourne’s vibrant vinyl community is fueled by passionate store owners and knowledgeable staff, who share your enthusiasm for music and are always eager to share their latest finds.

Whether you’re hunting for the latest releases or digging deep into the crates for those hard-to-find treasures, Melbourne's record stores offer an experience that’s as rich and diverse as the city itself.

This guide highlights the must-visit spots for any serious vinyl enthusiast, ensuring your record shopping journey is as rewarding as it is enjoyable.

Abbotsford

  • Dutch Vinyl

    • Specialty: Jazz, Funk, Soul, Rock, Electronic
    • Address: 269 Johnston Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
    • Description: Dutch Vinyl offers a broad selection of genres with a notable focus on jazz, funk, soul, and electronic music. The store is well-regarded for its curated selection and friendly atmosphere.

  • HUB301

    • Specialty: House, Techno, Disco, Soul
    • Address: 301 Johnston Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
    • Description: Embracing the vinyl revival within the party scene, HUB301 specializes in new records across house, techno, disco, and soul. You'll also find plenty of local artists sitting beside the internationals.

Brunswick

  • Record Paradise

    • Specialty: Various genres including Funk, Soul, Jazz
    • Address: 159 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056
    • Description: Originally established in 1955, Record Paradise is one of Melbourne’s oldest record shops, offering a wide range of genres and a cozy, retro atmosphere.

  • Round and Round Records

    • Specialty: Psychedelic, Indie, Soul, Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Hip Hop
    • Address: 556 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056
    • Description: This store is packed with custom-built wooden racks of new and second-hand vinyl spanning multiple genres, making it a favorite among music enthusiasts.

Carlton North

  • Goldmine Records (Carlton North)

    • Specialty: Eclectic range including Jazz, Funk, Soul
    • Address: 369 Nicholson Street, Carlton North VIC 3054
    • Description: Offering a huge selection of new and used titles across two shops, Goldmine Records is known for its eclectic range and quality selections.

Collingwood

  • Licorice Pie Records

    • Specialty: Rare finds, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop
    • Address: 3/30 Perry Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
    • Description: Internationally known for its selection of rare and hard-to-find records, Licorice Pie stocks a wide variety of genres with a strong emphasis on funk, soul, and jazz.

  • Skydiver Records

    • Specialty: House, Techno, Disco, Synth-pop, Jazz
    • Address: 167A Johnston Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
    • Description: Skydiver is a record store that stocks a wide-ranging selection of new and second-hand records and tapes across various electronic genres and more.

Fitzroy

  • Northside Records

    • Specialty: Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, Reggae
    • Address: 236 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
    • Description: Famous for its large collections of funk and soul vinyl, Northside Records is a must-visit for music lovers, offering new stock from international and local suppliers weekly.

  • Plug Seven Records

    • Specialty: Jazz, Hip Hop, Afro, Soul, Funk
    • Address: 313A Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
    • Description: A haven for jazz, hip hop, Afro, and soul music fans, Plug Seven features thousands of records curated by owner Ari Roze, who brings in collections from overseas.

  • The Searchers

    • Specialty: Punk, Soul, Disco, Jazz, Hip Hop
    • Address: 93 Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
    • Description: Spanning genres and international borders, The Searchers is a digging paradise with an eclectic mix of vinyl records.

  • Oh! Jean Records

    • Specialty: Indie, Jazz, Hip Hop
    • Address: 276 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
    • Description: Known for its tightly-curated collection of vinyl, Oh! Jean Records specializes in showcasing records from Australia and New Zealand.

  • Dixons Recycled

    • Specialty: Secondhand vinyl, Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop
    • Address: 414 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
    • Description: One of Melbourne’s longest-running secondhand record chains, Dixons Recycled is well-known for its extensive range of secondhand vinyl.

Fitzroy North

  • Goldmine Records (Fitzroy North)

    • Specialty: Eclectic range including Jazz, Funk, Soul
    • Address: 355 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North VIC 3068
    • Description: Similar to its Carlton North location, this store offers a wide variety of new and used titles, making it a treasure trove for vinyl enthusiasts.

  • Muscle Shoals Records

    • Specialty: Soul, Funk, Jazz, Rare Finds
    • Address : 454 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy North VIC 3068
    • Description: Specializing in soul, funk, and jazz, Muscle Shoals Records is known for its high-quality selection and expert curation of rare and unique records.

Hawthorn

  • Alley Tunes

    • Specialty: Jazzy beats, second-hand house, underground dance music
    • Address: 8/660A Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122
    • Description: Nestled in the suburban neighborhood of Hawthorn, Alley Tunes offers an extensive range of second-hand records and is a great spot for music lovers to hang out.

Malvern

  • Vicious Sloth Collectables

    • Specialty: Rare and collectible records, various genres
    • Address: 1309 High Street, Malvern VIC 3144
    • Description: Known for its extensive inventory of rare and collectible vinyl, Vicious Sloth is a favorite among serious collectors.

Melbourne CBD

  • Wax Museum Records

    • Specialty: Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Jazz
    • Address: Shop 2, Campbell Arcade, Degraves Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
    • Description: A hip hop lover's paradise, Wax Museum Records hosts beat parties, DJ lessons, and offers an extensive collection of hip hop, funk, soul, and jazz records.

  • Rocksteady Records

    • Specialty: New and second-hand vinyl, local talent, eclectic genres
    • Address: Level 1, 373-375 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
    • Description: Known for its diverse range of genres and knowledgeable staff, Rocksteady Records is a staple in Melbourne's vinyl community.

Melbourne CBD (continued)

  • Basement Discs

    • Specialty: Various genres including Funk, Soul, Jazz
    • Address: 24 Block Place, Melbourne VIC 3000
    • Description: Located below street level in the CBD's Block Arcade, Basement Discs offers a wide range of genres and runs weekly gigs.

Northcote

  • Rathdowne Records

    • Specialty: Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk
    • Address: 230 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
    • Description: Known as one of the best jazz record stockists in the city, Rathdowne Records also offers a wide selection of hip hop and funk.

  • Sonic Rendezvous

    • Specialty: Vintage vinyl, Jazz, Funk, Soul
    • Address: 513 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070
    • Description: This store stands out with its excellent collection of vintage vinyl from the ’60s and ’70s, offering a well-curated selection and delightful service.

Prahran

  • Profile Music

    • Specialty: Soul, Funk, Disco
    • Address: 147 Greville Street, Prahran VIC 3181
    • Description: Profile Music boasts an extensive collection of new and second-hand records across soul, funk, and disco, offering a unique experience for diggers.

  • Licorice Pie Records

    • Specialty: Rare finds, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop
    • Address: 249A High Street, Prahran VIC 3181
    • Description: Internationally known for its selection of rare and hard-to-find records, Licorice Pie stocks a wide variety of genres with a strong emphasis on funk, soul, and jazz.

  • Bounce Audio

    • Specialty: Electronic, Disco, House
    • Address: 37 Cato Street, Prahran VIC 3181
    • Description: Where DJ shop meets record shop, Bounce Audio has an ever-changing selection of electronic music to go with the gear. You can hire equipment, get your gear fixed, or purchase everything you need to kick start that disk jockey career you’ve always considered, including the records.

South Yarra

  • Obese Records

    • Specialty: Hip Hop, Beats
    • Address: 211 Commercial Road, South Yarra VIC 3141
    • Description: Located behind the famous Chapel Street shopping district, Obese is Melbourne’s longest running hip-hop record store with over 15 years under its belt. It stocks the latest beats from the US and UK, as well as hip-hop apparel and graffiti-related material, promoting the local scene through its own Obese Records label.