Moorabool Antique Galleries’ two floors of intriguing objects range from furniture to silverware and almost everything in between.
But the business is widely renowned for Australia’s largest range of antique ceramic items, along with a reference library containing more than 2000 books on ceramics.
“As well as the books, we have ‘example’ ceramics from every period and place possible,” says owner Paul Rosenberg.
“We use them to help identify ‘unknown’ pieces.”
The shop is filled with cases of well-documented pieces for sale.
“I’d hate to do a stocktake,” Paul says.
“We’ve never counted but we must have over 10,000 pieces in stock.”
This makes it the largest of its kind in Australia, and perhaps the world.
“Through the website, we have been ‘discovered’ by collectors’ world-wide”
Moorabool Antique Galleries has become something of a family tradition, with Paul operating the business in the footsteps of his father, John.
“I still meet customers who bought things from him 30 years ago” Paul smiles.
The 60-year-old business sticks to the “proper definition” of antiques, he says.
“That means more than 100 years old, which includes the Georgian and Victorian eras.
“We have a very wide variety of goods, which mirrors the diversity of our clientele. Our stock ranges from very affordable small gifts through to major pieces that we’ve sold to organisations like the National Gallery of Victoria and Geelong Art Gallery, even international institutions.
“We have something for everyone.”
Paul nominates the early 19th Century English porcelain tea wares as particularly good value at the moment.
“We have several hundred cups and saucers, some 200 years old, both beautiful and usable and costing less than a modern equivalent.”
Moorabool Antique Galleries is at 16/18 Ryrie Street, Geelong.
