Walking up the large, open flight of stairs off the north west corner of Garema Place in Canberra’s CBD, it’s easy to feel like you’re tapping into a local secret.
You’d be right. The glass door opens onto an expansive, light-filled space with rustic concrete floors and clean timber shelves filled with jewellery, millinery, clothing, ceramics and homewares. All of it has been made within a one hundred kilometre radius of Canberra. You’ve discovered Trove Canberra, a not-for-profit cooperative of nearly two dozen makers and designers.
It’s been a big few years for the co-op, which started out at the Lonsdale Street Traders. That pop-up project helped reinvent the city fringe precinct of Braddon as a home of good food and interesting shopping.
After the pop-up’s closure, Trove’s members took a collective deep breath, and reopened in a larger, permanent space in the city, just a short walk from their Lonsdale Street roots. Today, Trove does a roaring trade in handmade gifts, and manages to appeal to university students, public servants, tourists and everyone in between.
The co-op model, which requires makers to take turns running the shop, has a real pay off for customers, who can ask questions, seek advice, request customisation, or just have a general chat about the making process with a roster of artisans.
As for the shopping, diversity means only the strong willed leave empty handed. For headwear, check out the work of zero-waste millinery line Sovata. Something for home? The four-strong Sculptural Emanations collective works across a range of media.
For visitors after a non-cheesy souvenir, Trove has that covered too: Carolyn from There Goes a Pig does a screen printed linen tea towel that’s so gorgeous you’ll be hesitant to dry anything with it, lest you muss it up.
If you’re not shopped-out after a visit, wander back over to Lonsdale Street where you’ll find a collection of smaller boutiques selling everything from Australian designer brands (Itrip Iskip) and homewares (Handsome Pretty) to to fancy kids’ stuff (Tip You’re It) and high end vintage (Designer Op Shop).