There’s something deeply satisfying about spending hours fossicking through stacks of old stuff in a cavernous warehouse, never quite knowing what you might find. Last week, a discussion popped up about the Waverley Antique Bazaar, and it got me thinking about these increasingly rare treasure troves that dot the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

For those unfamiliar, the Waverley Antique Bazaar sits on Springvale Road in Glen Waverley—one of those places you’ve probably driven past a hundred times without really noticing. It’s a massive warehouse packed with everything from genuine antiques to retro collectables, vintage furniture to Hot Wheels cars. The kind of place where you can lose an entire afternoon and emerge with an Astro Boy figurine, a vintage camera, or absolutely nothing at all—and still feel like you’ve had a great time.