Maling Road! It has been quite a while since we last went there, like eons ago.
Well, most large cities have streets or districts which are known for their shops and cafes. Maling Road is one such street. It is promoted as one of the top 5 shopping destinations in Victoria, hidden in the shopping precinct of Canterbury in the inner eastern suburb of Melbourne.
It's a great little area for cafes serving quality coffee, of which I can attest to and good gourmet foods. There are some interesting shops to check out too. Maling Road combines long established shops mingle with the contemporary.
The Maling Road shops start at the intersection of Canterbury Road - right next to Canterbury train station. This station is just 15 to 20 minutes east of Flinders St in the city. All Lilydale and Belgrave trains stop here.
This quaint street, since its humble beginnings in 1800s has preserved its old time Edwardian look. Its proximity to Melbourne’s CBD, makes Maling Road shopping village both a nearby destination and a "Back to the Future" time traveling opportunity of sort.
Maling Road has currently over 70 shops to entice you over. So if you are looking for some place different to go or something to do, even on a rainy day like today, here is one destination to consider.
One of the shops we took an interest in is the 'Maling Road Antique Market'. What once used to be an old theatre is now a bursting antique shop with all sorts of antiques and knick-knacks. The beautiful old decoration of the theatre and the ceiling forms the grand backdrop to the treasure troves you can hunt through; porcelain, china, glassware, old medals, old maps, even pieces of jewellery lock in glass cases. At the back where the stage once was, there's even a small collection of books and clothes.
Other places of interest is Tim's Bookshop located next to the community bank or just across the antique red post box. There is also the Darriwill Farm where we go a bottle of red wine with a recipe to make mulled wine; said to be a good tonic drink for a cold wintery night.
It is at this point that I noticed across the road, Bambaleros Freshly Roasted Coffee. This cafe roasts its own beans in a roaster positioned proudly at the back of the small premises. They also serve food and as it was about lunch time, I had to try some and it was good .....coffee and food.
The other shops at Maling Road sell all kinds of goodies; gifts, boutique clothing, fine art, china and crystal, books, beauty therapy, and interior design. There is even a sweet shop for those who have sweet tooth. Of course there are more everyday shops too, like the pharmacy, post office, hair salons and grocery shop.
Notable absences from this street are the multinationals and big chain stores. Apart from IGA and Bakers Delight (both Australian and locally owned), all the shops and eateries in Maling Road are independant one-offs.
