Exploring: Dug Up On Bourke

Last week Little Man and I had a few hours free so we headed to a little nook in Sydney that I've been meaning to visit since we lived in the Eastern Suburbs. It turned out to be not such a little nook!

Dug Up On Bourke.

This place is AMAZING! I had heard of it before and seen it referenced in several home decor magazines. They collect a myriad of items from house sales, theatres, museums, companies, auctions, and accept donations too! All items are 'original' and there are no re-fabricated items. There is an enormous range of just 'things' and loads from pre-1920s Sydney.

For reference, Dug Up On Bourke is located at 901a Bourke Street, Waterloo, Sydney. They had no part in my writing of this article and all opinions are my own (or of the Little Man).

These images are of just the furniture section and indicate the enormity of the warehouse!

This is just a small selection of things that caught our eye...

Old ropes and boats (and crazy little man rocking chairs, yes he is a rocking chair!)

This beautiful and HUGE drawer/hall table was absolutely gorgeous. Very solid and all drawers run nicely. There is some beautiful weathering all over the item and would look amazing in a big hallway of a country farm house.

 Another lovely, solid timber piece. This would be great for storing linens, serving dishes and platters in a dining room. 

This original QANTAS model would look fabulous in a little boys room, perhaps for Little Man's new room when we find our new house?

Typewriters - these were more expensive than I expected! 

Lots and lots of bits and bobs...

Mason jars and milk bottles

Fabulous industrial metal letters

A collection of these spools would look gorgeous on a mantel. I'd like to build our 'family' with them... A daddy spool, a mummy spool and a little man spool. 

Who doesn't love a stack of old suitcases?

This would make a great coffee table (and if its still there next time we will grab it!)

This lovely girl really wanted to come home with us.

This is what we came home with:

A lovely, timber card box for our postcards from near and far. Dove-tail joints and in beautiful shape (no key though).

We also grabbed that lovely looking, rusted key.

The box and key are sitting on top of our toy storage in our living room which is basically our 'Family Drop Zone'. Look out for a post on our family drop zone on Monday!

We had a blast exploring Dug Up on Bourke. Little Man was not a fan of the real-stuffed camel decked out in full travelling leathers but he loved the super sized Banana in Pyjamas! We plan to take my mum and dad back there soon, they will love it and we will drag Hubby there once we have a home to decorate! Old elements of this beautiful city and Australian life make fantastic additions to displays and nooks at home, and they can be practical. 

Little Man decided as of tuesday this week that he isn't really doing an afternoon nap anymore, we are really gravitating towards one big sleep mid-morning. Any hints on this crazy transition stage? He is so tired by 5pm but cannot go down for a nap because its too close to bed time! Argh!

xx T