The leafy Inner North suburb of Ainslie recently welcomed a new treasure trove of vintage charm and contemporary gems. Co-owners of Atkins Avenue, Tiana Durston and Amanda Mackenzie are “curators of beautiful things,” previously operating Blue Moon Vintage as part of Dirty Janes.
“We’ve felt so welcomed here in Ainslie. It’s been a wonderful new beginning,” says Tiana. “In just five weeks, we feel part of the community already.”
The shop windows are an eclectic mix of vintage homewares and unique gifts from local makers. The sign reads “Atkins Avenue: For New & Old”. After three years of exclusively selling the latter at Blue Moon Vintage, Tiana and Amanda wanted their new store to reflect the mix of vintage and modern that they emulate in their own homes.
“Both our homes are a mix of old and new,” says Amanda. “Sometimes I go into homeware stores and they seem a bit sterile to me. And I know some people go into op shops and think they can’t find anything good.”
Beautiful things can be found in every era, “and Atkins Avenue is a destination for people who are interested in beautiful things,” she says simply.
The name itself holds a special place in Amanda’s heart, paying homage to the street in Melbourne where her grandparents resided. Her grandmother, a stylish op-shopper and avid auction-goer, inspired her mother’s love for repurposing old items into something vibrant and new.
While her mother grew up on the original Atkins Avenue, Amanda grew up in Dickson. Back then, there were no Dickson shops so her family and neighbours were regular visitors to Ainslie shops over many years.
When it came time to open their own store, no other location felt quite as right.
“Both Amanda and I love that sense of community and we’ve certainly found it in Ainslie and the neighbouring suburbs,” adds Tiana.
The two met as teachers working at the same school and bonded over their “love of lovely things”. Thus began a 20-year friendship, the bedrock of their business.
Their friendship is the foundation for everything in their business and they have now invited their friend Sue Dempsey to join the team.
In three words, Amanda describes Atkins Avenue as “beautiful, interesting, and unpredictable”.
Their extensive range includes mid-size furniture, china, linens, books, and glassware, with a suite of local stockists including Wattle Bird Soaps, and organic skin products from Equilibrium in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Sustainability is a core value for Tiana and Amanda – the former restores and upcycles lamps and picture frames that are also available in store.
“Keeping it out of landfill is definitely something we are passionate about,” says Tiana. “A lot of these things will now end up in a loved home, from one generation to the next.”
“Sometimes I listen to the grandparents who bring their grandchildren in, and they might come across an old Singer sewing machine and say, ‘What’s that?’ To hear the stories that are evolving through the generations is really quite lovely,” she says.
Atkins Avenue is open six days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and weekends from 10am to 5pm. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @atkinsavenue.shop. Patrons can now sign up for their Christmas VIP event, where more surprises, discounts, and delights await.
Atkins Avenue, 1/13 Edgar Street, Ainslie
