Vintage Melbourne: Darrell Lea, Venture, Waltons old photos

If you bought rocky road at Darrell Lea, rushed into Venture for a bargain, or lined up to see Jason Donovan at Southland you might be in our gallery.

Shoppers at the Queen Victoria Market in 1962.

From the smell of licorice as you entered a Darrell Lea store, to hunting for a bargain at Venture or Waltons, many Melburnians have fond memories of our gone, but not forgotten old shops.

Or maybe you remember waiting to catch a glimpse of Jason Donovan at Southland, or Kylie and Kendall Jenner at Chadstone?

Or lining up to snare a bargain at the Boxing Day sales at Myer?

Take a walk down memory lane with these photos.

DARRELL LEA

People outside the Darrell Lea store on the corner of Russell and Bourke St.

Wendy Stokoe working at Darrell Lea in 1998.

The Lea Family behind Darrell Lea Chocolates, includes Harris Lea, Monty Lea and Jason Lea.

Customers have fond memories of the rocky road, walnut rolls, licorice, Bo Peep Jars, caramel snow bars, cream centred chocolates, snowballs and coffee whipped nougat bars.

CHADSTONE SHOPPING CENTRE

Chadstone shopping centre celebrates its 21st birthday in 1981.

From humble beginnings in 1980, the centre has grown to become a shopping mecca.

Always designed as a community centre as well as a shopping centre, Chadstone provided many additional services and facilities for entertainment back in 1968.

Bert Newton at the opening of the childminding centre at Chadstone Shopping Centre in 1960.

MELBOURNE CBD

The Bargain Basement at the Myer Emporium in 1952.

Shoppers in Block Place in 1956.

Shoppers in Coles, Bourke St in 1985.

Lunchtime in Bourke St in 1957. With only a few hours left for Christmas shopping, people moved like ants across the street and under the shop verandas. This picture was taken from Bourke St hill, between Queen and Elizabeth streets.

Shoppers walk past Buckley’s in Bourke St in 1972.

MYER

The late Sidney Myer, third from left, outside the first Myer shop at Bendigo circa 1910.

Bread for sale in the food department at the Myer Emporium in 1952.

Shoppers waiting for the doors to open at Myer on Boxing Day.

The first shoppers entering the Myer during Boxing Day sales in Bourke St in 2001.

FOY & GIBSON

Customers on closing day of Foy & Gibson in June 1956. The store was popular with shoppers during the Christmas rush in the 1940s and 50s. A giant Santa used to sit out the front of the store, which also had a beloved rooftop Christmas fun park, which featured rides, ponies and a petting zoo.

The Foy & Gibson store in 1955.

PRESTON, DANDENONG & CARIBBEAN GARDENS MARKETS

Shoppers at Preston Market, which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2020.

Crowds at the now-closed Caribbean Garden and Markets in Scoresby.

Shoe shopping at Caribbean Gardens.

Shoppers at Dandenong Market in 1973.

The old Tuesday produce market at Dandenong in 1975. These buildings, which house almost 500 stalls, stood since 1928, but made way for a carpark at the new Dandenong Market.

Shoppers at Ringwood Market.

VENTURE

The department store chain operated in Australia from 1970 to 1994, with outlets at several locations including Knox City shopping centre, Clayton, Keysborough, Vermont South, Dandenong and Boronia Mall. It sold clothing for the whole family, manchester and homeware.

MCEWAN’S HARDWARE STORES

Keith Dunstan judging a lamington competition held in McEwans store in the city, in 1977.

McEwans store at Forest Hill Chase in 1968. The stores used to dominate the hardware scene in Victoria before Bunnings.

SOUTHLAND, KNOX FOOD COURTS

The Knox City Shopping Centre food court entrance.

Customers near the window overlooking the roof garden at Southland shopping centre in 1969.

CELEBRITY VISITS

Pop star Delta Goodrem visiting Westfield Plenty Valley in 2000.

Neighbours fans waiting at Southland Shopping Centre to see actor/singer Jason Donovan in 1989.

A huge crowd rushed to Chadstone to see Kendall and Kylie Jenner promote the launch of the Kendall + Kylie collection at Forever New in 2015. Picture: Julian Smith

Kendall and Kylie fans.

A huge crowd gathered at Knox Shopping Centre to check out the X Factor finalists – Jaymie, Jesse and Dean – in 2014. Picture: Angie Basdekis

Fans go crazy as East 17 perform at Highpoint Shopping Centre at Maribyrnong.

The Wiggles drew a huge crowd to Highpoint in 1999.

KMART

Check-outs at the East Burwood Kmart in 1969.

BRASHS

Browsing CDS at Brashs Knox City.

WALTONS

Shoppers outside Waltons' city store in Melbourne in 1983, for the closing down sale. According to Museums Victoria, Waltons opened 12 stores around Melbourne in 1964, with Bourke St its flagship store, costing 3 million pounds to construct. The stores operated until the 1980s.