The Best Places in Melbourne to Buy Secondhand Baby & Children's Clothes

Melbourne has an unusually good range of ways to shop for preloved baby and children's clothing.

Alongside the city's extensive op-shop network, there are dedicated baby and children's markets, established secondhand markets and several specialist children's resale stores across different parts of Melbourne.

Whether you're looking for the lowest possible price, somewhere to browse in person or several garments in a particular size, here are some of the most useful options.

1. Melbourne op shops

Melbourne has extensive networks of Vinnies, Salvos, Red Cross and independent op shops.

For children's clothing, op shops can produce excellent bargains and unexpected finds. The trade-off is unpredictable stock: what you'll find in a particular size can change considerably from one visit to the next.

They're therefore particularly well suited to parents who enjoy browsing rather than those trying to find several specific garments immediately.

Particularly useful for: inexpensive finds and secondhand treasure hunting.

Keep in mind: sizes, styles and condition can vary considerably between stores and visits.

2. Dedicated baby and children's markets

Melbourne has several markets specifically designed around baby and children's goods, making them more targeted than general weekend markets.

Bumble Bee Baby & Children's Markets run events at different Melbourne locations featuring new, handmade and preloved baby and children's goods.

All For Kids Market also runs Melbourne events where parents can browse preloved children's clothing, toys, books and other kids' goods.

Because market locations and dates change, it's worth checking the organisers' current event information before travelling.

These markets can be particularly useful when families are clearing clothing their children have outgrown, creating opportunities to find several garments in similar sizes.

Particularly useful for: preloved children's clothing, wardrobe clear-outs and buying directly from other families.

Keep in mind: stock varies with the stallholders attending each event.

3. Camberwell Sunday Market

Camberwell Sunday Market offers a broader secondhand-shopping experience and has been part of Melbourne's secondhand scene since 1976.

The market runs on most Sunday mornings, with hundreds of stalls selling secondhand goods, antiques, collectables, preloved and vintage clothing, books and other items.

It's not a dedicated children's market, so kids' clothing isn't the only reason to visit. But for parents who enjoy browsing a large general secondhand market, it's a worthwhile Melbourne option.

Particularly useful for: broad secondhand and vintage treasure hunting.

Keep in mind: children's clothing is only one part of a much larger market.

4. Use-Ta! — Brunswick and Thornbury

Use-Ta! is one of Melbourne's more established specialist preloved clothing businesses, operating since 2014.

It specialises in curated preloved maternity, baby and children's clothing and currently has physical stores in Brunswick and Thornbury.

Unlike an op shop, garments are selected specifically for resale, so the experience is closer to browsing a specialist children's clothing store—but with secondhand stock.

For Melbourne parents who want to shop preloved clothing in person without relying entirely on what happens to have been donated to an op shop, it's a useful option.

Particularly useful for: curated baby and children's clothing and in-person shopping in Melbourne's inner north.

Keep in mind: specialist curation is a different proposition from hunting for the cheapest possible op-shop find.

5. Little Duck Preloved — Hawthorn

Little Duck Preloved has moved from its former Kew East location and now operates at 113 Auburn Road, Hawthorn.

Its model is different again. Parents can rent racks to sell their own preloved baby, children's, maternity and women's clothing, while shoppers browse the stock in-store.

Because different sellers occupy racks over time, the selection changes regularly.

That can provide some of the variety of peer-to-peer shopping while still allowing customers to browse garments together in a physical store.

Particularly useful for: changing preloved stock and in-person browsing in Melbourne's inner east.

Keep in mind: available brands, sizes and styles depend on the sellers currently stocking racks.

6. Twinkle Threads — Malvern East

Twinkle Threads at 87 Chadstone Road, Malvern East is another specialist option, with preloved children's clothing from newborn through to size 16.

It also uses a rack-rental model, allowing families to sell their children's outgrown clothing while shoppers browse the garments together in-store.

This gives parents in Melbourne's south-east another physical alternative to general op shops or arranging purchases individually through Marketplace.

Particularly useful for: preloved children's clothing and in-person shopping in Melbourne's south-east.

Keep in mind: stock changes as different families sell through the store.

7. Facebook Marketplace and other online marketplaces

Facebook Marketplace and Melbourne Buy/Swap/Sell groups can be particularly useful for buying clothing directly from local families, including larger bundles when children move into the next size.

Melbourne shoppers can also use Gumtree, eBay, Vinted, Depop and other national resale platforms.

Rather than repeating all their advantages and disadvantages here, our Best Places to Buy Preloved Baby & Children's Clothes in Australia guide compares the major marketplaces, resale apps, brand-specific resale marketplaces and specialist retailers.

8. Buying secondhand kids' clothes online in Melbourne

Melbourne parents can also shop online with specialist children's resale retailers such as Daisy Chain Clothing.

Daisy Chain Clothing individually lists thousands of preloved baby and children's garments across different sizes, brands and clothing types. Each garment is checked before listing, and customers can choose pieces from across the catalogue and combine them into one order for delivery to Melbourne.

That serves a different purpose from Melbourne's physical resale stores and markets. It's particularly useful when you're trying to find several specific garments in a child's size and would rather search one large inventory than visit several locations or buy from multiple individual sellers.

Particularly useful for: building a multi-item wardrobe and buying across brands and clothing types in one online order.

Keep in mind: this is online shopping rather than a Melbourne retail-store experience.

Which Melbourne option suits you?

Melbourne's strength is that parents don't have to rely on one kind of secondhand shopping.

Someone who enjoys the hunt might combine op shops and markets, while specialist stores offer a more focused in-person experience. Online options become particularly useful when you're searching for specific sizes or trying to build a larger wardrobe at once.

More guides to buying preloved children's clothes

For a broader comparison of op shops, marketplaces, resale apps, brand-specific resale sites and specialist retailers, see our Best Places to Buy Preloved Baby & Children's Clothes in Australia.

Our Ultimate Guide to Buying Preloved Children's Clothing in Australia covers what to look for when assessing secondhand clothing, while How Much Can You Save Buying Secondhand for Your Baby's First Year? looks at the financial side of buying preloved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy secondhand baby clothes in Melbourne?

Melbourne options include op shops, dedicated baby and children's markets such as Bumble Bee and All For Kids Market, Camberwell Sunday Market, specialist resale stores including Use-Ta!, Little Duck Preloved and Twinkle Threads, Facebook Marketplace and online secondhand retailers.

Are there specialist secondhand children's clothing stores in Melbourne?

Yes. Melbourne has several specialist options, including Use-Ta! in Brunswick and Thornbury, Little Duck Preloved in Hawthorn and Twinkle Threads in Malvern East. These offer more focused children's or family resale shopping than a general op shop.

Which Melbourne markets sell secondhand kids' clothes?

Bumble Bee Baby & Children's Markets and All For Kids Market specifically include preloved baby and children's goods. Camberwell Sunday Market is a much larger general secondhand market where children's clothing can also be found. Market stock and event schedules vary, so check current information before visiting.

Where can I buy bundles of secondhand children's clothes in Melbourne?

Dedicated kids' markets, Facebook Marketplace and local Buy/Swap/Sell groups can be particularly useful when parents are selling multiple garments their children have outgrown. Specialist online retailers offer another approach by allowing shoppers to select individual garments and combine their own choices into one order.

Can I buy secondhand children's clothes online in Melbourne?

Yes. Melbourne shoppers can use peer-to-peer marketplaces and resale apps or shop with specialist online children's resale retailers. Online shopping can be useful when you need particular sizes or several garments rather than relying on what is available at one physical location.