Best Souvenirs to Buy in Melbourne (& Where to Find Them)
- Words
- Melbourne Tourism Guide
- Updated
- August 20, 2026
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- 10 min
The best souvenirs from Melbourne — coffee, local design, AFL gear, wool, opals and ethical Aboriginal art — plus where to buy them and how to claim the GST refund.
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The best souvenirs from Melbourne are the ones that capture the city’s character — its coffee obsession, its love of design and the arts, its sporting passion — alongside the classic Australian keepsakes you’ll want to take home. This guide runs through the best souvenirs to buy in Melbourne, what makes each one special, where to find it, and how to shop ethically (especially when it comes to Aboriginal art). It’s part of our wider guide to shopping in Melbourne.
Australian classics
Some keepsakes are quintessentially Australian and make reliable gifts. Sheepskin and ugg boots and merino wool knitwear are genuinely good quality here and great for cold climates back home. An Akubra hat or a pair of R.M. Williams boots are iconic, hard-wearing Australian-made items that last for decades. Opals — Australia’s national gemstone — make a special piece of jewellery, though buy from a reputable dealer. Tea tree oil, eucalyptus and native botanical skincare are affordable, lightweight and distinctly Australian. These classics travel well and carry real provenance, which is what makes a souvenir worth keeping.
Food and drink
Edible souvenirs are popular, affordable and easy to pack. Tim Tams (in flavours you won’t find overseas), Vegemite, macadamia nuts, native wattleseed and lemon myrtle products and Australian honey are all classic choices. Being Melbourne, locally roasted coffee beans are one of the best buys going — the city’s specialty roasters are world-class, and a bag of freshly roasted beans is a true taste of Melbourne. Victorian wine from the Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, craft spirits and local chocolate round things out. Just check your home country’s customs rules on bringing in food before you load up.
Local design and fashion
Melbourne is Australia’s design and fashion capital, so a locally made piece is one of the most on-brand souvenirs you can choose. Look for Australian fashion labels, Melbourne-made jewellery and accessories, ceramics and homewares by local makers, and prints or textiles by Melbourne artists and designers. The city’s independent boutiques, design stores and markets are full of original, well-crafted goods you won’t find anywhere else. Buying local design supports the city’s creative community and gives you something genuinely unique — far more memorable than a mass-produced trinket. The arcades, laneways and the Queen Victoria Market are happy hunting grounds.
Aboriginal art — buy authentic and ethical
Aboriginal art is one of the most meaningful things you can take home, but it must be bought ethically. Sadly, the market is flooded with fake “Aboriginal-style” souvenirs — boomerangs, didgeridoos and prints mass-produced overseas with no connection to or benefit for Aboriginal people. To buy authentically, purchase from Aboriginal-owned art centres and galleries or reputable dealers that provide a certificate of authenticity and pay artists fairly, and ask about the artist and their community. Genuine pieces — paintings, prints, carved or woven works — carry real cultural significance and directly support Aboriginal artists. It’s worth the extra care to get it right. Our guide to Aboriginal culture in Melbourne points to ethical sources.
Distinctly Melbourne
For souvenirs that say Melbourne specifically, a few things stand out. AFL merchandise — a scarf, beanie or guernsey from a local club — is a fun, affordable keepsake from the home of Australian football (and a great gift for sports fans). Coffee gear like a quality stovetop maker or branded beans nods to the city’s café culture. Books by Melbourne authors or about the city from one of its excellent independent bookshops make a thoughtful pick, as do prints of Melbourne’s laneways, trams and street art. Even a tasteful tram- or laneway-themed item beats a generic trinket. These capture the city’s personality in a way the standard kangaroo keyring never will.
Where to buy souvenirs in Melbourne
The Queen Victoria Market is the single best one-stop spot — its sheds are packed with souvenirs, crafts, food, wool and gifts at a range of prices. For local design and fashion, browse the arcades and laneways and the Emporium. For Aboriginal art, seek out dedicated Aboriginal-owned galleries and art centres. Department stores (Myer and David Jones on Bourke Street Mall) carry quality Australian brands and food. Gallery and museum shops — at the NGV, Melbourne Museum and ACMI — have beautifully curated, design-led gifts. And specialty coffee roasters sell beans to take home. Our guides to the Queen Victoria Market and the Emporium have more.
Claiming the GST back (Tourist Refund Scheme)
If you spend up, international visitors can claim back the 10% GST through the Tourist Refund Scheme. You need to spend at least AUD 300 at a single retailer (across one or more invoices), buy within 60 days of departure, and keep your original tax invoices. Claims are made at the TRS facility after passport control at Melbourne Airport — entering your details into the official TRS app beforehand speeds it up. It’s most relevant for higher-value buys like opals, R.M. Williams boots, fashion or art, so keep those receipts.
What to skip
A little discernment goes a long way. Skip the mass-produced tat — the cheap plastic kangaroos, fake boomerangs and “Australia” keyrings made overseas add little and often misrepresent Aboriginal culture. Be wary of cheap “Aboriginal” souvenirs that aren’t from authentic sources (see above). Don’t overpay for opals from tourist-trap shops — buy from a reputable jeweller. And check customs rules before buying food, seeds or animal products to bring home. Spending a little more on something genuine, local and well-made always beats a suitcase of throwaway trinkets — the best souvenirs are the ones you’ll still treasure years later.
Combine with a shopping day
Souvenir shopping slots neatly into a broader Melbourne shopping trip. Start at the Queen Victoria Market for gifts, food and wool, browse the laneways and arcades for local design, and stop into the Emporium and the Bourke Street Mall department stores. The full picture is in our shopping in Melbourne pillar guide.
Souvenirs on any budget
You don’t need to spend big to take home something good. On a tight budget, a bag of coffee beans, a packet of Tim Tams, a fridge magnet of a tram or a single locally made greeting card or print all cost just a few dollars and still feel distinctly Melbourne. For a mid-range gift, think a wool scarf or beanie, a piece of locally made jewellery, a ceramic mug from a Melbourne maker, or a quality book. For a splurge, an opal pendant, R.M. Williams boots, an original Aboriginal artwork or a piece by an Australian fashion label will be treasured for years. The Queen Victoria Market in particular caters to every budget under one roof, which is why it’s such a useful first stop — you can pick up stocking-fillers and statement pieces in the same visit.
Souvenirs and gifts for kids
If you’re shopping for children back home, Melbourne delivers. Soft toys of Australian animals — koalas, kangaroos, wombats and quokkas — are perennial favourites and easy to pack. Picture books by Australian authors and illustrators make a lovely, lasting gift, and the city’s independent bookshops have wonderful children’s sections. AFL junior merchandise, science-themed toys from the museum shops, and craft kits from market stalls all go down well. Gallery shops at the NGV and Melbourne Museum stock beautifully designed kids’ gifts that double as keepsakes. For little ones, choose something that tells a story about Australia rather than a generic toy — it makes the gift mean more.
Shopping the markets for souvenirs
Markets are where souvenir shopping is most fun, and a few tips help. At the Queen Victoria Market, the dedicated souvenir and craft sheds have the widest range, while the specialty and deli halls are best for edible gifts like honey, nuts and chocolate. Browse a few stalls before buying — quality and price vary — and while QVM isn’t a haggling market, buying multiples from one stall can sometimes earn a small discount. Bring cash for smaller stalls, though most now take cards, and carry a tote or backpack for your finds. The night markets in summer and winter add craft and design stalls with a festive atmosphere. For local makers specifically, weekend arts-and-craft and design markets around the city are gold for one-of-a-kind, handmade souvenirs.
Native botanicals and beauty
One category that’s easy to overlook is Australian native skincare and botanicals, which make lightweight, well-priced and genuinely useful souvenirs. Products built around tea tree oil, eucalyptus, native lemon myrtle, Kakadu plum and macadamia oil are widely available, often in beautifully designed packaging, and many are made by Australian brands. Honey from Victorian producers, native-botanical teas and bush-food condiments (wattleseed, finger lime, saltbush) round out the category. They pack flat, survive the journey home, and carry a real sense of place — a small jar of Australian honey or a bar of native-botanical soap is a thoughtful, affordable gift that’s a cut above the usual trinket.
Packing and bringing souvenirs home
A little planning saves headaches at the airport. Check your home country’s customs and biosecurity rules before buying food, seeds, wooden items or animal products — many countries restrict these, and Australia has strict export rules on some cultural items too. Pack liquids and edibles (honey, wine, oils) in checked luggage and within airline limits, and cushion fragile items like opals, ceramics or wine. Keep your tax invoices accessible if you plan to claim the GST refund at the airport, and allow extra time at departure for the TRS queue. If you’ve shopped up big, many retailers and the post offices can arrange international shipping, which can be worth it for bulky or fragile buys. A bit of forethought means your souvenirs arrive home intact — and legal.
Australian-made versus imported — how to tell
Part of buying a souvenir worth keeping is making sure it’s actually made here. Look for the “Australian Made” green-and-gold kangaroo logo, which certifies genuinely Australian-made or Australian-grown products, and check labels for country of origin. Reputable retailers and makers are happy to tell you where and how something was produced — at markets, ask the stallholder directly, and at galleries ask about the artist. Be a little sceptical of suspiciously cheap “Australian” goods in tourist-strip shops, which are often imported and mass-produced. The same logic applies right across the categories in this guide: a wool scarf, a piece of jewellery, a jar of honey or an artwork is far more meaningful — and better quality — when it’s genuinely local. Melbourne’s markets, design stores, gallery shops and specialty roasters make it easy to find the real thing, so it’s worth taking the extra moment to check. The reward is a keepsake with a true story behind it, supporting local makers and artists rather than an anonymous overseas factory — exactly the kind of souvenir you’ll be glad you brought home, and happy to give as a gift. That small bit of care is what separates a memorable Melbourne keepsake from a forgettable airport trinket.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best souvenir to buy in Melbourne?
It depends on taste, but Melbourne-specific picks like locally roasted coffee beans, AFL merchandise, local design and books capture the city best, while Australian classics like sheepskin/ugg boots, merino wool, opals and R.M. Williams boots make reliable keepsakes. For something meaningful, buy authentic Aboriginal art from an Aboriginal-owned gallery.
Where can I buy souvenirs in Melbourne?
The Queen Victoria Market is the best one-stop spot for gifts, food and crafts. Also try the arcades and laneways for local design, department stores (Myer, David Jones) for Australian brands, gallery shops (NGV, Melbourne Museum, ACMI) for design-led gifts, and Aboriginal-owned galleries for authentic art.
How do I buy authentic Aboriginal art?
Buy from Aboriginal-owned art centres and galleries or reputable dealers that provide a certificate of authenticity and pay artists fairly, and ask about the artist and their community. Avoid cheap mass-produced “Aboriginal-style” souvenirs made overseas, which don’t benefit Aboriginal people.
Can I claim tax back on souvenirs in Australia?
Yes. International visitors can claim the 10% GST back via the Tourist Refund Scheme if they spend at least AUD 300 at a single retailer within 60 days of departure and keep the original tax invoices. Claims are made at the TRS facility at Melbourne Airport after passport control.
The bottom line
The best Melbourne souvenirs blend local character with Australian classics: a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans, a piece of local design, an AFL scarf or a book by a Melbourne author, alongside timeless picks like wool, opals or R.M. Williams boots. Buy Aboriginal art only from authentic, ethical sources, skip the mass-produced tat, keep your receipts for the GST refund, and you’ll go home with keepsakes that genuinely reflect this creative, coffee-loving city.