Where to buy puppets in Australia?
Please note: this post only applies to purchasing puppets in Australia. If you are from another country, I would suggest visiting The Puppetry Homepage, UNIMA USA, or UNIMA UK.
Someone just did a Google search on ‘where to buy puppets in Melbourne’ and naturally, my blog got included in the results. It made me think that it would also make a good blog post if I gave a list of some places I know of that have puppets for sale. Read my post on where to find puppet makers in Australia as well, and the post on buying bunraku puppets.
Most puppet ’stores’ (ie. physical buildings) cater to the children’s toy market, rather than puppets for performance. Additionally, they usually offer an abysmally small range, limited to generic factory made items. Please note: I am discussing puppets for performance, not for decoration or as toys.
In VIC
Well, let’s get this over with: yes, I sell puppets. I have an online shop! Instead of doing a big plug, just check out my Gallery or my Store and you’ll see some of what I do. I’m happy to take commissions: check my About page for more info. (No, I don’t sell Folkmanis puppets. I handmake everything, and they’re all original to me; I also sell parts and patterns so you can make things yourself)
Firstly, it must be said that most places that sell puppets are going to sell ones aimed at kids; and mostly glove puppets at that. For the best puppet store, you HAVE to go all the way to Sassafras (yes, I know it’s not that close to Melbourne, but it’s the best! Plus, they have an online store, so you don’t have to travel. UPDATE: Geppetto’s can now be found in Olinda and Sorrento as well) and visit Geppetto’s Workshop. Why are they the best - because they don’t just have kids stuff. Yes, they have all the Folkmanis puppets (while we’re here, here’s a list of Folkmanis Aussie suppliers from the official website… yeah, there’s probably more than that, but hey, it’s their site!), but they also have wooden toys, other great kid gadgets; and the cherry is that they also sell handcarved marionettes from the Czech region, and lifesize ‘muppet’ types. Best of all, you can make a day of it, since the store is right next to a park, some cafes, and some smaller antique-y stores. (Geppetto’s are the only place I know of that offer marionettes that can be used in a professional theatre setting; other stores only sell marionettes that are suitable for children/playtime)
Outside of that, you can go down to Burke Rd in Camberwell, where you can find Hocus Pocus. They offer a similar range of Folkmanis stuff, but lean more towards the kids’ parties and magic stuff. They also have a back room where they hold puppet shows and parties. For someone more interested in puppetry, and not children’s parties, it’s not my ideal store. There’s really a minimal - if you can call it that - selection. But it is closer than Sassafras. A similar range of toys and Folkmanis puppets can be found on at 283 Lygon St - I forget the name of the store, but it’s across the road from the Boost juice place. Honestly, there are better places than these two to buy puppets for performance. But I suppose most people are hunting for puppets for their kids or classroom.
Dancing Emus in Echuca, Victoria, sell marionettes, finger puppets, glove puppets and mouth puppets. Polliwog Puppets in Gippsland sell puppets - mainly a company that offers workshops and shows, it’s not clear what puppets are available. Al Martinez Studios in Kensington sell custom puppets and costumes. (I have recently - 17 Aug 2008 - removed the link to their site as it does not seem to be functional, and am trying to maintain an up-to-date links list)
In NSW
Fun Puppets in NSW sell puppets, including marionettes, finger puppets, and hand puppets (what look like muppet-types). They can do mail orders, but it’s not clear whether they do interstate postage and they can post to any location in Australia. Sydney’s The Rocks area, has The Puppet Shop, and sell a range of puppets, including marionettes.
In QLD
I have also found a QLD-based puppet seller, Piccadilly Puppets. They make and sell marionettes, and have a workshop which is open to the public. They sell worldwide, and you can have marionettes made to order, as well as caricatures of family, friends, etc.
More?
To be honest, these are the only stores I know about that carry puppets. If you really need something, then try finding a puppeteer - UNIMA Australia has a list of local puppeteers, and here is a list of people who sell them - or a puppetry company, as many of them hire out unique and handmade puppets. Be warned: puppets can be expensive. The marionettes sold at Geppetto’s cost anywhere between $100 and several hundred; and that’s a bargain! Generally speaking, most puppet makers will be happy to hire out their puppets, as this adds extra income to their work.
Additionally, local prop companies and theatre venues/companies often have a range of items that might be suitable. They will have a very limited selection of puppets, but if you are looking for something as a one-off hire, you should also try them.
I recommend buying puppets online, only from reputable puppeteers and puppet makers (some of whom are listed in the above links). Many online sellers on ebay are usually selling for decorative purposes only, or generic factory items. eBay and other auction sites are often flooded with cheap puppets (usually glove puppets or Asian shadow and rod puppets), but there is no guarantee that what you buy will be quality workmanship. However, there are a number of freelance puppet makers who do sell on eBay, as well as Etsy and their own sites (like my own); and those people/sales are worth checking out.
But hey, if you are looking for something for the kids - why not just skip all of the above, and make your own! It’s not just a great creative activity for a rainy day, but is something your children will treasure for years to come. Remember, a puppet can be anything, and on the web are some fantastic free tutorials on how to make a range of puppets. Make Zine and Puppet Building.com offers some of the best online tutorials, and if you do a Google search, I have no doubt you will come across a range of lessons for every skill level. There are also helpful tutorials here in the FAQ for making puppets, as well as a wide range of links to other sites which offer patterns and instructions; and you can find puppet patterns, parts and products available in my online Shop!
If you know of any other places to buy puppets in the Australian area, please let me know and I’ll add it to this blog post.
Want more? Help build a puppet!
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6 comments
Depending on the condition of the puppet, you might be able to attract some interest from buyers. I would suggest doing a search on ebay for puppets and do some research on comparison prices. I do know that hand puppets seem to be popular on ebay, and if the puppet is in good to excellent condition, it may be of some interest to collectors.
Outside of that, I'm afraid I can't help much, as I don't know much about vintage puppets. You may want to see if you can get your hands on a collector's guide to puppets, which may have more information which might help you.
Cheers,
Naomi
They also do Dancing Emu shows
Hope this helps.
Geppetto's is the bomb though! We bought my friends Ernie and Bert puppets there- oh and Cath went home with a Cookie Monster hahaha
PS: Did Jarrod give you the link for the Sesame Street videos- or did you give it to him lol
I just discovered your comment on the blog!! For some reason my notifications for comments wasn't working.
I'll put the Dancing Emu on my list at some point - thanks for the link.
As for the Sesame St videos, I first saw it via PuppetVision blog.
See you tomorrow!
Na
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