6 essential shops for international students new to Melbourne

UNSURE about where to go for all your living needs and essentials while you’re studying in Melbourne? Trinity College Foundation Studies students Yuki Kaneko, Yuqi Zhang and Yuex Liu lend a helping hand to prospective students.

Although Melbourne is known as the world’s most liveable city, international students new to the city might not find it so liveable if they don’t know where to go to buy their essentials.

For students who are only just beginning their overseas studies journey, here are six stores that all international students need to know about.

Target

This popular store can be found all around Melbourne but considering most international students live in the city, we think students could definitely make use of the Target store on Bourke St.

Target is your one-stop shop for everything. Furniture, clothes, pens, games and books… You can get just about everything here that will help you better acclimate to life in Melbourne.

Located on 222 Bourke St, the shop is open everyday from 8.00pm. The store closes at 10.00pm from Mondays to Fridays and 8.00pm on the weekends.

Woolworths

Woolworths, or Woolies as the locals affectionately call it, is one of biggest supermarkets in Melbourne. With many Woolworths branches around Melbourne, students in the city can find their closest Woolies at QV.

Like any grocery store, you can find fresh food, snacks and other essentials here usually at a bargain price!

Woolworths QV is located on the corner of Swanston St and Lonsdale St. The store opens everyday at 10.00am and closes at various times: 7.00pm from Monday to Thursdays, 9.00pm on Fridays, 6.00pm on Saturdays and 5.00pm on Sundays.

Hometown Asian Supermarket

If you think it’s going to be difficult to find Asian supermarkets around Melbourne, think again! While Woolies does stock Asian goods, you won’t find a bigger  selection of Asian grocer goods than at Hometown Asian Supermarket.

Students can expect to find items that will no doubt remind them of home. Most of the products sold at Hometown Asian supermarket mainly consist of Chinese and Japanese foods.

This supermarket is located on 422 – 440 Elizabeth St and opens everyday from 9.00am – 12.00am.

Daiso

Most Asian countries already have Daiso stores but did you know that Melbourne also has a few Daiso stores as well?

Like the Daiso stores that you may already be familiar with, Melbourne’s Daiso stores sell Asian snacks, drinks, kitchen utensils and other homewares like trash cans, dustpans and more. Daiso tends to stock some pretty cute items as well that make for nice furnishing additions to your home!

Located on Little Londsdale St, Daiso is normally open from 10.00am everyday and closes at various times. From Monday to Wednesday, the store closes at 7.30pm, from Thursday to Friday it closes at 9.00pm and on the weekends, Daiso closes at 6.30pm.

Officeworks

Need to stock up on uni supplies? Officeworks will have everything you need and more to survive uni! Sure, Target might sell pens and books but to truly get quality equipment, you wanna go to Officeworks.

Additionally, you can buy laptops and desks here too in case your laptop breaks down or you need a working station at home. You can even print and photocopy at Officeworks too!

Located on the Russel St section of QV, Officeworks is open everyday (Monday – Friday: 7.00am – 9.00pm; Saturday: 8.00am – 7.00pm; Sunday: 9.00am – 7.00pm).

My Chemist

If you’ve caught a cold or need something to take care of that nagging sore throat, My Chemist would be your solution. Like any pharmacy/drug store, My Chemist stocks all kinds of over-the-counter medicine and supplements.

Prescription medicine can also be picked up here too and shop assistants are able to help at any given time.

Located on 128 – 132 Elizabeth St, the store is open from 7.30am – 9.00pm at Mondays to Fridays and 9.00am – 7.00pm on weekends.

This story was produced by Media and Communication students at Trinity College Foundation Studies as part of Meld’s community newsroom collaboration. Education institutions, student clubs/societies and community groups interested in being involved can get in touch with us via meld@meldmagazine.com.au.