A train carriage turned house, racks of clown costumes, tools from decades past, plates and teacup-lined walls.

These are the reminders of history you can find in Paeroa.

With a population of 4600, the town markets itself as the “antique capital of New Zealand”.

In 1993, Vivien Leonard set up her first antique shop in the town in 1993, when there were only two antique shops and one second-hand store.

“About 1995, when I thought, well, there’s no other town in New Zealand that’s got as many second-hand shops as Paeroa, and we only had 4000 people, so I called Paeroa the antique town of New Zealand. From 2020, really it was the antique town in New Zealand, it started to catch on.”

Vivien Leonard opened her first antique shop in 1993. Photo / RNZ

The town now has about seven antique shops and six second-hand stores.

But behind the so-far-uncontested title, is an array of factors that kept the antique community growing.

With a population of 4600, Paeroa markets itself as the Antique Capital of New Zealand. Photo / RNZ

At the start, the council and Leonard did their part.

“The council was good at supporting us and put the word out there. And I put it on my card, I wrote it on my car.”

Many other factors made space for antique shops.

Vivien Leonard's antique shop is some people's go-to for vintage and antique jewellery. Photo / RNZ

To the locals, Paeroa has always been a town with a reputation bigger than its population.

Lawrie Smith, 89, and 82-year-old Gaye Cleave are part of the town’s historical society.

They said the town was known as a transport hub, for its brewery, and later on, the L&P drink.

Growing up, sewing factories and new furniture stores filled the streets, and buying second-hand, was uncommon for them.

But Cleave said when the railway closed, and big retail pushed out independent stores, space opened up for antique shops to thrive.

“Next door was Rodney Williams, when they closed down, it became the St John’s (op) shop. It seems to be that when shops [were] empty, people took the advantage and put antiques and op shops in them.”

St John has a retail store in Paeroa, selling second-hand goods. Photo / RNZ

Smith thinks Paeroa fared better than many other small towns across New Zealand.

“In the peak of the downturn when the rail first went, we lost a lot of business. But now there’s probably less shops empty here than there is in a lot of other towns.”

He has done maths. Paeroa has 220 shops, with just four currently sitting empty.

And even those won’t stay that way for long.

Sam Annison, who runs Shed & Co, is looking to expand his presence in Paeroa.

“I wouldn’t want to say too much just at the moment. There won’t be many empty shops in town soon.”

Shed & Co's Sam Annison loves old tools. Photo / RNZ

Three years ago, Annison decided to sell his garden shed business and pursue his passion in second-hand goods.

After a stint running his store in Waihī, he moved his business to Paeroa.

“Paeroa has always been known as the second-hand capital of New Zealand. I really don’t know how it all started, but I do know that I’d just love to come and join in.”

Business partners Sam Annison and Connie Riddle with Sam's favorite second-hand find - a 1951 London Taxi. Photo / RNZ

The welcoming community has also attracted newcomers like Just Plane Interesting, bringing clown costumes and M&M collectibles to the main street.

Clown costumes are what you can find in the Paeroa second-hand stores. Photo / RNZ

After running his West Auckland business for 26 years, owner Raymond May is ready to make Paeroa his permanent home.

“There’s so many different people, kindred spirits, and so many beautiful things to look at down there. And it’s in the middle of everything.”

He told RNZ he had been invited to join the Paeroa antique community years ago, but at that time, he had just bought a building in Thames and was planning to settle there.

Raymond May has been running Just Plane Interesting in Auckland for 26 years. Photo / RNZ

Unfortunately, a stoush with the local council over his facade renovation saw him pack up in disappointment.

So far, his interactions with the Hauraki District Council had been pleasant.

M & M collectibles are another find on Paeroa's main street. Photo / RNZ

“No one comes in and dictates to you. They just let you do what you want to do. It was just refreshing.”

Among the newcomers is Lisa Wellington who opened her own op shop two months ago.

Lisa Wellington opened Funky Finds Op Shop. Photo / RNZ

“I was working in an op shop that closed down, so I opened my own. As we make profits, we will donate back to the community instead of going out of town.”

After 20 or so years, the Antique Capital title is catching on with many customers visiting Paeroa for second-hand shopping. Photo / RNZ

She said the business community is supportive of each other, and she’s not worried about profit or competition.

“Everybody knows everybody. Everyone’s helpful and tries to help the customer rather than themselves. So I think the town does well from that.”

-RNZ