Hobbyco

Hobbyco has come a long way in 79 years. But to get a true appreciation, it helps to know a little about both the history of hobbies and Hobbyco.

Another famous toy store is FAO Schwarz, which began in New York in 1862 – today, it too is a world-famous tourist attraction. But it wasn’t until the late 1920s and early ’30s that the first hobby shops began to appear.

The ancestry of the hobby shop can be traced back to two main sources: toy shops and models. Toy stores have been around for hundreds of years. In 1760, for example, William Hamley opened his first toy store in London selling rag dolls, tin soldiers, hoops and wooden horses. Today, Hamleys in Regent Street, London, is the largest toy store in the world and a major tourist attraction, with more than 5 million visitors each year.

Models have a much older genesis – as far back as 3000 years! The pharaohs of ancient Egypt had highly detailed model ships included in their tombs to help them on their journey into the afterlife.

We are looking forward to continuing to provide top-quality service to customers young and old in our new venue at the QVB and our two satellite stores at Macarthur Square and Rhodes, as well as via our new and improved website.