Our History

Yes, we know we do have our stores history in our ‘about’ tab, but we thought it would be nice if we could remind you, or let you know a bit about our history in a bite sized slice for those of you who are reading this on the go.

We at Allanson Souvenirs are a family run business – and have been of such for over 50 years! We take pride of place down at the Queen Victoria Market and are in the prime location for many of you who are traveling down to give your gifts for your family and friends.

My name is Drida, and I became the sole proprietor of the business back in 2000 and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I became enthralled by running the business and enjoyed the time I spent talking to al of you about your adventures and knowing that the quality gifts I can sell to you are mementos that will remind you of happier times for the rest of your life.

Myself, Steve and Hayden are a talkative bunch and are always learning from our customers on what stock to buy based on your needs and wants and are always open for suggestions. Whether you want to see more of the Ecokins range, more authentic aboriginal art or even more of a variety of backpacks – we will always do our best to fulfill your needs with a smile on our face!

Speaking of making people smile, we love supporting charities that make a difference in our community. We have been proudly supporting the Victorian Variety Club Bash since 2016 that helps to raise money for kids in need. If you haven’t seen our Allanson Koala Mascot yet then don’t stress we will leave a picture of it below and remind you closer to the date so you can tune in and watch it (Wednesday 16 August - Friday 25 August 2023).  Other than that, we have also previously supported Snow Sculpture team in 2017; Walk for Brain Cancer 2016; Pinchapoo in 2019 and the Backpack beds for the homeless in 2019, along with Wildlife Victoria during the 2020 Bush Fire Appeal, just to name a few. 
That’s just a small recap of who we are, if you want to read more then press Here.