Mitchell McCabe: A Century of Style on Clarendon Street

A South Melbourne Original Since 1901

Mitchell McCabe’s story began in 1901, when Scottish immigrants Henry Mitchell and Stewart McCabe opened a menswear store in the historic Emerald Hill Estate, in buildings once occupied by the Glasgow Bakery Company. By the 1920s, the bustling store employed up to 16 staff, with bespoke suits and shirts being made in the workrooms upstairs.

In 1945, store manager Stan Hiatt took ownership and ran the business for 52 years. Andrew Scawen took over in 1998, bringing his fashion expertise and eclectic vision to the historic Clarendon Street store. More than 125 years after it first opened, Mitchell McCabe continues to evolve while remaining unmistakably itself.

Image: Le Deux – Gradient Knit in Faded Denim. Buy Here 

Meet Andrew: The Man Behind Mitchell McCabe

At the heart of Mitchell McCabe is owner Andrew Scawen, whose personal approach is becoming something of a rare find in modern retail. With decades of fashion experience, Andrew takes the time to help guide customers towards clothing, brands and styles that genuinely suit their individual needs.

It’s an old-school level of service you won’t find everywhere — whether you’re browsing in store or shopping online. Behind every Mitchell McCabe purchase is Andrew’s eye for detail and commitment to making sure everything runs smoothly, creating a personal shopping experience that’s as much about finding the right fit as it is about great menswear.

An Eclectic Approach to Menswear

Mitchell McCabe doesn’t try to dress everyone the same. Its customer is described as confident, well-travelled, brand-aware and well groomed, but you don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what you want. In fact, half the fun is in the discovery. The store brings together an intentionally eclectic selection of quality menswear, combining established names with brands and products you may not find in a department store.

Expect everything from shirts, jackets and everyday apparel to accessories, underwear, socks and grooming products.

Brands have included names such as:

• Ben Sherman
• A Fish Named Fred
• Cutler
• David Smith
• Denham
• Scotch & Soda
• Superdry

There are also the smaller discoveries that make browsing worthwhile too – unique socks and underwear, distinctive accessories and speciality grooming products like Marvis Toothpaste and Triumph & Disaster.

It makes Mitchell McCabe a particularly good place to shop when you’re looking for a gift but aren’t quite sure where to begin.

More Than a Shirt Shop

Calling Mitchell McCabe simply a menswear store doesn’t quite cover it. Alongside high-quality clothing, you’ll find a strong sense of fun and theatre in the way products are presented. Heritage fixtures and period details sit alongside contemporary brands and fresh styling, creating an environment that feels old-world without being old-fashioned. The creative windows and welcoming store invite you to browse, talk fashion, find a gift or discover something unexpected. It’s retail as discovery rather than simply transaction.

Clarendon Street has changed enormously since 1901, but Mitchell McCabe’s historic setting remains one of its greatest assets. South Melbourne was once known as Emerald Hill, and the store’s heritage buildings connect it directly to that history. At a time when so much retail looks the same, there’s something refreshing about shopping somewhere with genuine character. Yet Mitchell McCabe is no museum piece, combining its heritage with a modern, informed approach to fashion.

And Then There Was Mrs McCabe

As if one historic South Melbourne fashion institution wasn’t enough, Mitchell McCabe has recently expanded the family. Mrs McCabe Woman is a dedicated womenswear boutique at 291 Clarendon Street, located directly across the road from Mitchell McCabe’s established lifestyle store.

The concept brings the same curated approach and sense of individuality into womenswear, with the playful tagline:

His clothes for her.

It’s another example of the business continuing to evolve rather than standing still. After more than 125 years, Mitchell McCabe is still finding new ways to bring its own distinctive style to Clarendon Street. And, as the business itself joked when announcing Mrs McCabe Woman: after doing this for more than a century, perhaps they can be forgiven for being a little slow to announce new things.

Image: Rich and Royal Striped Cardigan – Midnight Blue Buy Here