Driveways, yards and verges in Swanbourne will soon come alive with pre-loved goods as the suburb’s biggest community garage sale returns for its second year.
On November 15 from 7am to noon, the leafy streets will fill with bargain-hunting locals and visitors hoping to turn second-hand homewares, toys and clothes into their own new treasures.
Swanbourne resident of 22 years Bridget Robertson is the driving force behind the event, which she said was a passion project she had always wanted to bring to life.
“I’ve always done something in volunteering, so this was just a community event to get people out and about and hopefully walking as opposed to driving around the streets,” she said.
“Any resident in Swanbourne that wants to host a garage sale can on that day; I just promote it and try to get promotion in the surrounding suburbs so we have visitors come and actually meet some neighbours from the next suburb and hopefully purchase, giving life to whatever someone’s discarding.”
Ms Robertson launched the event for the first time last year with help from her teenaged sons, who were up at 5am placing signage and decorations.
The garage sales spread from Walba Way near The Shorehouse all the way to the other side of Swanbourne Primary School, bringing the entire community together and supporting nearby businesses.
“People visit, they pick up a coffee and then they start walking around and having a look,” Ms Robertson said.
“The whole thing is to be community minded and make a fun day. Hopefully there’s some little bakers; some gorgeous kids baked brownies and cookies (last year) which was super sweet, and they sold out. It just gets people involved.”
Last year’s event had 60 garages registered, with several amalgamations between neighbours stretching down the street.
Ms Robertson hopes to keep expanding this year and plans to organise more in the future.
“We’re hoping for maybe sort of the same or up to 100 this year, which would be wonderful,” she said.
“It might end up being every two years because I think there’s only so much stuff that you’ve got to put out and get rid of.
“Hopefully it’s bigger than last year and we’ll see whether there’s an appetite. I do send out a survey like I did last year, and I’ll do that again after this one just to see whether people want to see it again.”
Any residents interested in selling can register online now to have their garage address added to the digital map.
Anyone interested in wandering in is also encouraged to register to access the map and see which houses are participating.
This is a cash-only event.