Give your pre-loved items a new life with The Garage Sale Trail

WCC media release: 27 October 2022

The Garage Sale Trail is returning this November to help you say goodbye to pre-loved items that are no longer needed, in a sustainable and community focussed way.

Registrations are currently open for individuals, groups, or organisations who are wishing to hold a garage sale for the popular Australian-wide event. You can sign up for free and receive extra tips, tools, and free promotional materials to support you and your sale.

There are also free online trail tutorials from Saturday 29 October to Saturday 5 November. This masterclass tutorial series presents different and simple ways you can incorporate sustainable elements in your life – including your wardrobe! They will be hosted by national treasures like Barry Du Bois, Annabel Crabb and Craig Reucassel.

Wollongong City Acting Lord Mayor Councillor Tania Brown said the Garage Sale Trail is a great way to develop sustainable habits and re-think the way we look at our old items.

“I’m pleased to see the community support behind the event which will take place over two weekends in November. It’s a great way for people to resell their unwanted items at bargain prices as well as reducing our carbon footprint,” Cr Brown said.

“There are many ways you can hold a sale, whether it’s together with your neighbours, as part of a local community group, or even an online sale. There’ll be a community feel across the trail as you meet new people and see buyers find joy in your once loved belongings.”

Last year, more than 200,000 Australians participated in the Garage Sale Trail event and rehomed 1.5million kilograms of household items, which kept it out of landfill. This was a combined effort from many communities across Australia with the support of 100 Councils, including Wollongong City Council.

The Dapto Ribbonwood Centre will be joining in on the fun on Saturday 19 November and providing a space for more than 50 stallholders to sell pre-loved and hand-crafted items. There’ll be family-fun activities including face painting. If you’d like to become a stallholder visit our webpage or email.

“We encourage people to bookmark their calendars to shop the trail as buyers are an important part of the event. There’ll be plenty of items to purchase, with many hidden gems waiting to be rehomed,” Cr Brown said.

“Make the most of the trail and check out all the garage sales online to map out your weekend. Every purchase keeps an item out of landfill, and you’ll be supporting residents and charities in an environmentally conscious way.

“There’s plenty to look forward to in November and I encourage people to read more about the event and see how you can join in. And with Christmas nearing, it’s a great opportunity for a unique find.”

Sounds good? You can find out more about the event, trail tutorials and registrations via the Garage Sale Trail website.

What’s on?

Trail tutorial workshops

When: 29 October to 5 November

What: Tuck into this tasty masterclass series hosted by national treasures Barry Du Bois, Annabel Crabb and Craig Reucassel. The gang will help you to be sustainable and stylish when you dress, live and renovate.

Two nationwide weekends of garage sales

When: 12-13 and 19-20 November

What: Join Australia’s biggest festival of pre-loved stuff and register a sale on one of two big weekends of garage sales held simultaneously in garages, unit blocks, local schools, and ovals around the nation.

It’s Australia’s biggest treasure hunt and shoppers are guaranteed to find something of interest to them.