THE Garage Sale Trail began as a small community event at Bondi Beach 16 years ago and has grown into an Australia-wide event.
It is being held this year over the weekends of 9-10 and 15-16 November.
Homes, units, community groups, whole streets and schools, can host a garage sale and support the principle of “reduce, reuse, recycle”.
In 2024, around 300,000 Australians shopped or sold at 13,000 garage sales.
Sellers made an average of $499 and kept 418 tonnes of waste out of landfill.
Registration is free and includes listing on a national map, how-to guides and sales tips and promotional materials.
Almost 9000 individual garage sales across Australia have already been listed for this year.
Liz Stephens and her neighbours in Home Street, Port Macquarie, took part in the Garage Sale Trail in 2023 and 2024.
“In 2023 five of 10 apartments in our block were involved with items for sale in each garage as well as in our driveway,” she said.
“We advertised in the surrounding streets and many neighbours appeared and enjoyed the community atmosphere.
“We had free tea and coffee and cakes for sale and lots of seating in our garden.
“Over 150 people attended that year.
“Last year, more of our residents joined us.
“Neighbours in the block swapped furniture and other items and we shared morning tea and lunch in the garden.
“It has helped to create a community in our block and also inspired us to recycle our household items.”
Jenny and Barry Watson attended the sale in Home Street.
“We loved the community connections and a chance for neighbours to get together,” they said.
“Affordable bargains and community connections, simple as ABC.”
Port Macquarie Hastings Council (one of 90 councils supporting the Garage Sale Trail) is running a Car Boot Sale as part of the event.
It will be in the car park next to the library in Grant Street on Sunday 16 November, from 10am-1pm.
To register as a seller or to find sales go to garagesaletrail.com.au/PMHC.
By Pauline CAIN
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