Southbank set to host its first festival event of pre-loved treasures

Excitement is building in Southbank as the community prepares to host its first-ever festival at the Boyd Community Hub when it is transformed into a bustling market this spring.

Named the Re-Love Festival, the free event will feature second-hand treasures, workshops, kids’ activities, entertainment and more when the nation-wide Garage Sale Trail initiative comes to the neighbourhood on Sunday, November 12 from 9am to 2pm.

Organisers are encouraging all community members to register a free stall, in what will be a chance for people to declutter their homes and give a new home to their belongings, that otherwise may end up in landfill.

The event will offer residents and visitors alike the chance to bag a bargain as they explore a wide range of second-hand offerings including, but not limited to, antiques and collectables, clothing and accessories, home wares, books, kids’ stuff, plants and garden tools and more.

The Garage Sale Trail’s general manager Barbara Gill said they were thrilled to host the festival, with hopes it would become a fixture in the Southbank calendar.

“We’re super-excited to be bringing this event to Southbank and to be providing a way for those living in unit blocks and apartments, who might not otherwise be able to host a garage sale, to make some extra cash selling items they no longer want or need,” she said.

It’s free to participate in and is all about neighbours connecting, making some money and keeping their good stuff out of landfill, with a good dose of fun on the side.

The Garage Sale Trail is a not-for-profit organisation that runs a national festival of garage sales across Australia, while supporting a sustainable way of living and fostering a strong sense of community.  Last year almost 300,000 Australians participated in the event, saving three million kilos of items from landfill and generating $4 million for local economies.

A community information session was held on September 16 at the Boyd Community Hub, with residents throwing their support behind the event, which is being supported by the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Government, and Sustainability Victoria. Anyone can register for a stall space whether it be a school, homeowner, community group, or local business. •

For more information and to register, visit garagesaletrail.com.au/sale/the-re-love-festival

Caption: Community members are excited to launch Southbank’s first-ever Garage Sale Trail event.