What's the best thing you've found at a garage sale? I once found the sexiest lace-up roller skates, but there are tales of fortunate folk who have found ancient Chinese crockery, Jackson Pollock originals and 2500-year-old Egyptian cat busts at garage sales. Items that go on to be worth millions.
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With more than 16,500 of Australia's garages on the Garage Sale Trail this weekend, your next treasure is only a roller door away.
Helen Whigham is one local opening up her space to the public this weekend. It's the third time she's included her shop Art By Anders on the trail.
To her, a garage sale is more than bundling together unwanted items and sticking on masking tape price tags in the hopes each will soon have a new home. It's a way to connect.
"People come in and like to hear the history about what they're buying, so it helps if you can tell them a little bit about the item. It's a definitely a very social day," said Whigham.
In 2017, the average garage sale holder on the trail met 50 other people.
Hundreds of people usually stop by Whigham's sale each trail weekend. This weekend also coincides with the Queanbeyan Arts Trail, which she's also involved with through her partner's gallery.
"As Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Braidwood is a cheaper area to live than Canberra, there are a lot of artistic people this side of the border. I think a lot of Canberrans come over here because they don't have a similar arts trail in their area."
Whigham believes an art glass display will be a highlight of her sale, plus other items like African statuettes, scooters, trikes, globes, vintage goods, chandeliers and deer bones.
Now in its eighth year, the Garage Sale Trail, aims to raise awareness about reusing items and taking responsibility for waste.
The average garage sale on the trail re-homes 250kg of items, meaning this year’s trail will help prevent about four million kilograms of goods from entering landfill.
It's also an exercise in bringing communities together. A turnout of 400,000 Aussies is predicted over October 20 and October 21.
To map out sales, search locations and create a trail at garagesaletrail.com.au. Helen Whigham's sale is located at 144 Uriarra Road, Crestwood, and will be trading this Sunday between 10am-4pm.
