While some see the annual swap meet as a place to grab a unique bargain – others travel far and wide for a community experience like no other.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a world where Wagga residents can buy, swap and sell at the touch of a button, it’s a nostalgic event for the likes of Leo Lysaght, who has attended from the very first meet.
Driving more than five hours to attend, the Ballarat resident said the event was about more than discovering weird and wonderful items.
“It’s really just about getting to know people, talking and gaining the knowledge you’d never find anywhere else,” Mr Lysaght said.
Picking up friends from St Arnaud and Charlton along the way, Mr Lysaght said the road trip was also an annual excuse for a boy’s weekend.
“We’ll be back next year – we never miss it,” Mr Lysaght said.
“The place is full of different ideas.”
Mr Lysaght said the most unusual item he had come across this year was the front of a train but he was most proud of his antique sunshine gates.
Like so many others, former Coolamon turned Albury resident David Miles said he just loved selling his collection of cool, old stuff.
It wasn’t just the exhibitors having the time of their lives, as Ulladulla’s Jane London managed to pick up her very own miniature hand-made dunny.
While Ms London said she had no idea what she would use the item for, the beauty was in the find.
It was the first time for Canberra’s Jason Raczkowski, who had heard about the famous swap meet through simple word of mouth.
“My collection is really just everything I’ve been gathering over the past 30 years,” Mr Raczkowski said.
With this year’s swap meet supporting Wagga charities Riding for the Disabled and Country Hope, committee member Brian Horsley said the day was highly successful.
“Everyone had a good day and it was quite a big crowd,” Mr Horsley said.
Mr Horsley said this year’s unique items were antique wrought iron, stain glass windows and collectable toys among the usual rusty relics.
While a final tally of funds raised was yet to be calculated, there were around 6000 people through the gates and the event was 70 per cent booked for 2018.