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25 July, 2023 By: Myke Bartlett
Exploring the op shops and second-hand stores of WA’s South West is not only a great way to find a special souvenir, it can also provide a unique glimpse into the lives of country communities.
It’s a wet Saturday in the Nannup Community Op Shop. Volunteers Cher and Brigid are huddled in the back room, keeping as close as they can to the building’s only heater. Every couple of minutes, someone brings another armful of secondhand treasures through from the front. A designer jacket. A kids book on Pompeii. A blanket for the dog. A pair of beer steins from the Cowaramup Bowling Club.
“We get some locals through, but often people come in because they need camping cutlery or activewear while they’re on holiday,” says Brigid.
For many holidaymakers, a trip to the town op shop isn’t just about stocking up on supplies. Country op shops can be a treasure trove of vintage fashion and bric-à-brac, as well as offering a window onto the hidden lives of rural communities. Everything on those shelves has a story and, given half a chance, the volunteers behind the counter might share it. Even better, they’ll give you a potted review of all the best op shops across the South West.
“We know every op shop in the southern hemisphere!” Cher says. “The best ones are the community run ones, like those in Manjimup and Bridgetown.”
Brigid, who was born in Germany but has lived in Nannup for the past 35 years, agrees.
“Being a community-run op shop is what makes us special. All the money we raise here goes back into the community. We don’t have targets or fixed prices like some of the big organisations and we’re all volunteers.”
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Another key difference is that the community op shops tend to be stocked by donations from locals. It’s that promise of uniqueness that brings many holidaymakers to country op shops, some making a significant detour in the hope of finding something special.
Hot spots for op shops
Around 45min from Nannup, Witchcliffe has become a hot destination for lovers of vintage goods. The town, which not so long ago consisted of little more than a pie shop and a general store, has become a secondhand paradise.
Alongside the recently re-opened Red Cross Op Shop, bargain hunters can browse a cluster of secondhand outlets, including The Flying Wardrobe, The Tiny Store and even a vintage vinyl shop (which stocks, among other things, a surprising selection of train sound effect records). On top of all that, for the past 10 Novembers, tourists have flocked to the town for the Witchcliffe Vintage Fair.
Jo Bregazzi, who runs both the fair and The Tiny Store, says vintage is in her DNA, having spent her formative years following her mum around secondhand markets and car boot sales.
While shops such as hers are private enterprises rather than charities, Jo says secondhand boutiques and junk shops still play an important — if sometimes overlooked — role in the lives of their communities. Given the limited fashion options, country teenagers often rely on secondhand outlets.
“There’s really only one clothing shop in the area, so all the kids are in the same jumpers, they've all got the same brand on them. I love that we’ve got around 15 to 20 young locals who come to us for that very reason, because they’re hunting for that point of difference.”
Giving back to local communities
Over at Witchcliffe’s Red Cross Op Shop, manager Shirley says she’s also seen a boom in interest from teens since the store reopened after renovations.
“Once young people wouldn’t have been seen dead in here, now they’re clambering over each other to get in.”
Teen fashion aside, there’s no denying that op shops and secondhand stores are increasingly important for rural communities struggling under cost-of-living pressures. Since her store reopened, Shirley says more and more locals are coming through in need of a cheaper option.
The story in other country towns is much the same, particularly in places such as Nannup, which recently saw the closure of its 100-year-old timber mill.
This giving back to the locals extends beyond cheap clothes or crockery. As Brigid notes, every community-run op shop pours its profits back into a range of chosen causes. The Nannup Community Op Shop donates novels to the town’s book exchange, DVDs to the cinema club, and is currently supporting the family of a local boy left a quadriplegic after a road crash.
“Our proceeds go to a group called River Angels, which provides support for families who are dealing with cancer,” Jo says of her Witchcliffe Vintage Fair. “If you’re in the city, you have access to that support, whereas down here, it just gets a bit more difficult.”
“One of the reasons I come here now is socialisation,” Brigid says. “If you’re on your own and you’re 80, you can come in here and meet everyone from our lovely community and find out everything that’s going on. And you have a good time!”
That sense of fun can be contagious for volunteers and visitors alike. Jo says that one of the reasons she enjoys touring the region’s op shops is that you’re likely to bump into local characters every bit as colourful and surprising as the bric-à-brac on their shelves.
Eight op shops in the South West worth exploring
All Saints Church Op Shop46 Venn Street West, CollieTuesday to Friday, 9am – 3pm
Perched atop Mungalup Road, with a view over the old town, this volunteer-run shop may look unassuming, but is packed with surprising treasures. Stock up on DVDs, audiobooks, paperbacks, games, educational resources for the kids, haberdashery (there is a crate of classic patterns from the 70s and 80s), football boots and designer gear.
The YEOP Shop166 Hampton Street, BridgetownWednesday-Monday, 9.30am-2.30pm
Bridgetown is spoiled for choice when it comes to Vintage. There are two op shops, both community-run, and a few stores selling recycled fashion or upcycled furniture. The Youth Enterprise Op Shop is tucked away from the main street a short walk from the IGA. Run by the Bridgetown Youth Action group, the shop raises funds for local youth and provides a space where they can gain work experience. It’s the perfect place to stock up on holiday reads or a few choice wardrobe items when the weather surprises you.
Nannup Community Op ShopWarren Road, NannupMonday, Wednesday, Saturday, 9am-12pm
Squeezed into a lovely old church hall, this community shop always has a few treasures on offer. There’s a good range of movies in every format, from VHS to Blu-ray, an array of albums and a choice selection of fashion for young and old. Best of all is the back room, where you’ll dig up the sort of old country house treasures you’ll find nowhere else, from vintage glassware to long-forgotten board games.
Manjimup Community Op Shop56 Rose Street, ManjimupTuesday-Friday, 10am-3pm, Saturday, 10am-1pm
Few op shops come as highly recommended as this one. The volunteer staff are friendly and the stock is first-rate and well-priced. A dedicated Facebook page offers highlights of recent pre-loved treasures — including bikes, ball gowns, steel-capped boots, brass cutlery from Thailand, and model sailing ships. Keep an eye out for the occasional sales, with heavy markdowns on already generous prices.
Red Cross Op ShopRedgate Road, WitchcliffeWednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
Staffed by sisters Shirley and Beryl, this freshly renovated store might not have the sort of unique rural treasures you’ll find in community op shops (most of its stock is shipped in from Perth), but it’s a great place to stock up on bargain fashion, with plenty of options for the kids. There’s also a room of trinkets and crockery.
The Tiny StoreRear lane, Lake Street, WitchcliffeMonday-Sunday, 10am-4pm
Witchcliffe is vintage central, but its hidden treasure is The Tiny Store, squeezed into a laneway across the road from Witchy Pies. Don’t let the small footprint fool you — packed inside its corrugated iron walls is the sort of carefully curated space in which you could easily lose an hour. Expect everything from pre-loved knick-knacks to antique furniture, alongside a tasteful selection of music and books.
St Mary’s Op Shop47 Peel Terrace, BusseltonMonday-Friday, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Occupying a small house a short distance from St Mary’s Church, this classic community op shop is another great space to potter around. You’ll find workwear, retro treasures, designer gear, toys and more. Don’t forget to explore the area behind the house for a few more surprises, from bikes to vintage furniture.
Donnybrook Community Op Shop37 South Western Hwy, DonnybrookMonday-Friday, 8.30am-4.00pm, Saturday-Sunday, 8.30am-3.00pm
Not for the faint-hearted, this warehouse-sized shop contains an astonishing array of goods. It’s home to an enormous collection of VHS tapes, including ancient BBC TV releases that would make a collector weak at the knees. You’ll find toys, furniture, clothes and a chaotic assortment of books that could take days to sort through. Still, it’s the sort of place that rewards persistence — and it’s all for a good cause.
Photography: Myke Bartlett
