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Op shops of the Wheatbelt
More than just hotspots for local bargains, country op shops are important connection points for their communities.
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9 min read
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Explore
8 min readExplore
More than just hotspots for local bargains, country op shops are important connection points for their communities.
Published
9 min read
Text size
Published
Text size
The street front of the Goomalling Community Op Shop might be unprepossessing, but inside is a treasure trove, and on the morning we visit, it’s busy.
They’re not all locals inside either. It’s not unusual to meet someone who has made the journey from Northam or even Perth. At least one of the happy shoppers this morning has driven across from Dowerin for “the best op shop in the Wheatbelt”.
That title might prove contentious, but the shop’s obvious popularity speaks to the importance of such places to regional towns. For many across the Wheatbelt, op shops aren’t just a place to snag a bargain but an important point of connection and a way to give back to their communities.
This op shop’s CEO, Kerry Travers, says there has never been a shortage of volunteers to stock the shelves or run the till.
“We started off at two days a week when I first got here three years ago and we’re now doing six days a week.”
There’s no age limit to volunteering, either, with young locals proving just as keen to help out as tree-change retirees.
Goomalling’s op shop is unusual in being open most days (the plan is to soon recruit enough staff to be open Monday to Sunday), but the reasons for working there are echoed by volunteers across the Wheatbelt. Some are grateful for the social hub that these community shops provide, while others enjoy the sense of purpose they gain, knowing all funds raised are put towards a good cause. Kerry says that her shop, which is run by the shire council, recently donated $20,000 to the town’s first ever arts festival.
Not all good works come at such a large scale, of course. Diane, a volunteer at York’s RSPCA Op Shop, appreciates that both animals and their two-legged friends benefit from her efforts.
“A few years ago, we had a man whose house burned down, so we got him and his children to come in, and we clothed them all,” Diane says. “It’s the same with the Balladong Nursing Home down the road, if someone comes in without anything, there’s a lady there who will come here and get clothes for them.”
Affordable access to essentials such as clothing and footwear has become increasingly important in rural areas where many are facing financial hardship. Further down the York high street, Cobwebs op shop caters to some of the most vulnerable members of the local community.
"We see a lot of Indigenous people come through,” says Yvonne, who has worked at Cobwebs for 25 years (as well as running the town’s longstanding medieval festival). “Anyone can come in and fill a bag with clothing for $3.”
For those on – or below – the breadline, community op shops are becoming ever more important as the larger franchises close their doors, making it harder to find budget options.
“Places like Good Sammy’s and Vinnies have closed down all through the country,” Kerry says. “I guess if they’re not making a certain amount of dollars, it’s not profitable for them.”
“There’s a real need,” Yvonne says. “Years ago, people cringed if you went to op shops. Now they’ve finally got it through their heads that it’s not just saving money but saving the planet. There’s so much waste out there – I’m a born-again recycler.”
Beyond sustainability, an undeniable appeal of the country community op shop is the surprises they contain. Unlike most of the big franchises, which have centralised depots for donations, the goods on the shelves in these community stores tend to come from the communities they serve. As such, you can stumble across little glimpses of lives lived in these Wheatbelt towns, as well as precious heirlooms the next generation has passed on.
Kerry says she often has genuine treasures arrive at her door, but she is keen to balance their value against the inherently thrifty ethos of an op shop.
“The unfortunate part of this job is that there are a lot of deceased estates coming in and you get things that the kids just don’t want. I do lots of research – Google’s my favourite friend – and I’ll find out a ballpark figure, but my mantra is always to charge a quarter of the value, so people have still got room to move with whatever they buy.”
Given the promise of stumbling on something priceless, it’s hardly surprising Goomalling sees regular visits from people happy to travel half a day or more to peruse its shelves. Staff from op shops across the Wheatbelt, from Bindoon to Beverley, say their stores have become a key reason for travellers to park on the main street.
“Word has got around,” says Geoff, one of the newer volunteers at the Beverley Op Shop. “We have people come here from everywhere. People come here to get bargains, and we do our best to only put out the best of the best.”
Back in Goomalling, Kerry says she loves hearing how far people have travelled to browse her shelves.
“We’re always getting families who tell us how much they enjoy getting out of the city op shops. We get them daily now. It’s those compliments that you get that make it all worthwhile. They make you feel good, and you know that you’re doing something for the community.”
138 Vincent Street, Beverley. Fridays 11am-2.30pm (check before coming) Housed in a corner of Beverley’s beautiful art deco town hall, this community op shop has two rooms of high-quality clothing, homewares, bric-a-brac and desirable books. Run by the Beverley Hospital Auxiliary, the shop puts all profits back towards the health of the townsfolk, supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a retirement village and more than one hospital. The staff are friendly and – given the town’s small size – tend to be involved in numerous community committees, including the Beverley Arts Centre, so they can point you in the direction of other local highlights. One such highlight is the “Beverley Tip Shop” (allegedly open on Saturdays), where rescued items of furniture are put up for sale.
76 Avon Terrace, York. Most days 10am-2pm Run by three volunteers, this small shop is chock-a-block with household goods, clothing and a vast library of DVDs. As such, it’s very popular with caravanners needing new kitchen implements and evening entertainment for life on the road. There are crowded racks of colourful shirts and dresses, with other clothes neatly sorted by size into plastic boxes, and shelves upon shelves of mugs, glasses and other crockery. It’s also a great place to pick up a tub of locally made honey. The shop used to be closed on Tuesdays but has expanded to seven days to meet demand.
71 Avon Terrace, York. Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays 8.30am-12pm Just across the road at the Salvation Army chapel, this op shop has a more slender selection of clothes and books, but everything is clean and tidily arranged. It’s probably more a place to pick up some cheap essentials than discover hidden treasures, but worth a visit if the door is open. Sunday services are apparently conducted in this space. As one parishioner put it: “We worship in the op shop.” Amen to that.
174 Avon Terrace, York Thursdays-Saturdays 10am-1.30pm ‘Tidy’ doesn’t really describe this op shop, run by the York Friendship Club – a society of older women doing good for the community for more than 25 years. Crammed inside an old house, the sprawling goods on offer do look more like a hoarder’s lair than a second-hand boutique. (There is a selection of weatherworn furniture out the back.) As such, it’s not for the faint-hearted, but those in need will find cheap clothes and homewares within. Armed with enough patience, the seasoned treasure hunter will also likely root out a bargain or two.
151 Avon Terrace, York. Thursdays-Sundays 9am-5pm Although not strictly an op shop, this delightful bookshop has an extensive range of second-hand titles mixed in among the new, with a pile of super cheap volumes by the front door to tempt in foot traffic. Housed in the old fire station, it’s a cool and charming place to lose an hour or two browsing.
121 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay. Mondays-Saturdays 9am-2pm Established in the 1970s, this community-run op shop has outlasted its Vinnie’s rival from down the road. Donations come from local residents and regular contributors who drive out from Perth to both shop and support. The clothing options range from Kmart purchases to more high-end pieces – we came away with a beautiful silk scarf and a new pair of kids’ Converse shoes. And a porcelain beer stein from Hamburg.
29 Railway Terrace, Goomalling. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9am-2.30pm, Tuesdays and Saturdays 9am-12pm Run by the local council, this op shop is a treat. There was a time Goomalling was known only for its domed silos and silver possums, but this store appears to be the town’s new chief selling point. There’s a great selection of clothes and books and eclectic trinkets to be found within, but even the most precious items are priced to reward the faithful who have made the drive out.
9 Forrest Street, Goomalling. Thursdays-Saturdays Again, not strictly an op shop, but if you’ve gone the distance to Goomalling, it’s worth checking out this second-hand boutique with its appealing range of retro wares.
232 Fitzgerald Street East, Northam. Wednesdays-Saturdays 10am-4pm, Sundays-Tuesdays 10am-2pm Second-hand boutiques don’t come much larger than this, with its three vast rooms containing a staggering amount of vintage goods of every shape, size and colour. Whether you’re after 80s toys, ancient farming implements or collectable comics, chances are you’ll find something here – just don’t expect op shop prices.
140 Fitzgerald Street East, Northam. Mondays-Fridays 10am-4pm, Saturdays 9am-1pm When the last franchise op shop left the Northam high street, local woman Rebekah was determined to keep clothing affordable for the local community. Good Finds is the result. Having inherited the location from Good Sammy’s, it maintains the tradition of quality second-hand goods at bargain prices. Profits go towards mental health support and community wellbeing. Expect books, shoes, clothes, board games, jigsaws and a few surprises (we managed to resist a working 1970s typewriter).
6159 Great Northern Highway, Bindoon. Weekdays and Sundays 9am-12pm This op shop wasn’t open when we visited but comes highly recommended for super cheap clothes, bric-a-brac and kitchen utensils. ADRA op shops fund a range of community projects, including youth interventions, drug and alcohol counselling and women’s refuges.
