Join Tongala's buzzing garage sale this October

By Jaci Hicken

Sep 17, 2024

Registrations for the Tongala Community Garage Sale are now open.

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Tongala Development Group treasurer Kelly Brennan thinks the event started back in 2012 after the community saw the success of a similar event in Rochester.

“Usually, around 50 houses participate each year, and that ranges from households to community groups, lots of people looking to get rid of things, but also a lot of people just being part of the day, being involved,” Mrs Brennan said.

“Registrations close on Monday, September 30, so people have a few more weeks to get things in.”

A community-wide event, like the Tongala Garage Sale, has many benefits for the whole community.

“It has benefits for our local businesses down the street, our local community op shop opens on the day as well as our local food outlets,” Mrs Brennan said.

“We have a community group running the barbecue on the morning, selling egg and bacon rolls from 8am and that group varies each year.

“In the past, we have had the local CFA, the Lions Club and Koyuga Recreation Reserve run the barbecue and whatever they make goes back into their group for the day.”

Tongala Community Garage Sale, which started in 2012, sees around 50 houses participating each year, including households and community groups. Photo by Contributed

The Tongala Garage Sale brings a lot of people to the town.

“We have regular people who come from Albury, Deniliquin, Yarrawonga, and a lot from Bendigo, and then everywhere in between,” Mrs Brennan said.

“People make a day of it.

“Last year, a bus load came from Albury, parked in the street, went for a walk, bought their bargains, returned to the bus, and off they went.”

Mrs Brennan can see that many people like the social aspect of the day, spending time in Tongala, sitting in the street, maybe having a coffee, or just enjoying the atmosphere.

“The town is really buzzing,” she said.

“And last year, there were a lot of kids on bikes riding around and buying, especially fishing gear, which was a hit with the kids last year.

“When we promote the garage sale and other events in town, we also promote the other things we have.

“Things like the street art, our war memorial and Eats and Beats the following week.

“It is a bit of promotion for the town, but also community spirit.

“And a lot of people say, ‘Oh, I don’t have enough to have my own garage sale’, but when it is part of the town one, it is not such a big deal if you have only got a little bit of stuff to sell, they are happy to just be part of it.”