Who doesn’t love bargain hunting for a special piece to add to your collection? Op shops are more than just second-hand stores. They are a step back in time as well as great outlets filled with unique pieces of clothing, furniture, books, toys and other household items all in one place. Moreover, they help to reduce waste by recycling clothing and household items instead of throwing it all away. Op shops also help people in need by using the money raised from sales to help support our elderly, disabled, victims of violence and new immigrants.
Queanbeyan-Palerang is home to some of the classics as well as a few unique little shops, so if shopping is to your liking, dedicate a day or two to exploring the eclectic collections of Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Braidwood op shops. With a bit of patience and perseverance, you’ll likely find your next favourite treasure for a bargain!
Queanbeyan
Salvation Army
- 02 6297 4999
- 203 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
- Opening hours:
- Monday – Saturday 9.00am – 5.00pm
- Closed Sunday
The Salvation Army are prominent in the community helping those less fortunate. The Queanbeyan store is quite large and well laid out with an extensive collection of clothing and furniture. They also stock cleaned mattresses and have many books to peruse.
Anglicare Retail Queanbeyan
- 02 6232 9272
- 170 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
- Opening hours:
- Monday – Friday 10am – 4.30pm
- Saturday 10.30am – 2.30pm
- Closed Sunday
Anglicare manages a number of retail recycling stores that sell quality recycled clothing and household items at affordable prices. Profits generated at their retail recycling stores are used to support the work of Anglicare and to support the outreach of the Anglican Church.
Eurotune
- 02 62978636
- 44 Uriarra Road, Queanbeyan
- Opening hours:
- Wednesday to Friday 10am – 6pm
- Saturday to Sunday 10am – 4pm
Eurotune holds an eclectic display of retro and 70’s type furniture and bric-a-brac in a unique setting. The shop is also an art gallery as well as a motorcycle shop. Take the time to have a look – you may be surprised at what you will find.
Vinnies Queanbeyan
- 02 6234 7316
- 130 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan
- Opening hours:
- Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Vinnies is an iconic shop for affordable and pre-loved items, providing support and assistance to people in need by making positive changes in the local community through purchases and donations.
Bungendore
Phil’s Emporium Op Shop
- 02 6238 1251
- 27 Butmaroo St, Bungendore
- Opening hours:
- Monday – Friday 10am – 4.00pm
- Saturday 9am – 2pm
- Closed Sunday
This little treasure trove will blow you away with what they have packed into a small space. From clothes and books to toys, DVDs and a large collection of crockery and collectables, you could easily spend a couple of hours just rummaging through the shop’s entire collection.
Braidwood
Vinnies Braidwood
- 6234 7459
- 106 Wallace St, Braidwood
- Opening hours:
- Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
- Saturday 9am – 3pm
- Sunday 11am – 3pm
Vinnies is an iconic shop for affordable and pre-loved items. Everything you buy or donate inspires changes in the local community. Braidwood’s Vinnies is an unassuming store at the end of Wallace Street, just past the IGA. It is a great spot to look for your next vintage clothing finds for a bargain.
Top tips to remember
- The best time to rummage through op-shops is mid-week. Not only are the shops likely to be quieter, you’ll also have more to explore as most people clear out their wardrobes and cupboards on weekends, delivering their donations just in time for them to hit the racks mid-week.
- Always check your items, especially clothes, before purchase. If you find small faults, carefully evaluate whether they can be mended, cleaned or repurposed for something else.
- Be patient – it takes time to uncover the best finds in these treasure troves. Allowing yourself to take your time could mean the difference between a disappointing shopping experience and a thrilling treasure hunt.