ABOUT
The Wagga Wagga Annual Swap Meet has been running for over 25 Years. With up to 900 site holders from around the region and all over Australia it is a great chance to find some fantastic auto-memorabilia, antiques, bric-a-brac, ornaments, collectables and more.
Over Twenty-five years ago Wagga Wagga hosted the first swap meet for car enthusiasts ad collectors of all kinds of paraphernalia.
Now the biggest of its type in NSW, the Classic & Historic Automobile Club of Australia - Wagga Wagga Region have grown the event to be the 3rd largest nationally with more than 900 stall holders and up to 8000 people walking through the gates from all over Australia.
Trevor Garth and Brian Horsley, members of the original organising comittee reminisce about the very first Swap Meet held at the Wagga Wagga Showgrounds.
“We started with 85 sites the first year and word of mouth helped us to grow substantially each year after that” recalled Mr Horsley. “these days 70% of sites are pre-booked from year to year.”
“Although the initial idea of a Swap Meet in Wagga was to attract car enthusiasts, it has grown to incorporate all sorts of items from authentic car parts to collectibles, antiques, crafts and bric-a-brac. There is something for everyone, a great event for browsers and buyers alike.”
“We have had an amazing run” added Mr Garth. “Even though the Meet has always been in the middle of winter, we have never been washed out and the crowds have always turned up regardless of the temperature.”
Over the past 24 years the Swap has been able to financially support in excess of 70 local charities and community groups, including Disadvantaged Children, Camp Quality, SES, Bush Fire units, Wagga Base Hospital Children’s Ward, Ronald McDonald House, Cancer Patients Group, Cystic Fibrossis, Special Needs Classes in Four Local Schools, Dementia Unit, Mental Health Unit. Each year different local charities are chosen to be the recipients of the proceeds of the Swap Meet.
All catering on the ground is offered to other charities and community groups such as Vietnam Vets, Sunrise Rotary, Gregado Bush Fire Brigade, Tolland Junior Soccer Club, Lions Club and many more. All the profits from the catering goes to the respective organisations. Sites for these food stalls are donated to each organisation.