Other unusual items up for grabs at the 2500 stalls included vintage car parts, dinky toys, postie bikes, obsolete auto accessories, “bloke stuff” and “decor to die for”.

More regular bargains for sale included Ford and Holden car parts, bike bits, fishing gear and vintage and enamel signs.

Or, for that more unique gift, there were also reproduction rubber floor mats, early telephone parts, blow torches, gramophones, petrol bowsers, corrugated iron signs, horse cart parts and even a “bit of everything” available.

This year, Australia’s largest swap meet, organised by the combined Rotary Clubs of Ballarat, also had a new 14.5 kilometre site on Airport Road at the Ballarat Airport, complete with a whole different stall plan.

More than 8000 people camped across Friday and Saturday nights, with all money raised from the event to be distributed among the eight Ballarat Rotary Clubs to help local community projects.

These include the Rotary Clubs of Wendouree Breakfast, Ballarat South, Ballarat East, Ballarat West, Ballarat Young Ambition, Ballarat, Wendouree and Alfredton.

According to Ballarat Swap Meet board chairman Lindsay Florence, the funding is primarily focused on school programs, helping people compete in events and scholarship programs.

The swap meet also boasts about 25 community partners.

“It’s not only Rotary that benefits,” Mr Florence said.

“It’s the whole Ballarat community and the clubs within the community.”

Surveys show Ballarat gets a boost of about $8 million to the local economy from the two-day event.

Robyn Kneebone said it was her first time at the swap meet.

“I had a great time and hopefully I’ll be back next year thanks to all the wonderful volunteers and everyone who assisted organising it,” Ms Kneebone said.

The swap meet nearly folded in 2011 over lease issues.

However, the combined Rotary clubs won the right to host the event over a number of other organisations.

Next year’s event will be held on February 23 and 24, with siteholders setting up on February 22.