'A new way of shopping': Success of neighbourhood exchange

The free exchange was set up by mum-of-three Tammy Marriott and her family in March, as a sort of "pay it forward" system.

This means people can drop something off they don't need and take something home they do, though doing one without the other is also accepted.

During the past four months, a plethora of items have been dropped off at the Ballarat East exchange located on Specimen Vale South.

While some neighbours drop off produce and plants grown in their gardens, others have donated clothes, toys, teddies, crockery, cutlery and electrical items.

Canned food and other staples such as flour have also been up for grabs, while some neighbours have dropped off homemade jams and chutneys. One particular day dozens of pumpkins appeared, and on another crate loads of bread.

While Ms Marriott largely tends to what she calls the "little shop" herself, her children - aged four, six and eight - are also keenly engaged and more community members are becoming involved in the general upkeep.

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The idea behind the exchange was for people to be able to recycle items they no longer needed, which might be of great use to others.

"It's not just for needy people. It's also a new way of shopping," Ms Marriott said.

The exchange has experienced some setbacks - including the theft of a meat safe which was nailed to a fence and used to store items as well as vandalism - but Ms Marriott said the continual supply of goods being dropped off coupled with the increasing ownership from neighbours was motivation to keep running it.

"It's going really well. It does have lulls, but every single day something is dropped off and something is taken. So that's good, it's working," Ms Marriott said. "I am really hoping that it becomes community-run."

Ms Marriott said running the exchange had not only been rewarding, but that it had fostered connection between neighbours. Personally, she has met many neighbours she had never spoken to before during the past few months.

A neighbourhood gardening group has also recently been established, with community members weeding and planting around the area where the shop is located.

The exchange has also taught her children plenty of new skills - about helping others and recycling, reusing and giving away items, such as toys, they no longer play with to others.

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It has also taught them about responsibility, such as the need to keep the shop tidy.

Going forward, she plans to set-up another closed cupboard for goods (to replace the one that was stolen) and will label where items should be placed.

She will also set-up a table for a plant exchange, as plants have been very popular items.

Ms Marriott said people had generally been respectful of not dumping large bags worth of broken items, and she hopes it stays that way.

Any donation is welcome, but she asks people not to drop off large amounts of items at a time.