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Suitcase Rummage Canberra

If you’ve been looking for some vintage clothing, new houseplants, jewelry, secondhand books or perhaps the chance to rummage through other people’s things, Canberra’s Suitcase Rummage is an event for you.

Suitcase rummage
Photo by Alexa Summerfield

Hundreds of Canberrans turned out to sift through other people’s suitcases and bag a bargain at the Suitcase Rummage, part of the Art Not Apart festival.

Under a brilliantly blue sky, sellers like magazine collector Milena were willing to sell even prized possessions at a steak price.

“Some really valuable issues have gone for about $200. I thought I’d just give it a go for one dollar. I’ve got way too much!” said Milena, who has been collecting magazines for 15 years.

The mini scaled market was perfectly placed right next to Lake Burley Griffin, and shoppers could relax under shade umbrellas and on cushions right next to the water. A Lakeside DJ helped to set the mood, playing jazz tunes and upbeat remixes including a mash-up of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car and the catchy hook of I Wanna Sex You Up by Colour Me Badd.

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Photo by Alexa Summerfield

Plenty of Canberrans spent their afternoon perusing the items on offer. There were even international visitors, including an American tourist gift-shopping for a wedding and two New Zealander mates looking for a gift for a friend.

Like most people browsing, shopper Judith said she and a friend had come to the market by chance: “My friend made me come. We stumbled across from drawing the acrobats at Art Apart.”

“Its such a beautiful day. We’re just looking, not for anything in particular.”

Quaint in comparison to larger markets such as Fash ‘n’ Treasure, some visitors were breezing through the rummage in a matter of minutes, with perhaps only 50 people hoping to sell their items. But if the history of the city-hopping market is to show anything, its that in future, the rummage may just get bigger and bigger.

Returning for a second time to sell her hand-decorated succulents, artist Kate said it was a great chance to meet and engage with other Canberrans.

“It’s a good opportunity to appeal to a local market… passing by and looking at my stuff, and checking out other people’s stalls. I come here to make money, but I also end up spending it on other people’s stuff as well! I’ll definitely be coming back.”

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