‘Quirky’ op shop’s big move

FIFTEEN years of memories have been packed up from a Ballan op shop’s colourful location ahead of its reopening at the Ballan Neighbourhood House early this month.

Volunteers at Steptoes Op Shop are saying goodbye to their mosaic walls, dense gardens and eye-catching artwork that had drawn bargain hunters from far and wide.

“People come from all over, regularly just to come to the op shop,” said Dorothy Shaw, an original volunteer who had one of her friendship plates set in the walls designed by local artist Lou Callow.

“It was a very interesting place, it made a great op shop because it was so quirky.”

In the past 20 years, the op shop had changed hands from a local couple, who had run it for the town’s hospital, to the Lionesses, who operated it from the Springfields Garage building and then its Inglis Street site until 2021, when Ballan Neighbourhood House (BNH) staff took over.

Shaw said some of those who still volunteered, such as Eileen Graham and Heather Bainbridge, were a mixture of former Lionesses and others who had been there from the start.

BNH manager Mary Francis said there had been strong community sentiment attached to the op shop.

She said volunteers had created a safe and welcoming place for sales and community connection.

“There is kindness and local knowledge available to everyone who enters their doors and we look forward to being able to continue that value-aligning legacy at BNH,” she said.

She said the shop was relocating to BNH because there was a vacancy following the library’s departure, and the sale of the Inglis Street site meant it was an opportune time for change.

Inside the new space, walls have been painted and fresh flooring laid.

Op shop coordinator George thanked everyone who had helped with the move.

The op shop will open on Thursdays 9.30am to 1pm, Fridays 9.30am to 2.30pm, and Saturdays 9am to 1pm. Volunteering enquiries can be made in store or emailing [email protected]