Townsville Swap Meet is calling all ‘over-collectors’ and ‘bowerbirds’

Do you have a chronic car problem that’s taking over your shed? The Townsville Swap Meet is calling all ‘over-collectors’ and ‘bowerbirds’ for a day of automotive treasure hunting and swapping.

Frank Cerutti and his vintage 1929 AC Chevrolet currently undergoing restorations in his workshop. Picture: Evan Morgan

In the rusty world of car restorations, the Townsville Swap Meet is considered an undiscovered gem.

Running for only one morning every year, the swap attracts all sorts of rare, out-of-production, and one-of-a-kind pieces that only exist these days in the back of someone’s shed.

For ‘over-collectors’ with a lot of possessions but not much cash, the Townsville Swap Meet is a dream come true because it allows swapping item-for-item, rather than requiring the handing over of money.

Frank Cerutti has been kept busy this winter by a restoration job on his 1929 model AC Chevrolet – but when he’s not in the shed, the Aitkenvale man is working on the swap committee keeping track of site pre-sales.

“We do still get walk-ups on the day (looking to buy a site,)” Mr Cerutti said.

“It is $15 for a 10 metre by five metre bit of grass”

Frank Cerutti inside his Annandale shed, which contains several antique vehicles, Townsville’s first fire engine and a surprisingly tidy tool collection.

It’s a week and a half out from the 2024 swap meet and the committee have already pre-sold 90 spots – a huge number for the event.

“There are really four main reasons why we run the swap meet,” Mr Cerutti said.

“One, to gather stuff together for people who want to find something specific, two, to help people get rid of stuff because they’ve over-collected, three, to give the community a chance to come out and see some cars and four, to make money for charity.”

PHOTOS: Townsville’s Swap Meeting

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It’s $15 to hire a site and $5 to get through the gate.

The committee takes a small portion of proceeds to cover the event’s basic running costs, and all remaining profit is donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Townsville.

The event is also supported by a grant from Townsville City Council, which frees up even more funds to end up in the donation pile.

The Townsville Swap Meets have so far raised $42,000 for Ronald McDonald House.

Fellow Townsville Swap Meet organiser Barry Graham said the point of swap meets is you didn’t need to turn up with money – just a good part to swap.

“People will use sites to clean their sheds out and find those early parts that aren’t made anymore,” Mr Graham said.

“But most of the money we make for Ronald McDonald House comes from the lookers and the bowerbirds who turn up for a walk around.”

It’s estimated that 1600 people came through the gate last year.

The event is strictly a motor and vehicle-only zone which means no plants, no fishing rods and no bric-a-brac will be allowed at the sites.

Anything to do with cars, motorbikes, boat outboard engines, tools, machinery and anything that needs grease to run is welcome.

Townsville Swap Meet kicks off at 6am Sunday morning, August 18, and will run till lunchtime.

Originally published as Townsville Swap Meet is calling all ‘over-collectors’ and ‘bowerbirds’