Care, Consumption, In the Home, Textile Waste
Belmont NSW Op Shop & Preloved Guide
Belmont NSW, is a busy town centre along the eastern shores of Lake Macquarie. It’s the main hub for supermarkets and services for locals, along with the beautiful Lake Macquarie right next to the town centre.
After rummaging through the op shops, unwind with a coffee or picnic by the lake. Remember to pack your cossies for a refreshing dip in the designated swimming area.
Belmont NSW Op Shop & Preloved Guide (Self-Guided Trail)
Belmont city centre has three op shops (Vinnies, ELMA’s, Allira House), all within easy walking distance of each other. Just 2 kilometres away, you’ll find two more op shops (Vinnies, Salvos) up the road, perfect for more treasure hunting.
Below is a summary of what you can find at each shop, how to get there and the next closest op shop. Information is current as of August 2024.
This self-guided trail starts at the southern end of Belmont, finishing at Belmont North.
Op Shops in Belmont City Centre
Belmont city centre has three op shops. Starting at Vinnies (Belmont), leave the car in the one spot and walk a full loop by op shopping your way back to Vinnies, which is next to Belmont Library.
Having served the community for at least 45 years, Vinnies (Belmont) is a cornerstone of the local op shops. The store’s layout allows you to easily scan the entire selection from the front entrance, making it simple to decide where to start your shopping.
The shop features an extensive range of women’s clothing, with a few men’s racks towards the back. There’s also dedicated hanging racks for women’s clothing size 16+. All clothing is organised by type, then by colour.
In addition to clothing for kids, men, and women, the store offers a variety of items, including electrical goods, popular fiction books, games, puzzles, kitchenware, manchester, and jewellery.
Opening Hours: Open Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm and, Saturdays 9am – 1pm.
Donation Information: Donations accepted during opening hours at the back of the shop
Location: 21 Ernest Street, Belmont NSW, next to Belmont Library and opposite St Francis Xavier Primary School. Go here for all Belmont NSW op shop locations
How to Get Here & Accessibility: Most forms of transportation are available to Belmont, including car, bus, on foot and cycling.
- Car: Limited car parking on the street, with school times as No Parking. Best to park in the Dobson Lane carpark behind the op shop, which is accessed next to Belmont Library.
- On Demand and scheduled bus services and stops are a street away on the Pacific Highway. Go here for the Newcastle Transport Bus Transport map…
- From the end of the Fernleigh Track Rail Trail, it’s a 3 minute walk and an even quicker bike ride.
The store entrance has a short ramp with two ends leading to the push/pull front door. If you need assistance with the door, the staff are happy to help. The aisles between clothing racks and shelves are wide enough to fit a motorised wheelchair, ensuring easy access throughout the store.
Nearby Op Shops: Both Allira House (Belmont) and ELMA’s Op Shop are a 5 minute walk from Vinnies Belmont.
Contact Details: (02) 4945 0330
ELMA’s (Belmont) is a locally managed, church-based op shop offering a clean, fresh space filled with a variety of interesting treasures. The well-organised shop features a good selection of kitchen and homewares, fiction books, jewellery, linen, a small selection of toys, and three racks of men’s clothing, with an even larger selection for women that are neatly sorted by size.
The dedicated volunteers bring their energy and unique contributions to the life of the shop to create a positive and respectful haven for shoppers. You’ll also find a small selection of handmade items crafted by members of the Parish community.
ELMA’s is an acronym for East Lake Macquarie Anglicans.
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 9am-3pm and, Saturdays 9am-1pm.
Donation Information: Donations accepted during opening hours at the back of the shop by ringing the bell, or at the front counter. This op shop is unable to take large pieces of furniture, and electrical.
Location: 550 Pacific Highway (northerly direction), Belmont NSW. The shop is found to the left of Lowes and close to the Belmont Plaza walk-through arcade. Go here for all Belmont NSW op shop locations
How to Get Here & Accessibility: Most forms of transportation are available to Belmont, including car, bus, on foot and cycling. However, there’s no bicycle parking outside the shop.
- Car: On-street car parking, with Clearway times. Additional parking is in the Coles carpark, with a short walk to the Pacific Highway through the Belmont Plaza walk-through arcade.
- On Demand and scheduled bus services and stops are a street away on the Pacific Highway. Go here for the Newcastle Transport Bus Transport map…
- It’s a 7 minute walk from the end of the Fernleigh Track Rail Trail, walking past Vinnies Belmont
The shopfront is accessible only from the Pacific Highway. A wide footpath leads to the entrance, which features a large sliding door.
Nearby Op Shops: Allira House (Belmont) is a quick walk through the Belmont Plaza arcade, whilst Vinnies Belmont is a 5 minute walk south near the Belmont Library.
Contact Details: The Parish (02) 4945 0575
Tucked at the end of Thomas Street, Allira House (Belmont) has recently expanded into the neighbouring shop. This expansion has given the original store more floor space, allowing the volunteers more room to sort and curate the donations.
The small shop is filled with a great range of wearable clothing for men, women and kids. The volunteers take pride in their friendliness and ensure that each item in the shop is in top condition.
Men are well catered for, with a generous selection of men’s clothing and shorts available year-round. This wide variety draws many male customers who love shopping here!
A unique feature of this op shop is its reputation for offering a selection of vintage and antique items. In addition to this, you’ll find a small range of electrical goods, craft supplies, manchester, plenty of jewellery, kids’ toys, and fiction books.
The Op Shop Manager says the community loves donating to Allira House (Belmont) because they know the treasures sold help fund a local refuge.
This is a cash-only shop.
Opening Hours: Allira House (Belmont) is open 5 days a week, Mondays – Fridays from 9am-3pm.
Donation Information: Donations are accepted during opening hours at the shop’s ‘Drop and Shop’ area, located to the right of the main op shop, at the entrance to the Belmont Plaza walk-through arcade.
Location: 6 Thomas Street, Belmont NSW. Go here for all Belmont NSW op shop locations
How to Get Here & Parking: Most forms of transportation are available to Belmont, including car, bus, on foot and cycling. However, there’s no official bicycle parking outside the shop.
- Car: Best parking is in the Coles carpark, with a short walk across to the corner of Thomas Street.
- On Demand and scheduled bus services and stops are a street away on the Pacific Highway. Go here for the Newcastle Transport Bus Transport map…
- It’s a 9 minute walk to the end of the Fernleigh Track Rail Trail, walking past, ELMA’s Op Shop and Vinnies Belmont.
- It’s a 5 minute walk west to Belmont Wharf and the swimming area on the shores of Lake Macquarie
The shopfront is easily accessible via the wide off-street entrance.
Nearby Op Shops: ELMA’s Op Shop is around the corner through the walk-through arcade whilst Vinnies Belmont is a 5 minute walk.
Social Media: Allira House (Belmont) on facebook
Belmont North NSW Op Shops (Self-Guided Trail)
After visiting the three op shops (Vinnies, ELMA’s, Allira House) in Belmont town centre, head 2 kilometres north on the Pacific Highway to visit the next two large op shops (Vinnies, Salvos).
How to Get Here & Parking: The best means of transportation to Belmont North, includes car, bus, and walking on single footpaths.
- Car: Most convenient option; Best parking is in the carpark out the front of the shop. Both Vinnies and Salvos share the same car park, which can be limited during busy times. Note that parking is not available on the main road.
- On Demand and scheduled bus services and stops are close by on the Pacific Highway. Go here for the Newcastle Transport Bus Transport map…
Nearby Op Shops: The closest op shops are in Belmont town city. They are accessible by foot, car or bus. They are Vinnies (Belmont), Allira House (Belmont) and ELMA’s (Belmont).
In suburbs close by, there’s Allira House (Mt Hutton) and ELMA’s (Windale) in the Anglican Church
Be warmly welcomed into the shop by the bright and bubbly op shop manager, Barbara, and her team of dedicated volunteers. Vinnies (Belmont North) is a large, neatly organised, and well-stocked op shop. The manager estimates that at least 70% of the clothing is women’s.
Towards the front of the shop, you’ll find a separate Designer section featuring true designer labels like Diane Von Furstenberg and Trelise Cooper, along with a great selection of After 5 and evening wear. There are also dedicated sections for size 16+ and trending clothing. It’s refreshing to know there are no seasonal boundaries here, so you can find a lightweight jumper in summer and swimwear in winter!
Vinnies (Belmont North) has a group of younger volunteers who contribute to the visual merchandising, which is evident in the shop’s layout, look, and overall feel.
In addition to clothing for men and women, you’ll find neatly folded, packaged & priced manchester, colour-coded homewares and kitchenware, and a selection of fiction books. The expansive floor space also features Vinnies reCYCLE products, which are made in India.
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm
Donation Information: Donations are accepted during opening hours at the shop.
Location: Unit 3/ 356 Pacific Highway, Belmont North NSW. Go here for all Belmont NSW op shop locations
The shopfront is easily accessible via the gently sloped footpath, wide entrance, and a door that’s usually propped open.
Salvos (Belmont North)
The large floor space contains a huge range of women’s, men’s, and kids’ clothing that’s sorted by category, then size, and finally by colour. You’ll find boutique-style clothing, a vast selection of dresses, and a small collection of After 5 attire. This is the shop for both clothes and homewares. Homewares and kitchenware are organised by colour, making them easy to spot on the shelves. They are also the only op shop in Belmont to sell reconditioned mattresses.
Every Salvos store has a weekly stock rotation, with special colour coding to indicate which items are discounted, usually at 50% off the marked price. Additional specials include pensioner discounts on Thursdays and student discounts on Wednesdays.
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday from 9am – 5.30pm
Donation Information: Donations are in-store during opening hours. Here’s a donation guide…
Location: Unit 4 / 356 Pacific Highway, Belmont North NSW. Go here for all Belmont NSW op shop locations
The shopfront is easily accessible via the gently sloped footpath, wide entrance, and a door that’s usually propped open.
Contact Details: (02) 4945 9379
How to Get to Belmont
Travelling by car is the most convenient option, with parking available at the Coles, Woolworths and Belmont library car parks, as well as on-street parking.
Belmont is a flat suburb, making walking and bike riding easy. You can arrive in Belmont via the Fernleigh Track or from the footpaths around the lake. However, there aren’t many safe places to park your bike.
Belmont is the southernmost point for the On Demand bus service and also serves as a main transport hub connecting suburbs across Lake Macquarie.
Additionally, Belmont is conveniently close to the Fernleigh Track, which links you to Redhead, Jewells, Whitebridge, Adamstown, and Newcastle.
Choose Second Hand First
Op shopping is a fantastic way to source second-hand, preloved clothing and homewares, reducing the need to buy brand new items. With so much already in circulation, preloved and op shops serve as our suburban shopping precincts’ gateway to exploring what’s available.
“You never know what you’ll find at an op shop” rings true every time you visit an op shop!
Helping you to op shop mindfully, read my hot tips for op shopping, in addition to reading up on the five guiding principles for op shopping.
Discover More…
- Check out the neighbouring Lake Macquarie op shop guides
- Go here to read more stories about sourcing second hand and ways to reuse and recycle
#etsy #ebay #sponsored I may receive a commission if you click on the links below and make a purchase.
- Choose to op shop online via my affiliate link to ebay – Vinnies,
- Discover a range of preloved and vintage clothing from around the world via Etsy
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