An old church in Bendigo has been transformed into a thriving hub of sustainability, powered by a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers and some funding support from Sustainability Victoria.
Run by Neighbourhood Collective Australia, the Old Church Wardrobe started as a second-hand clothing shop. It has grown to become an educational space for the community to learn more about waste and the circular economy, as well as pick up new skills like sewing and upcycling.
The project was given a kick-start through funding from Sustainability Victoria's Circular Economy Communities Fund. Through the fund, not-for-profits, social enterprises and community groups were challenged to look at waste differently and move towards a circular economy where we reuse, repair and recycle, rather than throw valuable resources away.
