Before you throw away a broken toy, a bike with a flat tyre or a favourite jumper with a tear, why not see if it can be repaired instead?
The popular Repair Café is returning to Bondi Junction this July, giving local families the opportunity to repair everyday household items for free while helping reduce waste and keeping perfectly usable items out of landfill.
Organised by Waverley Council, the Repair Café brings together a team of skilled volunteers who generously donate their time and expertise to help the community repair a wide range of household items. It’s a fantastic initiative that not only saves money but also encourages a more sustainable way of living.
Young and old people in repair cafe.
A Great Way for Families to Save Money
For families, the costs of constantly replacing broken household items can quickly add up. Whether it’s a child’s favourite toy, a bike that needs a tune-up, or a chair that’s become a little wobbly, many items can often be repaired rather than replaced.
Instead of spending money on buying new, the Repair Café gives families the chance to:
- Repair broken toys that children still love.
- Give kids’ bikes a tune-up and keep them riding safely.
- Mend clothing and school uniforms instead of replacing them.
- Restore small household items and furniture.
- Sharpen kitchen knives rather than buying new ones.
With the cost of living continuing to rise, repairing items wherever possible is a simple way to stretch the family budget while reducing unnecessary waste.
Better for the Environment
Every item repaired is one less item ending up in landfill.
Many products are discarded simply because of a minor fault that can be fixed in just a few minutes. By extending the life of everyday items, Repair Café helps reduce waste, conserve valuable resources and lower the environmental impact of manufacturing and disposing of new products.
It’s also a wonderful opportunity to teach children an important lesson: not everything needs to be thrown away when it breaks. Repairing, reusing and caring for our belongings are valuable habits that can last a lifetime.
What Can You Bring?
Volunteer repairers will be available to assess and repair a variety of household items, including:
- Clothing and textiles (basic mending and sewing)
- Small electrical appliances (excluding toasters, kettles, TVs and computer monitors)
- Kids’ bikes and adult bikes for basic tune-ups
- Wooden furniture and small carpentry repairs
- Knife sharpening
- Costume jewellery (excluding gold jewellery, watches and gemstone resetting)
- Toys
- Household bits and pieces (“nick knacks”)
- Free electrical Tag and Test for repaired electrical items, plus electrical items brought from home
Please note that repairs are carried out by volunteers, so while every effort will be made to repair your item, repairs cannot be guaranteed.
More Than Just Repairs
Repair Café is also a chance to connect with your local community, meet skilled volunteers and learn simple repair techniques you can use at home. Many visitors enjoy chatting with the repairers, picking up practical tips and discovering just how much can be saved with a little know-how.
Event Details
📅 Date: Saturday, 18 July 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Location: Mill Hill Hall, 33 Spring Street, Bondi Junction
💰 Cost: Free
If you’ve got a broken toy, a bike that needs some attention or a household item that’s too good to throw away, bring it along to the Repair Café. You might be surprised what can be given a second life—and you’ll be helping your family budget and the environment at the same time.
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