A rather ordinary sight for many Australians is blowing the minds of foreigners, with one Irishman calling it one of the “biggest culture shocks” he’s experienced since moving to the country almost three years ago.
Council clean-ups, where residents can leave out their old furniture and other unwanted belongings, are unheard of in most other countries. But for expats like Jamie Stapleton, it’s “amazing” — especially for backpackers and those here on visas.
“That was definitely a culture shock when I came over here,” the 28-year-old from Tipperary told Yahoo News.
“Seeing people leave things on the side of the road, I was kind of like, ‘what is this about?’. And then when we found out we could take stuff we were like, ‘this is amazing!’ “
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Jamie couldn’t believe his luck when he saw the sign on the mower. Source: Jamie Stapleton
On a recent trip to the gym, Jamie left his home in South Coogee with only a tote bag and ended up coming home with a free lawnmower.
“I walked past that house, and the lawnmower was there, and I was like, ‘Oh, someone must be cutting the lawn’. And then I saw the sign that said, ‘take me home’, and I couldn’t say no.”
While the lawnmower was only five minutes from home, he had to lug it up a steep hill to get it there.
“I was dying after my gym session,” he laughed.
Other finds he has scored off the kerb or Facebook Marketplace include a suitcase, couches and an outdoor table and chairs.
And he’s not the only expat finding treasures on the side of the road. Yahoo News spoke with Leonardo Urbano in 2022 after he found himself a discarded artwork that turned out to be valued at $2,900.
So what do other countries do with their unwanted goods?
“It’s not a thing back home,” Jamie said — but it’s not because the Irish aren’t giving.
Things are not often left on the street because of the weather, but are instead given away.
“We don’t leave stuff out like this, but what we do is either charity shops, give them to people we know or else just leave them in storage,” he said.
He also pointed out that most rental properties in Ireland are furnished, meaning you don’t have big clean-ups when you have to move out.
“In Australia it was a bit of a shock that rentals come empty, and you have to furnish them, and that when you leave you have to leave them empty,” he said.
“I think this leads to a lot more freebies on the side of the street in Australia.”
Jamie, whose three-year visa is set to expire in May, is hoping to gain sponsorship from his employer to allow him to stay in the country.
“I love Australia so much. Apart from just getting the freebies off the side of the road, I love the weather, love everything about the country, so the plan is to stay here long term.”
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