They say good things come to those who wait. This proverb certainly rings true if, like me, you make the four-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth to Albany and visit the local Good Sammy op shop.
Located at 144 Albany Highway and a five-minute walk from the town centre, Good Sammy Albany is the organisation’s most southern op shop and it is well worth a visit - whether you’re a local or just visiting. It’s a neat, tidy and spacious store with a selection you might not expect from a regional op shop. As one Google reviewer puts it, the store sells a wide variety of quality second hand items, “not just boring local stuff.”
The store has a huge range of women’s, men’s and children’s fashion, books, toys, homewares and bric-a-brac items. In the time that I spent in the store, several noteworthy items caught my eye, including vintage glomesh bags, a bright yellow cocktail dress, a silky snakeskin print shirt, a fifties gingham dress, a fuchsia bowler bag, silver loafers and a brand new pair of pink Converse sneakers. I also managed to score a 70s-style crochet gilet which had been on my wish list for ages.
While the Albany store receives donations from locals, most of its stock comes from the Perth sorting facility. These deliveries are made every fortnight meaning new stock is sorted and put out on the floor promptly. The stock they receive from Perth allows them to sell different items and brands to those donated by locals and it’s allowed the store to build up an impressive collection of Gold Seal items. Country Road, Trenery, Witchery, Alannah Hill, Seed and Sheike are some of the many Gold Seal brands you can find in-store at bargain prices.
Good Sammy Albany also specialises in shoes, handbags, workwear and themed sundries which are put out according to the time of year. Christmas décor and knick knacks took pride of place when I visited the store in November. There was everything from quality decorations and wrapping, to crockery, glassware and costumes - all nicely displayed, too. Seeing this was a warm and fuzzy reminder that Christmas was coming up.
Maureen is the Assistant Manager of Good Sammy Albany and she has worked at the store for 11 years. She and Store Manager Danelle look after a team of 13, including 5 employees with disability. For Maureen, the best thing about working for Good Sammy is helping the employees improve their work skills and grow in confidence. The Albany team also does the same for local high school students who are seeking retail experience.
If you’re not familiar with Albany, let the team at Good Sammy be your guides. They are proud locals who know all the ins and outs of the area and will tell you about attractions, such as the Whaling Station, Wind Farm, National ANZAC Centre and Torndirrup National Park. They’ll also happily recommend hiking trails, foodie hotspots, and pristine beaches in the area.
Albany’s beaches have to be seen to be believed. Their turquoise waters, white sand and rugged granite headlands are unique to the area and truly breathtaking. But before you hit Little Beach, Emu Point, Middleton Beach, Frenchmans Bay, or my favourite, Muttonbird Beach, be sure to pick out a wetsuit from Good Sammy’s sizable range. You’ll need it, trust me. The waters of the Southern Ocean can get freezing!
The Great Southern region of WA has something to offer everyone, from history buffs to nature lovers to op shoppers.
Make your next adventure a trip to Albany and pay the friendly team at Good Sammy a visit.
Best for:
- Womenswear
- Menswear
- Childrenswear
- Workwear
- Footwear
- Handbags
- Wetsuits
- General and themed sundries
- Toys
- Books
