Trash to Treasure

Exciting Workshops at the Trash to Treasure Fair

Join us at the Trash to Treasure Fair and dive into a variety of creative and eco-friendly workshops that transform everyday waste into unique treasures:

Other workshops available at the fair will include:

• Breathe and Weave: Learn the art of turning palm fronds into beautiful baskets and more. Embrace sustainable crafting and take home your handmade creations.
• Zine Workshop: Get hands-on with creating keepsake mini books from old paper. This workshop is perfect for those who love storytelling and recycling.
• Furniture Flippers: Discover the joy of revamping old furniture. Our experts will guide you through the process of giving tired pieces a new lease on life.
• Cairns Art Gallery: Join the Cairns Art Gallery for a hands-on workshop where participants of all ages can transform everyday waste into unique mini sculptures, exploring the art of upcycling and discovering the beauty in discarded items.
• Ride on Cycles: Discover essential maintenance skills at Ride On Cycles' comprehensive bike repair and servicing workshop, ensuring your bike stays in top condition.
• Fabric Rescue: Learn innovative techniques for repurposing textiles at Fabric Rescue's fabric recycling workshop, where you'll transform old fabrics into new, creative projects.

Don't miss these fantastic opportunities to learn new skills, have fun, and contribute to a more sustainable world at the Trash to Treasure Fair!

Please leave your pets at home, they are not permitted at the Buy Back Shop.

Footwear must be worn at the event.

School and Early Learning Centre "Reuse, Rethink, Repurpose" Competition

This year's Trash to Treasure event has a competitive element to it, where children and students from schools and Early Learning Centres (ELC) in the Cairns region can showcase their creativity, environmental awareness, and commitment to reducing waste by repurposing materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. To enter the competition, entrants must create a sculpture/installation work, image collage, functional furniture or wearable project created from used and recycled material/waste items that communicate how reducing waste by reusing and recycling can play a significant role in landfill avoidance and environmental protection.

To enter, your school or ELC representative must complete an online application form and include a photo or video evidence, and a description of the project. Ten entrants will be shortlisted to be voted on online by the community. The two schools and two ELC with the most votes will become the event finalists. These four finalists will display their projects at the Trash to Treasure event on Saturday, 10 August, where attendees will be given a token upon entry to vote for the best project; the winners will then be announced on the day.  All prizes are awarded to the associated School or Early Learning Centre, not the individual entrant.

Entries have now closed, and voting will open on Monday 1 July and close on Friday 26 July 2024.

School Competition Prize Suppliers

Raffle Prize Suppliers

We'd like to thank Reef Unlimited for supporting our event. We encourage you to sign up to their newsletter here to keep up to date with local offers, discounts for visiting family & friends, new products & services.