Young Aussie finds $380 treasure hidden in posh neighbourhood trash

In an upscale Australian suburb, an unexpected find in the trash has led to a surprising windfall for a young local.

Em, a treasure hunter, stumbled upon something remarkable, turning an ordinary walk into an unexpected payday.

The discovery has sparked curiosity about what hidden valuables might be lurking in plain sight.


While exploring the eastern suburb of Vaucluse, known for its opulent homes and well-manicured gardens, Em stumbled upon an item that, at first glance, seemed like a mere trinket among the piles of discarded items awaiting council collection.

It was a pen, slightly heavier than usual, with a base and subtle logo etching.

Upon returning home, Em's curiosity led her to research the pen, revealing its actual value.


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A designer pen worth $380 was found in council collection rubbish in an affluent Sydney suburb. Credit: @sydstreetbounty / TikTok


The pen, a designer piece by ACME Studios, was crafted from lathe-spun rosewood and adorned with gold plating, a creation of the renowned Italian designer Matteo Thun.

To her astonishment, this elegant pen retailed for a whopping $380 when new.

'It really was just a bit of luck,' Em recounted.


Her discovery is a testament to the old adage that one person's trash is another's treasure.

Em's journey into treasure hunting began with her use of a Lime Bike as her primary mode of transportation.

As she navigated the streets of Sydney, she became acutely aware of the 'valuable waste' that residents left out for collection.

In areas like the inner city and inner west, there's a culture of discarding usable items on the sidewalk, hoping passersby will give them a new lease on life.

The environmental implications of this practice are significant.

According to the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sydney's landfills are projected to reach capacity by 2030, making the need to recycle and reduce waste more pressing than ever.


Em's approach to rehoming these discarded items is financially savvy and environmentally conscious.

Em's treasure hunting isn't limited to chance encounters.

She's part of a community that shares maps and dates of council collections, allowing her to search for hidden gems strategically.

Her excursions to some of Australia's wealthiest suburbs, including Woollahra, Bellevue Hill, and Watsons Bay, have been fruitful.

From pianos to barbecues, televisions, and Dyson vacuum cleaners, Em has furnished her home with these finds, saving considerable money in the process.

'Some junk is just junk,' Em admits, but she believes many items can be revitalised with cleaning or repair.


She's discovered that many people are unaware of the value of the items they discard.

The rewards can be substantial for those willing to put in the effort and don protective gloves.

For fellow Australians inspired to embark on treasure hunts, Em offers some sage advice: wear gloves and sunscreen, check drawers for forgotten items, respect the local community by not creating a mess, and don't worry about timing—there's plenty to go around.

This story of Em's lucrative find reminds us that sometimes, the most valuable treasures are hiding in plain sight, just waiting to be discovered by those with a keen eye and a willingness to dig a little deeper.

So next time you pass by a pile of rubbish, look closer—you never know what riches might be waiting for you.


Credit: TikTok

Key Takeaways
  • A Sydney local discovered a designer pen worth $380 in a pile of council collection rubbish in an affluent suburb.
  • The pen, made by ACME Studios and designed by Italian designer Matteo Thun, had been discarded and was identified as valuable after some research.
  • The finder, Em, uses council collection times and online groups to locate potential treasures on Sydney streets, having furnished her house with such finds over the summer.
  • Em's experience highlights the potential value in items people throw away, and she offers advice on how to safely and respectfully hunt for treasures in council clean-up rubbish.
Have you ever salvaged something incredible from a council collection? Share your stories in the comments below, and let's celebrate the art of discovering hidden gems in our everyday lives!
 

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I love treasure hunting. We used to find wonderful ones in Melbourne when our daughters lived there. Sadly, they are not so prevalent on the Sunny Coast. However, I still love garage sales. We once bought a glass shower screen to replace a shower curtain for $1!! But the best buy I have ever seen was by a cousin, who found a little booklet at a garage sale. It was a demonstration of the new decimal currency in 1966. It had some samples of the new notes. My cousin sold it on eBay for $20100. It cost her 20 cents.
 
My husbands friend, sadly passed now RIP, was great at finding stuff on hard rubbish. He got us a BBQ that looked brand new but didn’t work. One small valve replaced and it worked a treat and lasted us years. He also found a practically new three piece lounge suite. He actually asked the house holder if it was ok to take it. She said take what you like and he got a few more treasures from there too
 
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My son and his friend used to regard council pick-up as two extra Xmases when he was little, around 8 or so. They would come home from a neighbourhood wander with bikes, toys (some broken), office chairs were a favourite for a while. The biggest thing they ever brought home was a full size, fully set up trampoline. I still can’t believe that 2 small boys managed to get it home. Some stuff was used in a cubby house they built but ultimately I’d have to dismantle things and wait for the next pickup day to get rid of everything before they started again.
 
My ex-husband was a huge salvager and it didn't take long to rub off on me.
Although he loved to rummage tips and dump sites, I prefer second-hand sales, op-shops and pavement pick-ups.

The list, of course, would take forever to mention.
As well as having found numerous treasures (some mentioned in prior newsletters) I have furnished 3 houses this way and honestly believe this is the main reason I have survived financially, despite the fact that some people sneer about pre-used items and question my 'pride'.

My answer is, it's not my lack of pride, it's their excess of snobbery and stupidity.
They condemn me for wearing or using something previously used by a stranger, which has cost me little or even nothing.
However, they will sleep in a hotel bed that has been used by multiple people, never cleaned by themselves and they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars to use it for just one night!
 
Totally agree with this post,picking up "stuff" whilst in Sydney ( visiting 'mum') we collected a child's pram, in perfect condition, which served my 3 youngsters very well, cost originally $800 .
Well done! It surprises me what people throw out!
One of the last things I picked up off the pavement (before I stopped driving) was a large, square, wooden coffee table in mint condition, not even a scratch... and made from hardwood!
Still have it and love it!
 
My ex-husband was a huge salvager and it didn't take long to rub off on me.
Although he loved to rummage tips and dump sites, I prefer second-hand sales, op-shops and pavement pick-ups.

The list, of course, would take forever to mention.
As well as having found numerous treasures (some mentioned in prior newsletters) I have furnished 3 houses this way and honestly believe this is the main reason I have survived financially, despite the fact that some people sneer about pre-used items and question my 'pride'.

My answer is, it's not my lack of pride, it's their excess of snobbery and stupidity.
They condemn me for wearing or using something previously used by a stranger, which has cost me little or even nothing.
However, they will sleep in a hotel bed that has been used by multiple people, never cleaned by themselves and they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars to use it for just one night!
I agree totally. Some people have more money than sense. Look at the fashion industry. Wear a garment once or twice and then spending thousands of dollars buying the latest dress with matching shoes and handbags. These people then throw away these items for no other reason than it has gone out of fashion. Crazy.
 

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