How Australia’s First Op Shop Was Born — and Why Its Legacy Still Matters 100 Years Later

Did you know that Australia’s first “opportunity shop” — or op shop — was opened in October 1925 by Lady Tallis of Beleura in Mornington? Nearly a century later, her vision for giving pre-loved items new life continues to shape how Australians shop, give, and think about sustainability.

The Birth of the Opportunity Shop

Lady Tallis launched the first opportunity shop at the old Cyclorama in Victoria Parade, Melbourne, to raise funds for St Vincent’s Hospital. At a time when charity events were often one-off affairs, her idea was groundbreaking — a permanent store where surplus goods could be donated, resold, and used to fund charitable causes.

To make it happen, she wrote letters to Melbourne’s newspapers, encouraged the community to donate, and secured the support of key figures, including the Lord Mayor. Her determination sparked a movement that spread across Melbourne and, by 1926, inspired similar shops to open in regional areas and other states.

The Legacy Lives On

What began as a single charitable store has grown into a nationwide culture of giving. Today, opportunity shops are an essential part of Australia’s community fabric — supporting local charities, reducing textile waste, and making fashion more accessible to everyone.

Continuing the Vision with Project Emerald

At Project Emerald, we’re proud to continue Lady Tallis’ legacy by supporting modern-day op shops. Our platform gives them a digital space to sell their pre-loved fashion online, connecting them with a broader audience and ensuring that more garments are reused rather than discarded.

It’s a modern take on a century-old idea — turning pre-loved fashion into purpose.