Ballarat Toy Library named one of Australia's top four regional hubs
Named one of Australia's top four regional toy libraries, serving 253 families and powered entirely by volunteers.
The Ballarat Toy Library won recognition in the national Toy Libraries of Australia awards. The library serves 253 member families with nearly 2,000 toys.
Around 750 toys circulate at any time from its collection. The library recently introduced monthly stay-and-play sessions in its Barkly Square hall.
Parents meet and share experiences with families of similar-age children. The volunteer committee doubled in size as a result.
Membership has increased more than 12 per cent over the past year. In 2025-26, members borrowed 9,331 toys.
This saved families an estimated $450 each. It kept more than $100,000 worth of stock out of landfill.
- 253
- Member families
- Almost 2000
- Toys in collection
- 9331
- Toys borrowed in 2025-26
- $450
- Estimated savings per family
Why it mattersToy libraries ease parent isolation and reduce the cost of raising children in regional areas.
AustraliaBallarat's volunteer-run model shows how regional communities can build affordable, inclusive services without ongoing government funding.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
