Monique Tait
Nov 25, 2023. 1 min read
Toys
Find Your Nearest Toy Library in Melbourne
Welcome to Sassybae’s Melbourne toy library directory. They’re places where action figures rub elbows with puzzles, and dolls whisper secrets to building blocks. Toy Libraries play a pivotal role in the circular economy and eco-friendly practises within our communities while simultaneously enriching the lives of children.
What is the concept of a toy library?
These incredible projects operate on the principle of borrowing and returning toys, offering a diverse array of playthings to cater to the ever-evolving interests of children. By providing a platform for families to access a wide range of toys without the need for continuous consumption, toy libraries contribute significantly to reducing waste and minimising the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of single-use toys.
Are toy libraries worth it?
Through promoting a sharing economy, toy libraries encourage resourcefulness, community engagement, and a sense of responsibility towards the environment, teaching future generations the value of sustainable living from an early age. In this way, toy libraries serve as hubs for imaginative play and as champions of environmental consciousness, fostering a more sustainable and mindful approach to childhood enjoyment.
The latest data from Toy Libraries Australia shows that more than 130,000 Australians are using a toy library. They own toys worth $28 million, which equates to $640 worth of toys for every family that is a member of a toy library.
To help you on your sustainable journey, we have compiled a list of tips and tricks to make the most of your local toy library, from reserving toys to sharing feedback. Below is a directory of all the local toy swapping projects in and around Melbourne with details on getting involved. If you can’t find your local library on this list, check out Toy Libraries Australia.
Collingwood Toy Library - Fitzroy
Address: 160 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 3065
Email: admin@collingwoodtoylibrary.net.au
Opening times: Monday and Wednesday 9.30am - 12pm
Collingwood Toy Library - Abbotsford
Address: Victoria Park Community Centre, Cnr of Lulie and Abbott St, Abbotsford, 3067
Email: admin@collingwoodtoylibrary.net.au
Opening times: Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30am - 12pm, Thursday and Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 9.30am - 2pm
South Melbourne Toy Library
Address: Koolin-Ngal Family Centre, 400 Clarendon St, South Melbourne, 3205
Email: emeraldhilltoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Tuesday 10am - 12:30pm, Saturday 9:30am - 11:30am
Middle Park Toy Library
Address: Middle Park Community Centre, 254-256 Richardson St, Middle Park, 3206
Email: emeraldhilltoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Tuesday 10am - 12:30pm, Saturday 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Richmond Toy Library
Address: Basement, Richmond Library 415 Church St, Richmond, 3121
Email: info@rtl.org.au
Opening times: Wednesday 5pm - 6:30pm, Tuesday 10.30am - 12pm, Saturday 9:30am - 12.00pm
Port Melbourne Toy Library
Address: 833 Bay St, Port Melbourne, 3207
Email: pmtoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Wednesday and Saturday 10.30am - 12:30pm
City of Melbourne Toy Library - Hotham Hub, North Melbourne
Address: 113 Melrose St, North Melbourne, 3051
Email: toylibrary@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Opening times: Tuesday 9:30am - 12:30pm, Thursday 3pm - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 2pm
City of Melbourne Toy Library - The Chapel, Carlton
Address: 469 Cardigan St, Carlton, 3053
Email: toylibrary@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Opening times: Monday 3pm - 6pm, Wednesday 9:30am - 12:30pm, Saturday 10am - 2pm
City of Melbourne Toy Library - Library at the Dock, Docklands
Address: 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands, 3008
Email: toylibrary@melbourne.vic.gov.au
Opening times: Click and collect service is coming soon
Stonnington Toy Library
Address: 1 Winter St, Malvern, 3144
Email: stonntoylib@gmail.com
Opening times: Wednesday and Thursday 9am - 12pm, Friday 9am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm
Darebin Toy Library
Address: Northcote Family Centre, 185 High St Northcote, 3070
Email: toylibrary@darebin.vic.gov.au
Opening times: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am - 3pm
Maribyrnong Toy Library - Angliss
Address: Angliss Neighbourhood House, 11 Vipont St Footscray, 3011
Opening times: Monday 1pm - 3pm
Maribyrnong Toy Library - West Footscray
Address: 539 Barkly St, West Footscray, 3012
Email: toylibrary@wfnh.com.au
Opening times: Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am, Saturday 10am-12pm
Maribyrnong Toy Library - Maidstone
Address: Maidstone Child & Family Centre, 23 Burns St, Maidstone, 3012
Email: toylibrary@wfnh.com.au
Opening times: Tuesday 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Kew Toy Library
Address: 152 Pakington St, Kew, 3101
Email: info@kewtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am, Wednesday 2:30 pm - 4:30pm & 7pm - 9pm, Friday 10:30am - 12:30pm, Saturday 9:30am - 2pm
Merri-bek Toy Library - Brunswick West
Address: 14A Jolley St, Brunswick West, 3055
Email: info@morelandtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Friday 9:30am -11:30am, Saturday 9:30am - 12pm
Merri-bek Toy Library - Pascoe Vale
Address: Neighborhood House, 7 Prospect St, Pascoe Vale, 3044
Email: info@morelandtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Monday 10am - 12pm, Saturday 9.30am - 12pm
Elwood Toy Library
Address: Rear of Elwood/ St Kilda Neighbourhood Learning Centre 87 Tennyson St, Elwood 3184
Email: eltoylib@gmail.com
Opening times: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9.30am - 11.30am
Hobsons Bay Toy Library - Newport
Address: 51 Maddox Rd, Newport, 3015
Email: hobsonsbaytoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Thursday 9am - 1pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm
Moonee Valley Toy Library - Essendon
Address: 129 Lincoln Rd, Essendon, 3040
Email: info@mvtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Moonee Valley Toy Library - Avondale
Address: 54 Lake St, Avondale Heights, 3034
Email: info@mvtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Friday and Saturday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Canterbury Toy Library
Address: 2 Kendall St, Canterbury, 3126
Email: admin@canterburytoylibrary.com.au
Opening times: Tuesday 9.30am - 12.15pm, Wednesday 12.30pm - 3.15pm, Friday 9.30am - 12.15pm, Saturday 9.30am - 1.15pm
Pied Piper Toy Library
Address: 6 Lexia St, Ashburton, 3147
Email: admin@pptl.org.au
Opening times: Friday and Saturday 9.30am to 12pm
Carnegie Toy Library
Address: 12 Munro Ave, Carnegie, 3163
Email: hello@carnegietoylibrary.com
Opening times: Wednesday 7pm - 9pm, Friday - 10am - 12pm, Saturday 10am - 12.30pm
Bayside Toy Library
Address: 212 Dendy St, Brighton East, 3187
Email: info@baysidetoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Wednesday 7pm - 9pm, Thursday 11.30am - 2.30pm, Friday and Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm
Banyule Toy library
Address: 19 Interlaken Pde, Rosanna, 3084
Email: banyuletoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Monday 9.45am - 11am & 7.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 3pm - 5pm
Manningham Toy Library
Address: 109 Swanston St, Templestowe Lower, 3107
Email: manninghamtl@gmail.com
Opening time: Tuesday 10am - 11.30am, Thursday 7pm - 8.30pm, Friday 10am - 11.30am, Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm
Box Hill Area Toy Library
Address: Box Hill South Family Centre, 1228A Riversdale Rd, Box Hill South, 3128
Email: president@boxhillareatoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Monday 7.30pm - 8.30pm, Saturday 9.30am - 10.30am
Monash Area Toy Libraries - Jordanville
Address: 36 Burton St, Chadstone, 3148
Email: info@monashtoylibraries.com.au
Opening times: Saturday 9.30am - 11am
Monash Area Toy Libraries - Oakleigh
Address: Germain St and Huntingdale Rd, Huntingdale, 3166
Email: info@monashtoylibraries.com.au
Opening times: Saturday 9.30am - 11am
Monash Area Toy Libraries - Glen Waverley
Address: 6 Herriotts Blvd, Glen Waverley, 3150
Email: info@monashtoylibraries.com.au
Opening times: Friday 10am - 11.30am
Monash Area Toy Libraries - Mulgrave
Address: Gladeswood Reserve, Maygrove Way Entrance, Mulgrave, 3170
Email: info@monashtoylibraries.com.au
Opening times: Sunday 10am - 11.30am
St Dominic's Toy Well Toy Library
Address: Community Learning Centre, 408 Camp Rd, Broadmeadows, 3047
Email: hume@toywell.org.au
Contact for opening times
Broadmeadows Toy Library
Address: 24a Dimboola Rd, Broadmeadows, 3047
Email: broadmeadowstoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Tuesday 10am - 1pm, Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm
Moorabbin Area Toy Library
Address: Moorleigh Community Village Complex, 90-92 Bignell Rd, Bentleigh East, 3165
Email: moortoylib@gmail.com
Opening times: Wednesday 7pm - 9pm, Friday 10am - 11.30am, Saturday 10am-1pm
Campbellfield Heights Toy Well
Address: Laurel Cres, Campbellfield, 3061
Email: hume@toywell.org.au
Dallas Toy Well
Address: Dallas Community Hub, Dallas Brooks Primary School, 26-36 King St, Dallas, 3047
Email: hume@toywell.org.au
Lalor Learning and Toy Library
Address: 2A May Rd, Lalor, 3075
Email: lalyprl@yprl.vic.gov.au
Opening times: Sunday 1pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am - 8.30pm, Friday 9am - 5pm
Nunawading Toy Library
Address: 19 Norma Rd, Forest Hill, 3131
Email: info@nunawadingtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Monday 10am - 12pm, Wednesday 6pm - 8pm, Thursday 9.30am - 11am, Saturday 10am - 12pm
Diamond Valley Toy Library
Address: 34 Civic Dr, Greensborough, 3088
Email: hello@diamondvalleytoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: First Tuesday night of every month 7.30pm - 8pm, Friday and Saturday 10.30am - 11.45am
Eltham Toy Library
Address: Multipurpose Room, Eltham Library Complex, Panther Pl, Eltham, 3095
Email: enquiries@elthamtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Tuesday 10am - 11.30am, Thursday 7pm - 8pm, Sunday 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Truganina South Toy Well
Address: Truganina South P.S Community Hub, Gate 2, 3-19 Parkvista Dr, Truganina, 3029
Email: wyndham@toywell.org.au
Opening times: 9am - 11am
Springvale Service for Children Toy Library
Address: 23-28 Lightwood Rd, Springvale, 3171
Email: enquiries@springvalesc.com
Opening times: Monday - Friday 10am - 1pm, Saturday 10.30am-12.30pm
Warrandyte Toy Library
Address: Warrandyte Community Hall, 2-8 Taroona Ave, Warrandyte, 3113
Email: enquiries@warrandytetoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Saturday 10am - 11:30am
Point Cook College Toy Well
Address: 18-50 Ponsford Dr, Point Cook, 3030
Email: wyndham@toywell.org.au
Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library - Point Cook
Address: Point Cook Community Centre, 1-21 Cheetham Street Point Cook, 3030
Email: admin@littlebuddiestoylibrary.com.au
Opening times: Tuesday and Friday 10am - 1pm, Saturday 9am - 2pm
Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library - Manor Lakes
Address: Birnbial Community Centre, 84 Holyoake Pde, Manor Lakes, 3024
Email: admin@littlebuddiestoylibrary.com.au
Opening times: Wednesday 10am - 12pm, Saturday 10am - 1pm
Wyndham Little Buddies Toy Library - Werribee
Address: Wyndham Park Community Centre, 57 Kookaburra Ave, Werribbee, 3030
Email: admin@littlebuddiestoylibrary.com.au
Opening times: Monday and Friday 9am - 12pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm
Kingston Toy Library
Address: 2B Lewis St, Mordialloc, 3195
Email: info@kingstontoylibrary.com.au
Opening times: Monday 2pm - 4.30pm, Friday 9.30am - 11.30am, Saturday 9.30am - 1pm
Maroondah Toy Library
Address: Parkwood Community Hub, 35-39 Tortice Dr, Ringwood North, 3134
Email: president@maroondahtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9.30am - 1.30pm, Saturday 9.30am - 5pm
Knox Toy Library
Address: 11-13 Gerda St, Scoresby, 3179
Email: info@knoxtoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am - 12pm
Davis Creek Toy Well
Address: 65 Wooten Rd, Tarneit, 3029
Email: wyndham@toywell.org.au
Dandenong Toy Well
Address: Dandenong Primary School Community Hub, 174-182 Foster St Dandenong, 3175
Email: dandenong@toywell.org.au
Doveton Toy Well
Address: 62 Tristania St, Doveton, 3177
Email: dandenong@toywell.org.au
Yarra Ranges Community Toy Libraries - Mt Evelyn
Address: 44 Birmingham Rd, Mount Evelyn, 3796
Email: president@mtevelyntoylibrary.org.au
Opening hours: Monday (fortnightly) 9.30am - 11am, Thursday (fortnightly) 7pm - 8pm, Saturday 9.30am - 11am
Upwey Toy Library
Address: 1443 Burwood Hwy, Upwey, 3158
Email: upweytoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening hours: Saturday 9am - 11am
Sunbury Toy Library
Address: 35 Dobell Ave, Sunbury, 3429
Email: committee@sunburytoylibrary.com.au
Opening times: Thursday 9.30am -10.30am, Sunday 10am - 11am
Mountain Top Toy Library
Address: The Olinda Hall, Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda, 3788
Email: mttl@iinet.net.au
Opening times: Saturday 9am - 10am
Belgrave South Toy Library
Address: 102 Colby Dr, Belgrave Heights, 3160
Email: info.belgravesouthtoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Tuesday 1pm - 2pm, Thursday 9am - 10am, Sunday 3pm - 4.30pm
Frankston Toy Library
Address: 20 Ebdale St, Frankston, 3199
Email: info@frankstontoylibrary.org.au
Opening times: Monday 10am - 2pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am - 4pm
Berwick Toy Library
Address: Timbarra Community Centre, Timbarra Way, Berwick, 3806
Email: berwicktoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Saturday 8.15am - 10.30am
Drysdale Toy Library
Address: Wadwurrung Country, 17-21 Hight St, Drysdale, 3222
Email: office@springdale.org.au
Opening times: Tuesday 4pm - 5pm, Saturday (fortnightly) 9.30am - 10.30am
Portalington Toy Library
Address: Portalington Pre School, 51-55 Newcombe St, Portarlington, 3223
Email: office@springdale.org.au
Opening times: Tuesday and Thursday 9am - 11am
Puffing Billy Toy Library
Address: Hills Hub Emerald, 402 Belgrave-Gembrook Rd, Emerald, 3782
Email: puffingbillytoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Monday 9.30am - 11am, Sunday 2pm - 3.30pm
Cranbourne and District Toy Library
Address: 65 Cranbourne-Berwick Rd, Cranbourne East, 3977
Email: cranbournetoylibrary@hotmail.com
Opening times: Currently closed
Upper Beaconsfield Toy Library
Address: Community Room, Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre, 10-12 Salisbury Rd, Upper Beaconsfield, 3808
Email: upperbeac.toylibrary@yahoo.com.au
Opening times: Monday 11am-1pm
Mornington Toy Library
Address: 8 Albert St, Mornington, 3931
Email: mtoylib@gmail.com
Opening times: Wednesday and Saturday 9.30am - 12.30pm
Riddells Creek Toy Library
Address: 23-25 Mahoneys Rd, Riddells Creek, 3431
Email: riddellscreektoylibrary@gmail.com
Opening times: Saturday 10am - 11am
In a world where "fun" and "eco-friendly" often seem like distant cousins, toy libraries emerge as the ultimate duo, offering boundless entertainment while championing sustainability. Remember, in the grand saga of play and planet-saving, these libraries aren't just about borrowing toys, they're facilitating imagination, warriors of eco-consciousness, and the magic of sharing. So, let's keep the laughter going, the toys rotating, and the planet grateful, one borrowed toy at a time. Not found what you're looking for at the local toy library? Check out our new toy swapping app to find second hand gems in your area!
Monique Tait
Mothering . Wife . Founder . Chicken Wing Aficionado .
When she's not scouring the city for the best fried chicken joint, she's busy being a parenting superhero, starting with her new toy swapping app called Sassybae. Because let's be real, what better way to show your love for your kids than by swapping out their old toys for new ones? Monique is on a mission to make parenting easier, one wing and one toy at a time.