The dilemma of what to do with unwanted Christmas gifts – valued at more than $750 million last year – has been solved with the launch of an Australian first Christmas Gift Amnesty to help people donate unwanted gifts to those in need.
Rather than risking the embarrassment of “regifting”, the guilt of selling goods or the frustration of storing them in valuable cupboard space, people can donate their gifts to the St Vincent de Paul Society by dropping them off at Harbour Town Perth from Monday 26 December.
“Three quarters of a billion dollars in unwanted Christmas gifts were exchanged last year and while many people would have loved to have put them to good use, many would have been unsure how to go about it,” said Lucinda Ardagh from the St Vincent de Paul society.
“The Harbour Town Christmas Gift Amnesty is a win for everyone, solving a festive season dilemma and helping people in our communities who need assistance the most.”
The Amnesty will run until Sunday 22 January with goods collected by St Vincent de Paul either given to people directly or sold through their stores to raise funds for valuable programs in area such as Homelessness, Mental Health and Youth.  All appropriate items, excluding electrical items and used goods, will be accepted.
St Vincent de Paul Society volunteers will help approximately 520,000 people this Christmas and the Society will spend $17.3 million helping people those in need over the festive season.
The St Vincent de Paul Society helps many thousands of people through Home Visits, Migrant and Refugee Assistance, Vinnies Centres, Accommodation for the Homeless, Overseas Partnership Development, School and Youth Programs, Soup Vans, Social Justice Advocacy and Mental Health Programs.
Harbour Town National Marketing and Tourism Manager Angela Gore said Harbour Town was delighted to help the St Vincent de Paul Society carry out its important work.
“It might be another pair of socks that will end up in the back of your drawer, a homeware item that isn’t your style, a toy that isn’t age appropriate or a T-shirt that doesn’t quite fit. Whatever the unwanted gift*, by bringing it into Harbour Town you can get it off your hands and into the hands of someone in need,” Ms Gore said.
Unwanted Christmas gifts can be dropped off at the designated Christmas Gift Amnesty collection area located inside Harbour Town Perth’s customer service lounge from Monday 26 December until Sunday 22 January.

For those looking to donate second-hand items, the nearest Vinnies drop off point can be found at www.vinnies.org.au. 

A growing precinct on Level One in Harbour Town West Perth is set to excite many shoppers looking for designer labels at high-street prices.
The precinct features high-end and specialty labels spanning from ladies fashion and accessories to specialty sports brands and casual day wear.
With a new escalator leading directly to the new shopping precinct expected to be operating in time for the new year sales, customers need only head in one direction for designer trend pieces at outlet prices.
The precinct is expected to be open for business in time for Christmas and the holiday sale period, making Harbour Town the perfect place to get more designer bang for your buck.
Stores set to be trading by Christmas include:
Queenspark – trading now!
Wittner – trading now!
Rip Curl
French Connection – trading now!
Seed – trading now!
Nine West – trading now!
Charlie Brown – trading now!
Mimco - trading now!
Unit – trading now!
Oroton (trading as Aspect Factory) – trading now!
Cotton On Super Store – trading now!
The new stores join more than 100 stores at Harbour Town offering exceptional value just minutes from the Perth CBD.

International shoe and accessory leader Nine West has opened its first WA outlet store at Harbour Town in West Perth.
Celebrating more than 30 years in business, Nine West is a world renowned fashion leader. Today, Nine West offers a quick edit of the runways each season – pinpointing the key trends in footwear and accessories.
Nine West helps smart, sophisticated and elegant women put their best foot forward delivering diverse, sexy, fresh fashion that is on trend, at attainable prices.
Opening during the Spring racing season, Nine West has classy heels, fun strappy wedges and practical flats to pair with every outfit.  The store is located on Level One, joining a growing precinct of high-end, designer labels including French Connection, Seed and Charlie Brown.
With a new escalator leading directly to the new shopping precinct expected to be operating by Boxing Day this year, customers need only head in one direction for designer trend pieces at outlet prices.
Nine West joins more than 100 stores at Harbour Town offering exceptional value just minutes from the Perth CBD.

Harbour Town Perth is pleased to welcome Queenspark ladies fashion to Western Australia.  Queenspark has opened almost 30 stores throughout the eastern states since 2000, and has made its debut in WA by opening in the West Perth outlet shopping complex.
The new store features beautifully designed, high quality garments with exciting seasonal themes for women sizes 8 to 18. Queenspark specialises in offering customers choices to suit their individual styles.
The store is open on Level One, joining a growing precinct of high-end, designer labels including Nine West, Wittner, Seed and French Connection, due to open later this year.
With a new escalator leading directly to the new shopping precinct expected to be operating by Boxing Day this year, customers need only head in one direction for designer trend pieces at outlet prices.
Queenspark joins more than 100 stores at Harbour Town offering exceptional value just minutes from the Perth CBD.