General News
21 October, 2025
Local stamp fair returns
While many regional stamp clubs may be fading over time, this weekend’s stamp fair will prove Maryborough’s is thriving.
Maryborough Stamp Club will be hosting their annual stamp fair again this weekend, offering a rare opportunity for collectors to connect, trade and explore.
Maryborough Stamp Club’s Paul Bussey said the stamp collecting movement, also known as philately, is still active throughout the Central Goldfields.
“Stamp fairs used to be quite common, but even Ballarat is down to two a year. 50 years ago, I had been in stamp fairs, it was so packed, there would be people outside and they couldn’t get in,” he said.
“Those Ballarat and Bendigo clubs lost a lot of members through COVID, and haven’t come back since. We are fortunate in Maryborough, we’ve had a great phase, the club has doubled it’s membership in the past few years.”
He said collecting extends beyond the quantity of stamps, urging preservation of the collection adds to the value and longevity.
“The problem with collecting stamps is people think ‘oh, I’ll just put them in a box, in a garage and they’ll be alright’ But they deteriorate, so they should be put in mounts so they are protected,” Mr Bussey said.
While digital communication has overtaken hand written letters, he said, in some parts of the world, even stamps have evolved.
“In Denmark, they aren’t going to have any more domestic mail deliveries. Iceland has stopped printing stamps, they found it costs more to print them than it would to sell them,” he said.
“But that doesn’t mean stamp collecting has finished. It means people can turn to getting the more difficult issues of stamps that were printed in the past.
“Europe is printing crypto stamps, gold stamps, even in Austria they made a stamp they can print on denim. The number of collectors may have dropped, but they will keep going up and up in value.”
Mr Bussey feels stamp designs are an insight into a country’s economy, government or era in history, with some collectors even choosing various designs and themes.
“Some people collect one issue, for example I have an issue of New Zealand stamps, but some people collect thematics, so it might be aviation or music themed stamps. There are also postal history collectors in Maryborough,” he said.
He said dealers from all over Victoria will be selling this weekend.
“We have a range of dealers that will be there that are local, but some from Melbourne and even as far away as Bairnsdale. In this area, there are no dealers, they are long gone. I know of only three operating in Melbourne, one of them is by appointment only,” Mr Bussey said.
“All of the dealers will be selling. Not only will there be stamps but some coins and collectables as well.”
Those interested in having their collections valued are advised to see Mr Bussey on the day.
The event will be catered.
Maryborough Stamp Fair will take place at the Mill House, 88-90 Burke Street, Maryborough on Saturday, October 25 from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm.