After 25 years of supporting low income earners with affordable computers and reducing the amount of eWaste making its way to landfill, Computerbank will close its store at Stawell St in North Melbourne at the end of January 2025.
I’m sure that our founder, the late Kylie Davies, would be pleased as punch to know that there was no longer the need for a service like the one she started back in November 1999. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth. We live in a digital world where some people can not afford to be online. Limiting accessibility to job opportunities, governmental services, education and socialisation. Meanwhile, eWaste continues to be generated at an ever-increasing rate. Unfortunately, however, in the face of rising costs, and falling supply of quality donations, Computerbank is no longer able to continue Ms Davies’ vision and service in its current form.
We thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the Computerbank store over the last 25 years. To all the volunteers and paid staff who have given tens of thousands of hours of their time and skill, thank you. To all of the members of the public and businesses who allowed us to give their old computer hardware a second life, rather than throwing it in the bin, thank you.
In the meantime we will be clearing our stocks of old components and cannot accept any more donations of used desktops or accessories. Good usable laptops can still be accepted and will be processed until the end of January.
After closing our store, we will continue to sell any remaining laptops and computers over the phone. Anything that we are not able to sell by will be broken down into core components and recycled.
Regards,
Justin Bush
Secretary
Computerbank Victoria Incorporated
