There’s no better place to spend a lazy afternoon than at a market, and luckily, Melbourne has plenty of them to offer.
Markets are a great place to find some pre-loved goods, shop for a bargain and get your daily intake of those leafy greens! But they’re also much more than that – they help create a sense of community. So head down to your local market and get out of the house, get some fresh air, and be apart of the community!
St Kilda Market
The Esplanade, St Kilda
St Kilda Arts and Crafts Market was established in 1970 as a place for local artists to showcase and sell their work. Since then, the market has become an iconic destination in Melbourne.
There are more than 130 stalls up and down The Esplanade, all offering a variety of homemade goods and services. All stall holders are the makers of these crafts and are happy to chat about their products and the time, passion and care that goes into making them.
There is a twilight market that runs during the summer until late every night as well. How about heading down to St Kilda for an early dinner and then take a stroll down The Esplanade for a quiet night out.
St Kilda Market promises great stalls, great food, great atmosphere and a killer view.
Fed Square Book Market
Federation Square, CBD
For you book lovers everywhere, Federation Square Book Market on a Saturday afternoon is your new haven.
Perfect for that rainy afternoon, The Atrium will be the home of over 5000 new and pre-loved books for you to browse and buy. This market is indoors, and is the perfect place for those cold, winter afternoons.
Vendors sell their second-hand books from all categories including history, arts and crafts, children’s books and anything else you can think of. Come down and meet some fellow book lovers, and share some recommendations with others.
Entry is free, and the market runs from 11am-5pm each week.
Pro tip: remember to bring some spare bags, some vendors do not carry them.
South Melbourne Market
Coventry St, CBD
The South Melbourne Market has been around since 1867, and is a favourite location for locals and tourists alike. The large, indoor market houses over 133 businesses and is the place to go if you’re after fresh produce, authentic traders and plenty of food, drink and shopping stalls to browse all day long.
In 2015, South Melbourne Market scored 14 awards for some of the ‘Best Market Traders’, such as ‘Best Coffee’ (Padre Coffee), ‘Best Fruit and Vege’ (Georgie’s Harvest) and ‘Best Seafood’ (Aptus Seafood).
Trading hours are from 8am – 4pm. Wednesday through to Sunday.
They regularly host events and festivals, such as The Mussel and Jazz Festival or Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, so check out their socials for any upcoming events.
St Andrews Market
Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Rd, St Andrews
The community of St Andrews holds their weekly market in a beautiful area of bushland just outside of the Yarra Ranges.
The market is not-for-profit, and all funds made will be put back into the local community.
The market has been around for almost 40 years and it’s still as vibrant as ever. The market is filled with quirky fashion, arts and crafts, food and a variety of odds and ends.
St Andrews Market has a passion for fresh, handmade, recycled and creative products. Everyone down here is really friendly and helpful, and love sharing their goods and services with the community.
It’s a great place to relax on a Saturday afternoon. Take a nice drive out of the city (about an hour from the CBD) and enjoy the atmosphere of a community market. There’s a few cafés around the area to grab a coffee, including, A Local Backer, A Boy Named Sue, and St Andrews Pub. Food and drinks are also available at stalls throughout the market.
Queen Vic Market
513 Elizabeth St, CBD
The Queen Vic Market (QVM) is one of Melbourne’s most historical landmarks. Spanning several blocks on Elizabeth St in the CBD, QVM is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
You can find anything here at QVM, from fresh produce, to gourmet foods, fashion, hand-made arts & crafts and anything in between.
The market is open five days a week (closed Mondays and Wednesdays), with Sunday being its headlining day. Head down there anytime from 6am-2pm on Tues and Thurs, and until 5pm on Fridays. Saturday’s trading hours are 6am-3pm, and Sunday’s are 9am-4pm.
Most stalls offer the option to pay by EFTPOS, but it’s always a good idea to bring some cash to the market just in case.
If you want to get the full experience of QVM, they offer guided tours to learn more about the history, culture and heritage of the market.
There are lot of fun activities running at QVM as well, and their events should always be marked on your calendars! They are the host of some of Melbourne’s best events such as Paella festivals and Christmas markets. There’s always something on at QVM.
Make sure to check their socials so you don’t miss out on any cool events.
Camberwell Market
Market Pl, Camberwell
Held every Sunday, The Camberwell Sunday Market is a perfect place to explore, buy and sell your pre-loved goods.
You can find anything here at Camberwell Market, from vintage clothes and knick-knacks, to students selling their old clothes, art, crafts, food and all the odd things in between. As long as its second-hand, you’ll probably find it here. This suburban car park market is a great place to spend a Sunday morning.
Established in 1976, the Camberwell Market has raised almost nine million dollars for the community.
There is a gold coin donation upon entry, which will go towards the Balwyn Rotary for a charitable cause.
As they say, ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’
By Indah Da Silva
