Dandenong Market

Dandenong Market is a major-regional market located in the heart of Dandenong, Victoria in the South East of Melbourne, at the corner of Clow and Cleeland Streets. Dandenong Market is one of Melbourne's oldest markets, established in 1866, and is one of Australia's largest, with over 200 market traders [1] spread over 8000 square metres [2] and attracting over 5 million visitors a year. It is approximately 30 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD.[3]

Dandenong's market has long served as an important focus for the area. The market, originally located at Lonsdale and McCrae Streets, was relocated to its current location in 1926. As a part of state redevelopment efforts in the City of Greater Dandenong, the market received a $26 million refurbishment completed in 2011.[4][5][6]

Dandenong Market is primarily known as a home to 150 nationalities, and its traditional market atmosphere.[7] The market is home to both stalls and shops selling fresh fruit and veg, seafood and meat, deli items, bakeries, and florists. The market also has a large general merchandise area, "The Bazaar" featuring 120 traders selling clothing, jewellery, toys, homewares and computer equipment.

Dandenong Market is also known for popular events and festivals, including Dandenong World Fare[8] which attracts over 35,000 visitors, the Full Moon festival[9] and Diwali.[10]

History

It was in the late 1840s that the first permanent dwelling was established in future township of Dandenong. The town on the Dandenong Creek grew rapidly and, in 1863, citizens from the recently established Dandenong Improvement petitioned the government for approval to establish a public market in their growing town.[11]

The first market day was Tuesday, 10 October 1866. An early advertisement stated that for sale would be: "A choice lot of dairy cows, with calves; heifers springing, 50 head store cattle, a quantity of useful horses, fat and store pigs, well-bread rams, poultry, potatoes, and other produce; drays, spring-cart and farming implements, &c." It also noted "Lunch will be provided." [12]

At first held fortnightly, the market was soon a weekly event. By 1870, the market had up to 300 vendors and buyers in attendance. Auctioneers sold livestock, fruit, dairy products, skins, lard, honey, hay and other farm produce. Farmers from throughout the La Trobe Valley and Gippsland travelled to Dandenong to buy and sell. One Gippsland farmer later recalled the difficulties of travelling by road. 'After some years, we commenced carting our butter, eggs and bacon to the Dandenong market. The roads were still very bad; the journey always took three strenuous days.' [13]

References
  1. "A Guide to Dandenong | What to do | Greater Melbourne". Broadsheet.com.au. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  2. "Dandenong Market, Attraction, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia". Visitmelbourne.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  3. "Dandenong Market, Attraction, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia". Visitvictoria.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  4. Townsend, Melissa (8 April 2014). "In defence of Dandenong: Surprising facts you may not know about Melbourne's most diverse suburb". Herald Sun/Leader Community Newspapers. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  5. " Five of a kind ... Dandenong market: This shopping hub has undergone many changes since 1866, with the latest being a $26 million redevelopment." The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 November 2011.
  6. "Redeveloped Dandenong market springs into action", Minuteman Press, 3 October 2012.
  7. "Dandenong Market - City of Greater Dandenong". Greaterdandenong.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Moon Festival shines on Melbourne". The Weekly Review. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. "Dandenong Market celebrates Diwali". The Indian Down Under. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  11. A Concise History of Dandenong Markets by Jenny Ferguson
  12. The Argus Thursday 4 October 1866, via the National Library of Australia
  13. "The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Neil Gunson
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.