Dandenong Market

Dandenong Market is a major-regional market located in 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] It reportedly attracts over 5 million visitors a year. It is approximately 30 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.[3]

Dandenong Market has 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 towards refurbishment that was 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 vegetables, seafood and meat, deli items, bakeries, and flowers. The market also has a large general merchandise area called "the Bazaar", featuring 120 traders selling clothing, jewellery, toys, home ware and computer equipment.

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

History

Permanent residents in the area first settled in the late 1840s. The town grew rapidly and, in 1863, citizens from the recently established Dandenong Improvement petitioned the local government for approval to establish a public market.[11]

The market was first opened on 10 October 1866. One early advertisement stated that the market would be selling "[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]

Originally held once every two weeks, the market quickly became 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 throughout the La Trobe Valley and Gippsland travelled to Dandenong to buy and sell farm goods. One Gippsland farmer later recounted the difficulties of travelling to Dandenong by road, stating, "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. Vanderwert, Tessie (11 November 2011). "Five of a kind ... Dandenong market". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  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. "This Epic Food Festival is the Perfect Excuse for a Trip to Dandenong | Melbourne | the Urban List". Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. "Moon Festival shines on Melbourne". The Weekly Review. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. "Dandenong Market celebrates Diwali". The Indian Down Under. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. 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
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