Sydney Weekend Markets

by newtown graffiti
(Sydney Australia)

Eveleigh produce market, a former railway blacksmiths' shed

It's almost closing time but people are still scooping up the last of the farmers' offerings

Kylie Kwong serves up the last of the food for today

Ophthalmologist or skateboarder, pick a lampshade, or design your own.

Sydney local markets are about getting rid of the middleman: getting produce from the farmer, or crafts from the artisan, direct to the buyer. And encouraging the producer and the consumer to talk to each other directly.

That doesn't happen at the huge Paddy's Markets at Chinatown in the city or out at the wholesale produce market at Flemington.

Even so, Paddy's in the city is a reliable place to go for visitors who want to pick up a big bag of fresh seasonal fruit at a handy price.

Several suburbs have regular Saturday craft markets. Perhaps the two biggest in Sydney are Paddington and Glebe.

Today though, I went to Eveleigh, ten minutes walk up Wilson Street from Redfern railway station. The farmers' market each Saturday morning (until 1 in the afternoon) is a good place to be.

Food stalls are a cut above the usual hot dog/hamburger class. While international travellers may not purchase a pack of grass-fed beef or a jar of Australian bush honey, if you're lucky you'll hit one of the monthly craft markets held here too.

www.visitnsw.com/ has a directory of markets throughout New South Wales.

Get away from the air conditioned hotels and backpacker hostels that look the same in every nation in the world. Get out to the Sydney weekend markets, see Australian farmers and talk to them about their wares.

Maybe, if you know what to look for, you can pick up some of their produce when you're back home.

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Sydney Weekend Markets

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An almost hidden Sydney spot
by: Elle

Whenever I go to the Eveleigh markets, or to CarriageWorks in the same complex, I always think "I'd like to live around here".

It used to be a bit of a hidden spot before the markets arrived, and it still has somewhat the feel of an area that has been left alone for a long time.

Granted that the houses are now being renovated - one after another. Still, they're managing to retain a lot of the traditional terrace house feel of Sydney's inner suburbs.

So far they're keeping that edge that Paddington lost with its gentrification. So I like going there and the local Sydney markets are a perfect reason to do so.

The Eveleigh markets are at
243 Wilson St
Darlington

Nearest train station: Redfern