Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Markets
Scouring markets for the cheap, the cheerful and the
chic has become a popular weekend pastime in Sydney.
Weekly or monthly markets that suit both the bargain-
hunter and the serious shopper have sprung up all over
the suburbs. Caps, souvenir t-shirts, leather jackets,
high-class art - there is something to suit every taste.
Even more popular are the Sydney Fish Market and the
produce markets, which team with people from early in
the morning and have turned shopping into a big event.
PADDY'S MARKETS
(See p99.)
In the 19th century, Paddy's in the
Haymarket was the city's fringe
market and also the location of
fairgrounds and circuses. Today, it
has between 500 and 1,000 stalls
under one roof. Early birds will
get the best flowers, fruit, vegeta-
bles and seafood. There are also
good buys in caneware, luggage,
leather goods, tools, homewares,
ornaments, souvenirs and toys.
THE ROCKS MARKET
BALMAIN MARKET
GLEBE MARKET
Glebe Public School, Glebe Point
Road, Glebe.
Map
3 B5
.
Cnr Darling St and Curtis Rd,
Balmain.
@
431, 433.
442, 434.
Open
8:30am-4pm Sat.
Held in the grounds of St Andrews
Congregational Church in the
shade of a fig tree said to be more
than 150 years old, this compact
market attracts both locals and
tourists. Fees from stallholders
contribute to the ongoing restora-
tion of the church, which was
built in 1853. As well as stalls
selling children's wear, second-
hand books, contemporary and
antique jewellery, arty mirrors,
recycled stationery, stained-glass
mobiles and Chinese healing balls,
there is a food hall where you can
find fresh and aromatic Japanese,
Thai, Indian and specialist
vegetarian dishes in the making.
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Open
10am-4pm Sat.
A treasure-trove for the junk shop
enthusiast and canny scavenger,
this market is bright, changeable
and popular with the inner-city
grunge set. Best buys are bric-à-
brac and crafts made from recycled
wood, metal and glass. Get there
early for bargain porcelain and, if
you are lucky, the odd undervalued
lithograph. A few fashion students
also sell their creations. You will
also find handmade bags, hats and
jewellery. Second-hand clothes are
a good buy here, as are leather
wallets, silver rings and pendants,
books, CDs and records.
THE GOOD LIVING
GROWERS' MARKET
George St, The Rocks.
Map
1 B2.
@
431, 432, 433, 434.
Open
10am-5pm Sat & Sun.
At weekends, rain or shine, a sail-
like canopy is erected at the top
end of George Street, transforming
the area into an atmospheric
marketplace. Get there early to
beat the afternoon crowds. There
are about 140 stalls, whose wares
are unique rather than inexpensive.
Quality is a priority here. Look out
for wind chimes, pewter picture
frames, pub poster prints, oils,
leather goods, wooden toys, gold-
plated bush leaves, and jewellery
made from wood, shell, silver or
crystal. Every Friday in November
the Rocks Market hosts “Markets
by Moonlight”, a combination of
night markets, live music and
outdoor bars and food stalls.
BONDI BEACH MARKET
Pyrmont Bay Park, opposite Star City
Casino.
Map
3 C1
.
@
light rail from
Central.
Open
7-11am first Saturday
of every month.
Get in early; by 8am long lines
snake back from each of the stalls
selling coffee, bread and pastries.
This is the place to find native
Australian bushfoods, such as
lemon myrtle linguini, dried bush
tomatoes, nutty wattleseed and
pepperberries. There is everything
you will need to cook a gourmet
feast, including poultry, beef, pork
and venison from around NSW;
lesser-found vegetables such as
wild mushrooms, cavolo nero and
golden beetroot; and delicacies
such as honey, cheese and fudge.
Fresh flowers are available too.
PADDINGTON MARKETS
(See p126.)
From nouveau to novelties, there
is always something tempting
here, and it is unlikely you will
come away empty-handed. Silver
jewellery is abundant, so prices are
very competitive; there are also
children's clothes, leather goods,
unusual buckles, belts and acces-
sories, stationery, candles, and
oddities such as babies' baseball
caps and rubbery novelty masks.
Bondi Beach Public School, Campbell
Parade, North Bondi.
SYDNEY FISH MARKET
(See p131.)
Sydney is famous for its fresh sea-
food and the Sydney Fish Market
is the ideal place to buy it. The
displays of seafood are arresting,
with coral reds, marble pinks, greys,
blacks and iridescent yellows to
take your mind off the sloshy floors
and the smell of the sea. The mar-
ket also has a sushi bar, fish cafés,
a bakery, a gourmet deli, a poultry
and game specialist, a bottle shop,
and a vegetable shop. The Sydney
Seafood School operates above
the market, offering lessons in
preparing and serving seafood.
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
MARKET
Western Boardwalk, Sydney Opera
House.
Map
1 C2
.
333, 380.
Open
10am-5pm Sun in
summer; 4pm in winter.
Many Sydney fashion labels start
off here, as did current darlings
Sass & Bide
(see p204)
. There
are also lots of second-hand
clothing buys; funky 1970s gear
is particularly popular. Arrive early
as some of the stalls are all set up
by 9am. The best bargain clothes
are near the back of the market.
Expect to see the odd actor or
rock star among the browsers.
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THE ENTERTAINMENT
QUARTER
Lang Rd, Moore Park.
Map
5 C5
.
@
Oxford St or Anzac Pde routes.
Open
10am-3:30pm Wed, Sat,
10am-4pm Sun. (See p126.)
There is plenty of fresh produce
and gourmet delicacies to sample
at the Farmers Produce Market
every Wednesday and Saturday,
located next to the working Fox
Studios, where films such as
Mission Impossible 2
and the
Star
Wars
prequels were shot. There is
a Merchandise Market on Sunday.
438.
Open
9am-5pm Sun & public hols.
Under calico market umbrellas,
you will find arts and crafts in
a spectacular setting. Some call
this a distillation of the best, and
certainly you will not find T-shirts
and cheap souvenirs, but rather
goods that have been either hand-
made or hand-finished.
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