Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.qvm.com.au
;
513 Elizabeth St; 6am-2pm Tue & Thu, to 5pm Fri, to 3pm Sat, 9am-4pm Sun; Tourist
Shuttle, 19, 55, 57, 59)
With more than 600 traders, the Vic Market is the largest open-air
market in the southern hemisphere and attracts thousands of shoppers. It's where Melbur-
nians sniff out fresh produce among the booming cries of spruiking fishmongers and fruit-
and-veg vendors. The wonderful deli hall (with art deco features) is lined with everything
from soft cheeses, wines and Polish sausages to Greek dips, truffle oil and kangaroo
biltong.
Saturday mornings are particularly buzzing, with marketgoers having breakfast to the
sounds and shows of buskers. Clothing and knick-knack stalls dominate on Sundays;
they're big on variety, but don't come looking for style. (If you're in the market for sheep-
skin moccasins or cheap T-shirts, you'll be in luck.)
On Wednesday evenings from mid-November to the end of February the
Summer Night
Market
takes over. It's a lively social event featuring hawker-style food stalls, bars and mu-
sic and dance performances. There's also a winter night market each Wednesday evening
in August.
The market has been on this site for more than 130 years; before that, from 1837 to
1854, it was the old Melbourne Cemetery (remarkably, around 9000 bodies remain buried
here, from underneath Shed F to the car park leading to Franklin St). There's a small me-
morial on the corner of Queen and Therry Sts.
A number of tours are run from the market, including heritage, cultural and foodie
tours; check the website for details.
Blender Lane
GALLERY, STREET
(110 Franklin St; 19, 55, 57, 59)
Hidden down an unsigned laneway off Franklin St en route to
the Vic Market, Blender Lane features some of Melbourne's best street art. You'll also
www.darkhorseexperiment.com
;
110 Franklin St; noon-6pm Wed-Sat)
galleries in an old warehouse-
turned-art-studio used by underground artists. They run the highly recommended Mel-
bourne Street Art Tours (
Click here
)
. The Blender Lane Artists Market runs every Wed-
nesday from mid-November to late February, with stalls of artists selling pieces.
