Farmers’ Markets in Melbourne & Victoria

The terms "farmers' market" and "growers' market" have only received widespread use in Australia in the last decade as a result of globalisation, so it is worth remembering that many long-established produce markets often consist of farmers and growers selling their own produce. The listing below are those that label themselves farmers' markets - many other produce markets can be found in our listing of Markets in Victoria. Farmers' markets are opening and closing all the time, and we will mention newly opened farmers' markets in our free email newsletter about great things to do in Melbourne.

At farmers’ markets you will find lots of calico bags and motherhood statements about saving the planet. Unfortunately they don’t always stack up. The grower who has driven half way across the state to sell a few bags of nuts or a few litres of olive oil is not exactly reducing their ecological footprint. Nor are the customers who drive from Melbourne to St Andrews Market in their 4WDs. If such things concern you then get to know the growers or speak to the organisers. The better ones have a code of practice about the nature of goods accepted for sale. If on the other hand you just want to buy some good fresh produce without having to feel too much holier-than-your-parents, then farmers’ markets are always a great places.

It is also worth remembering that the current preoccupation with 'food miles' is a useful consideration when regarding whether a product is environmentally responsible, but forms only part of a complex equation. Is it more environmentally responsible to buy rice from a water-starved Victoria or to ship it in from a place where water is much more plentiful?  Although the concept of 'food miles' is often adopted as a simplistic mantra it can often lead to the opposite result to what the well-intentioned buyer was trying to achieve, Fortunately, the quality media usually takes a more informed approach (read more) and looks past the single dimension. At farmers' markets you can get to discuss how the food is produced and the relative benefits to the environment.

However, don’t overlook your local suburban market. Most of these started out as farmers’ markets a century or more ago which is why they still tend to operate only on certain days of the week. Markets like the Queen Vic, Prahran, Preston, Footscray, Dandenong, South Melbourne and others all have ultra-fresh produce if you shop around. The traders will often have been to the wholesale market in Footscray at 5 o’clock that morning and bought their stock direct from the producer. Some of the produce you will find on suburban market stalls was picked at 2am that morning.

All of this could create problems for supermarkets who usually buy fruit and veg for appearance and shelf life and whose produce has sometimes been in cool store for up to a year. No problem really ’ you just take out television ads showing happy farmers, and call yourself ’the fresh food people.. It works every time.

Some featured farmers markets

• Gasworks Arts Park Farmers Market
• Williamstown Farmers Market
• Southbank Farmers Market (currently in recess)

Comprehensive list of farmers markets in Melbourne & Victoria

Carlton Farmers Market

White Hat can recommend this market as one of the most easily accessible from the city with a wide range of stalls and the nearby shopping and entertainment strip in Lygon Street to suplement a market visit. More details at Carlton Farmers Market.

8am to 1pm, Saturdays
Carlton North Primary School, Cnr Canning and O’Grady Streets, Carlton North

^{___________________    ___________________}

Gasworks Arts Park Farmers Market

A farmers' market selling fresh produce from across the state. More information at Gaswork Arts Park Farmers Market.

8.30am-1pm, 3rd Saturday of month
Gasworks Arts Park, 21 Graham St, Albert Park

^{___________________    ___________________}

Veg Out St Kilda Farmers' Market

Fresh & organic produce at Veg Out Community Garden. White Hat recommends a visit to this market if you are interested to see what can be achieved when a suburban bowling green is converted into a community vegetable garden. We should also mention that although the Veg Out title implies vegetarians only, omnivores are catered for. White Hat can recommend this as one of Melbourne's better farmers' markets, with a good atmosphere and a wide range.

8.30am to 1pm, 1st Sat of month
Peanut Farm Oval , Chaucer Street, St Kilda

^{___________________    ___________________}

Trentham Farmers' Market

Trentham's authentic Farmers Market has a selection of dairy and goats cheeses, fresh honey, eggs and live poultry, preserves, local potatoes and sourdough breads, organic and conventional produce, olive products, plants and fresh flowers, organic and conventional wines and an assortment of natural farm products.

9am to 1pm, 3rd Saturday of month
Trentham Town Square, Trentham

^{___________________    ___________________}

Walcha Farmers' Market

Walcha Farmers' Market features gourmet and organic fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, meat, bread and baked goods, dairy, poultry, condiments, wine, coffee, teas, spices, honey, olive oil, edible by-products, plants and flowers. Full details at Walcha Farmers' Market website at walchafarmersmarket.org.au (please note - that website does not use secure sockets - https - which is why White Hat does not provide a direct link).

8.30am to 12.30pm, 3rd Sunday of month, September to May
McHattan Park, Walcha, NSW

^{___________________    ___________________}

Coburg Farmers’ Market

This farmers market in the grounds of Coburg Primary School and has activities for kids along with a good range of fresh produce straight from the farmers and producers. An animal farm is also present every 3rd Saturday of the month. Since this market is plastic-bag free, please BYO reusable bags and coffee cups. There is no entry fee but a gold coin donation is appreciated.

8am to 1pm, Saturdays
Coburg Primary School, 92 Bell Street, Coburg

^{___________________    ___________________}

Bentleigh Farmers' Market

This market commenced in February 2013 and White Hat is particulary impressed that its monthly attendances are well over the 1300-1400 customer mark. It should be a good be a good omen that the school grounds now stand on what was once a market garden. This market has been accredited by the VFMA.

8am to 12.30pm, 4th Saturday of month
Bentleigh East Primary School, 90 Bignell Road, Bentleigh East

^{___________________    ___________________}

Flemington Farmers' Market

(Previously known as Melbourne Showgrounds Farmers' Market) A weekly farmers market with both outdoor and undercover stalls. There is plenty of lawn space to enjoy the hearty breakfasts available. When White Hat last attended there were specialty wild mushrooms, artisan breads and specialty vegetables.

8.30am to 12noon, Sundays
Ascot Vale Primary School, 1 Tasma Street (entry via Bank St), Ascot Vale

^{___________________    ___________________}

Hurstbridge Market

The Hurstbridge Market, has an emphasis on local fresh food and produce that is grown, reared, caught or made by the person selling the produce. Local producers will be given preference over producers from out of the area and the range of produce on sale will vary from season to season. Products include: free range meats, seasonal vegetables, seasonal fruit, honey, olives and olive oil, baked goods, cheeses, eggs ,seedlings, wine and more. White Hat reminds city dwellers that Hurstbridge is accessible by train. Why not make special trip and enjoy a day in community that has retained its country atmosphere?

8.30am to 1pm, First Sunday of month (exc. Jan)
Hurstbridge Primary School, 961 Heidelberg-Kinglake Rd, Hurstbridge

^{___________________    ___________________}

Slow Food Farmers' Market

A farmers' market in the spirit of the international slow food movement featuring farm fresh & organic seasonal fruit, vegetables, seedlings, flowers, hersbs & juices plus breads, olive oil, eggs, rare breed and free range meat, chooks, fresh & smoked fish, home made condiments, specialist cheeses. This is a plastic bag free market so BYO trolley, basket & bags.

9am to 1pm, 2nd Saturday of month
Barrett Reserve, 55-57 Essex St, West Footscray

^{___________________    ___________________}

CERES Organic Food & Craft Market

CERES Organic Market and Shop recently celebrated their 10th birthday. The market sells fresh organic fruit and veg with an emphais on locally grown produce. The CERES Craft Market sells a mixture of hand crafted objects and second hand bargains in a social and friendly environment." The

Mon to Fri 9am to 4pm, Sat & Sun 9am to 2pm.
CERES Community Environment Park, 8 Lee Street, East Brunswick

^{___________________    ___________________}

Warrnambool Community Garden Market

A weekly local produce and sustainable products market with music, coffee and special pop up stalls over the summer and autumn months. Please leave your dog at the garden gate.

3pm to 7pm, Wednesdays, Late Nov to early May
Warrnambool Community Garde, cnr Grieve St & Grafton Rd, Warrnambool

^{___________________    ___________________}

Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market

A farmers' market featuring seasonal produce. White Hat suggests you make a morning of it and take in the cooking demonstrations and talks which take place every hour.

The market is held on every second Saturday of the month, in Sidney Myer Place from 9 am to 1 pm AND every fourth Thursday of the month  (except December, when it’s the Thursday before Christmas) in the Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo from 3 to 7 pm from September to April and 1 pm – 5 pm from May to August. 

This market has been accredited by the VFMA.

\, Bendigo

^{___________________    ___________________}

Lancefield & District Farmers Market

Community owned - authentic - farmers market. Fresh local produce - veg - fruit - meat - cheese & other provisions for a more sustainable shopping experience. Free face-painting & music from local buskers.Come down with your bags, baskets and trolleys and support local producers.

9am-1pm, 4th Saturday of the month, (3rd Sat in Dec)
Centre Plantation, High Street,, Lancefield

^{___________________    ___________________}

Moorooduc Station Makers Market

This new (2021) makers farmers and foodies market is set at the historic Moorooduc Railway Station near Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula. There is plenty of parking , kids activities and more than 60 stalls.

White Hat recommends that you combine a visit to the market with a historic train ride into Mornington and back and take the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque scenery of the Mount Eliza Regional Park. Full details at Moorooduc Station Makers Market>>

10am to 3pm, 1^st Sunday of month
Moorooduc Railway Station, 460 Moorooduc Highway (private entry off Two Bays Rd), Moorooduc

^{___________________    ___________________}

Defunct Farmers’ Markets

Farmers’ Markets have proved to be highly volatile with many lasting less than a year.

To the best of White Hat's knowledge, the following farmers’ markets no longer operate:

• Ararat Farmers' Market
• Ashwood Farmers Market
• Bayswater Farmers' Market
• The Cardinia Ranges Farmers' Market has been taken over by the Rotary Club of Pakenham and is now called the Rotary Pakenham Farmers' Market
• Caulfield Farmers Market
• Docklands Farmers' Market
• Endeavour Hills Farmers' Market
• Fitzroy Street Farmers Market, St Kilda
• Forest Hill Farmers Market
• Fountain Gate Farmers Market
• Frankston Farmers Market an Frankston City Framrs Market
• Hamlyn Heights Farmers Market
• The Harcourt Farmers' Market has been relocated and rebranded and is now the Castlemaine Farmers' Market (see above)
• Highlands Farmers Market Craigieburn
• Holmesglen TAFE Farmers' Market
• Kangaroo Ground Highland Farmers' Market
• The Knox School Farmers' Market
• The Korumburra Farmers Market has been resumed under community management as the Coal Creek Farmers’ Market
• Lara Farmers Market
• We believe the Lake Boga Farmers' Market has not operated since 2006
• Loch Farmers Market
• Manningham Community Produce Market (aka Manningham Farmers Market & Manningham Community Market)
• McKinnon Farmers Market
• Monty Farmers Market
• Mornington Farmers Market
• North Melbourne Farmers' Market
• Pakenham Farmers' Market
• Pascoe Vale Farmers Market
• Pentridge Market
• Point Cook Farmers Market
• Preston Farmers Market
• Rokeby Street Farmers Market
• Rowville Farmers Market
• Queenscliff Harbour Farmers' Market
• Sanctuary Lakes Farmers' Market never got started
• Sorrento Farmers' Market
• Shepparton Farmers' Market
• The Spotswood Farmers Market held at Spotswood Primary Schhol has closed. However, the Slow Food Farmers' Market has moved from its former location at Abbotsford to the Spotswood RSL providing a fine alternative.
• Substation Farmers Market
• Templestowe Farmers Market
• Thornbury Farmers Market
• Tyabb Farmers Market
• Viewbank College Farmers' Market (did not commence)
• Warrnambool Growers Market on the Green
• Werribee Farmers' Market
• The proposed Werribee Park Mansion Farmers' Market has been replaced by the Werribee Park Market
• Williamstown Producers' Market
• Winchelsea Farmers Market
• The Yarra Glen Station market has moved to Kinglake and is now called the Kinglake Produce & Artisan Market
• Yarra Valley Fresh
• Yarrunga Farmers' Market