South Melbourne Market Celebrates 150 Years
South Melbourne Market is inviting the public to take a trip down memory lane with its 150 Years of The Village Market Exhibition. Part of the year-long celebrations to mark the Market’s 150th anniversary, the exhibition showcases the long and colourful history through the eyes of those who have known it best – the traders, shoppers and local residents. It features memories, stories, photos, films, historical information and artefacts from the Port Phillip City Collection.
Cecil St around 1870 - 1880.
The World Loves Melbourne is a big fan of the South Melbourne Markets, rating it as one of the best in Australia. The quality of the stalls and the excellence of produce is outstanding, as well as the access to memorable eateries.
Tightly woven into the fabric of South Melbourne and its surrounds, the Market officially opened to the public on May 1, 1867 and has been serving the community ever since. It is owned and operated by the City of Port Phillip. “The history of South Melbourne Market wasn’t as well documented as we’d have liked, so we went out to the community to ask them to share their market memories through the My Market Story campaign,” Port Phillip Mayor Bernadene Voss said. “It has helped us to piece together elements of our past and, when combined with our own archival photos and memorabilia, it makes for a wonderful collection.” Cr Voss said the free exhibition, on show in the Market’s SO:ME Space on Market days between Friday May 5 and Wednesday May 31, was “an engaging and inclusive way to show a slice of Market history to everyone that visits.”
Shoppers at South Melbourne Market around 1960 - 1970. The massive packet of Rice Bubbles looks familiar...
Curated by Sophia Andrikopoulos and Sophie McCarthy from the South Melbourne Market events team, with assistance from many City of Port Phillip staff including local historian and librarian Kay Rowan, the Market’s past is brought to life with photos, pictures, props, moving footage, stories and antique items such as a beam balance – a set of imperial standard weights and measures from 1880, used by Council inspectors to check the accuracy of traders’ equipment.
South Melbourne Market today. Vibrant and fabulous.
Iconic Melbourne cartoonist, illustrator, writer and cartoon historian Vane Lindesay has been a regular at South Melbourne Market for many of his 96 years and can still be found browsing the bookshelves at his favourite shop The Merchant of Fairness. Mr Lindesay has kindly loaned the Market some of his cartoons and illustrations for the exhibition. A vintage Maglia of Melbourne swimsuit is displayed with vintage sewing memorabilia and the story told by 86-yearold Paul Millet, whose family ran a stall at the market for 53 years after fleeing Europe during World War II. The stall sold high-quality, Australian-made women’s fashion including knitwear, lingerie, nightgowns and swimwear and women would travel from around the city for a fitting by Mr Millet, who was fondly known as the ‘Maglia Man’.
Check out the market in 1888!
South Melbourne Market is a key and part of the fabric of the local community; but people flock from all over Melbourne to visit the market.
Top notch eateries abound.
Cr Voss opened South Melbourne Market’s 150 Years of The Village Market Exhibition on Thursday May 4 before a gathering of Councillors, the Market committee, employees, traders, suppliers and members of the public who have contributed to the exhibition.
The exhibition is one of many events being held to celebrate the Market’s major milestone, including free guided history tours and large murals celebrating the diversity of people working and visiting the Market over 150 years.
Paul Millet, 86, The Maglia Man.
On Saturday May 6, the streets around the Market came alive for the 150th Birthday Big BBQ Street Party, featuring delicious barbecue and street food from Market restaurants and traders, food trucks and carts, plus free family-friendly entertainment all day including live music, giant games, jumping castle, kids’ fun, BBQ cook-off, roaming performers, a giant birthday cake and lots more. The Market is located on the corner of Coventry and Cecil Streets, South Melbourne. See, Twitter @sthmelbmarket Facebook @southmelbournemarket, Instagram @southmelbournemarket, and www.southmelbournemarket.com.au for details.