Dandenong Market is a major-regional market located in

Dandenong, Victoria Dandenong ( ) is a southeastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, about from the Melbourne CBD. It is the council seat of the City of Greater Dandenong local government area, with a recorded population of 30,127 at the . Situated m ...

in the South East of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, at the corner of Clow and Cleeland Streets. Dandenong Market is one of Melbourne's oldest markets, established in 1866, and is one of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

's largest, with over 200 market traders spread over 8000 square metres. It reportedly attracts over 5 million visitors a year. It is approximately 30 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. Dandenong Market has served as an important focus for the area. The market, originally located at Lonsdale and McCrae Streets, was relocated to its current location in 1926. As a part of state redevelopment efforts in the

City of Greater Dandenong The City of Greater Dandenong is a local government area in Victoria, Australia in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of just under 130 square kilometres (50 sq mi) and 166,094 residents in 2018. 29% of its land area forms par ...

, the market received a $26 million towards refurbishment that was completed in 2011. Dandenong Market is primarily known as a home to 150 nationalities, and its traditional market atmosphere. The market is home to both stalls and shops selling fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood and meat, deli items, bakeries, and flowers. The market also has a large general merchandise area called "the Bazaar", featuring 120 traders selling clothing, jewellery, toys, home ware and computer equipment. Dandenong Market is also known for popular events and festivals, including Dandenong World Fare (which reportedly attracts over 35,000 visitors), the Full Moon festival, and Diwali.

History

Permanent residents in the area first settled in the late 1840s. The town grew rapidly and, in 1863, citizens from the recently established Dandenong Improvement petitioned the local government for approval to establish a public market. The market was first opened on 10 October 1866. One early advertisement stated that the market would be selling " choice lot of dairy cows, with calves; heifers springing, 50 head store cattle, a quantity of useful horses, fat and store pigs, well-bread rams, poultry, potatoes, and other produce; drays, spring-cart and farming implements, &c." It also noted "Lunch will be provided." Originally held once every two weeks, the market quickly became a weekly event. By 1870, the market had up to 300 vendors and buyers in attendance. Auctioneers sold livestock, fruit, dairy products, skins, lard, honey, hay and other farm produce. Farmers throughout the La Trobe Valley and

Gippsland Gippsland () is a rural region in the southeastern part of Victoria, Australia, mostly comprising the coastal plains south of the Victorian Alps (the southernmost section of the Great Dividing Range). It covers an elongated area of east of th ...

travelled to Dandenong to buy and sell farm goods. One Gippsland farmer later recounted the difficulties of travelling to Dandenong by road, stating, "After some years, we commenced carting our butter, eggs and bacon to the Dandenong market. The roads were still very bad; the journey always took three strenuous days.""The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Neil Gunson

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
Retail markets in Melbourne 1866 establishments in Australia Dandenong, Victoria Market halls Food retailers