Market Updates

If you're looking for places to shop or browse for stuff, other than at shopping streets and shopping malls, try checking out some markets from this list by Only Melbourne.

You're sure to find some pretty unique things from the markets ;)

Asian Food Festival in Melbourne this Month!

We were in the tram today, and we saw a poster about Asian Food Festival going on in Melbourne this month of September 2010! And when we browsed through their events via their website, it was great to see that there will be a "Pasar Malam" at Chinatown. This will surely be an event to visit!

Together with Chinatown Precinct Association, the laneway will be packed with simply deliciously scrumptious food, dumplings, rice, noodles, satays, Asian tea and coffee, cakes and souvenir stalls, launching the Chinatown Market – “Chinatown Pasar Malam”. The whiff from the hawker-style stalls will entice you to stay till the night, where you will see the transformation of the laneway – the “Magical Mirabella Globes” will certainly light up this laneway, bringing with it a true Night Market (Pasar Malam). Come and join in the hawker-style eateries and Asian stores. We have even invited our neighbouring Greek Precinct to showcase their renowned coffees and cakes. East meets West – what a hustle and bustle in this little brightly lighted place – just that perfect little “laneway”, with a whiff of the aroma from the hawker food in the open air – truly an Asian Bazaar!

Let's check out the Melbourne version of Pasar Malam at Heffernan Lane, on Saturday, 18 September 2010, from 12 noon to 12 midnight.



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Sport Brands Factory Outlet @ Smith St

If shopping for well-known global sports brands is your forte, then you should go to the factory outlet at Smith St, before visiting any other DFOs. Smith St is not the typical all-in-one complex of factory outlet. It's a street filled with factory outlet of sporting good such as Nike, Adidas, Timberland, Converse, Kathmandu and few more others. There's not a lot of shops, but we're pretty sure that you're still going to take a bit of times to browse through items on sales even inside one or two shops like Nike and Adidas.

If you're from the city, you can take Tram route 86 from Bourke St towards Bundoora, to stop at Smith St, stop no 16-22.



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St Kilda Beach Night Market

We've finally visited St Kilda Beach Night Market, and this time, we waited until it was dark outside to visit a Melbourne night market... to really get the 'night market' feel as oppose to an 'evening market'. The night market is located at O'Donnell Gardens, just right next to Luna Park. On the way there, you'll definitely get attracted to the lights of Luna Park, and soon after, you'll see some hints of colourful light bulbs behind the palm trees - that's the night market.

You'll find stalls selling different range of food, from Jamaican, to Argentinian BBQ, to Indian food, and we spotted a Turkish Gozleme stall (we'd have to double-check next time if they're Halal, which we reckon they are, but we'll reconfirm back since there was a bit of crowd last night that we just enjoyed our walk at the night market without purchasing anything). And you'll surely find a lot of clothing items, accessories, cute stuff for little kids, art works, bags, reiki massage stall, and really, there's just a mix range of things that's worth checking out.

And one of the festive part of this market is the sounds! If you go, try paying attention to the layers of sounds at this market - percussions, Jamaican music, some earth music, the different languages that from the crowd, and of course, the rattling roller coaster track and the screams.






St Kilda Beach Night Market operates in the summer on Thursday evenings, from 5.00 pm - 10.00 pm. Their final day market will be on Thursday, 25 February 2010.

It's located at O'Donnell Gardens, next to Luna Park.



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Suzuki Night Market @ Queen Victoria Market

If you haven't been to Suzuki Night Market (or miss the overcrowding ambiance of Malaysian pasar malam) then you should plan an evening to visit this night market. We haven't been to this night market yet this year, but these are photos from our visit last year. It was surprising at first to see this much crowd concentrated within one market place. The crowd was the only thing that reminded us of pasar malam. Other than that, the market is still different from pasar malam, from its layout, how the stalls are arranged, how the products are displayed, and one major difference was that they provided tables and chairs for people to eat food that they purchased from the vendors. From last year's experience, you can find Halal food here, but prepare to queue the long lines! Massive crowd, and you won't believe you're in Melbourne (at least we didn't for the first few minutes upon arrival).

You can find a range of things at Suzuki Night Market, from craft, artist's products, food & drinks, general merchandise, music, activities for children and more.

The Suzuki Night Market opens every Wednesday from 25 Nov 2009 until 24 Feb 2010, from 5.30 pm to 10.00 pm at Queen Victoria Market. Entry is FREE.



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Flemington Craft Market

It's always fun to visit open-air markets around Melbourne, as it constantly reminds us a bit of the Malaysian street markets (although they are very different). The Flemington Craft Market is organized based on a rotation schedule with other craft markets, and this one is held at the Flemington Racecourse. Entry is free, but you'd have to pay for parking for AUD3.50. Strolling at the market (and just windowshopping) can still be worthwhile to see products and crafts by Melbournians.

Flemington Craft Market is located at Flemington Racecourse, Epsom Rd, Flemington.




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The House of Emaan

The House of Emaan is a Muslim clothing store at Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Here, you can find a range of Muslim wear for both men and women; such as jubah, long blouses, skirts, scarves and scarf accessories.

The House of Emaan is located on 552 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. 03 9388 0155

Their business hours are on Monday to Saturday, from 10am-5pm; and on Sunday, 12noon-5pm.




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Rose Street Artist Market

Rose Street Artist Market is held every Saturday and Sunday at Fitzroy from 11 am - 5 pm. It's a nice place to go to see crafts and artworks by local artists. Most of the products are a bit pricey but there are cheaper items like hand-drawn badges, cards or magnets priced around AUD3-5 dollars to be purchased as souvenirs from visiting this market.

Rose Street Artist Market is located on 60 Rose St, Fitzroy.

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If you're driving, enter Rose St from Brunswick St. If you're going by tram, catch Tram 96 to East Brunswick from Bourke St, and stop at Johnston St / Nicholson St stop.

Sunday Market @ Camberwell

If you're a bargain hunter, or is a fan of outdoor markets (or if you miss the outdoor-market-feel of Malaysia), then Camberwell Sunday Market must be included in your list. For temporary residents in Melbourne such as ourselves, this market is a good place to look for used and cheap stuff. You'll find used clothing such as jackets, t-shirts, pants, dresses (and can even get a dress as cheap as for 1 dollar). There's a lot of toys for children, used handbags, shoes, and accessories for women, used kitchen utensils, plates, cups, bowls, etc. for the kitchen, and the list is endless.

The market opens as early as 4 or 5 am, and it is during this very early morning that you'll find the 'hot' items (like an iPod that I once saw and missed). Peak hours are usually around 10 am to 11 am, and the Sunday Market closes for business at 12 noon.

Camberwell Sunday Market is located at Station St, Camberwell.

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For those driving, vehicles can be parked under Safeway/Target parking lots.

If you're going by tram, catch Tram 72 from the City heading towards Camberwell at Swanston St.