As Kirribilli Markets celebrates 50 years, Aoife Moynihan visits one of Sydney’s longest-running cultural institutions
At 1.30am while most of us are under the doona, Bruce Cort, 71, heads to Milsons Point from Belrose and begins the four-hour process of setting up his coffee stall at the Kirribilli Markets, which he has run for over 20 years. He also sells gelato and cold drinks.
“There’s quite a lot involved, because you’ve got the coffee machines, the gelato machines, and they need to be attached to water and power. If it’s going to rain, you need to put out extra covers,” says Bruce.
There was no power for vendors at the first Kirribilli Market on 21 January 1976, in the back yard of the then newly opened Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, at 16 to 18 Fitzroy Street in Milsons Point. Fifty years later, Sydneysiders and visitors flock to the markets, now at 70 to 72 Alfred Street South and in Burton Street tunnel under Kirribilli Station, to buy recycled and new clothing, jewellery, art and gifts, homewares, and artisan foodie delights from over 200 vendors. The money raised from the markets fund a variety community programs like the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre.
Bruce says the markets are never cancelled ‘unless there’s a hurricane or something like that,’ so the tunnel is an advantage.
“When it rains, it tends to wash people away, including vendors,” Bruce says. “But it can get too hot and my gelato machine won’t cope, and the gelato starts to melt.”
Bruce has a number of coffee regulars and he’s made many friends over the years. He says that even though it’s mostly been known as a clothes market (especially for recycled clothing), there’s a lot more on offer nowadays.
“All the (women) come to sell the clothes they no longer want and buy the clothes that they want,” says Bruce. “But there’s always something else to be had. There’s a lot more food there now than when I first started.”
Kirribilli local Jo Harvey is general manager of the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre and oversees the markets. She began as a volunteer 14 years ago, fresh from New Zealand.
“I was quite isolated,” Jo recalls. “I went to the community centre for connection and I instantly felt like I belonged. It’s a very special and unique place.
“We’re all about helping people feel connected to the community, especially when you don’t have anyone else.” In an era of online shopping, Kirribilli Markets bring the community together with people coming to the markets for that social interaction.
“Everything’s online and people are talking to robots,” says Jo. “To actually talk to someone who’s making a product is becoming quite scarce, which is really sad.”
There are three markets per month – Art, Design & Fashion on two Sundays and a General & Fashion Market on a Saturday – though Jo says the two markets are quite similar, with second hand, new and artisan at each.
The markets promote local small and artisan businesses and once stall holders make it past the wait list and the approval process, they tend to stay as long as they can. Sustainability is also important to the markets and you’ll find recycled and vintage clothing and accessories on the green.
“We want people to upcycle. That’s so important,” says Jo. “So that’s where people can sell second-hand clothing, bric-a-brac and things like that.”
Jo loves the gourmet foods, especially cake. “I love that there are some really young people baking and what they produce is incredible and delicious,” says Jo. “I can’t go past the cake.”
Daniel Henrique worked in a bank when a visit to Kirribilli Markets inspired him. He used to make chocolates with his aunt as a teen back in São Paulo in Brazil and he quit the bank and set up Emporium of Chocolate 14 years ago and he runs the stall (as well as a shop in The Rocks) with help from his partner, Anthony.
“Kirribilli Markets was the place where it all started,” says Daniel, who makes all his chocolates by hand. “I don’t use colouring or artificial flavouring, and I only use fresh fruits like passionfruit, raspberries and oranges.”
The markets offer a personal touch where visitors can taste his chocolates before buying, which is the same with most gourmet food vendors.
Kirribilli Markets have been running since 1976
Mother-daughter artist duo Isabelle Boreham and Melanie Beresford run Australian-made eco-friendly art studio La Source Australia and have been travelling from the Sutherland Shire to sell their art and gifts at Kirribilli Markets since 2012. Melanie says the best thing about the markets is meeting so many interesting people.
“We are blessed to have regular (customers),” Melanie says. “We have locals and travellers from interstate and overseas.”
Like most stallholders, Melanie and Isabelle arrive at the crack of dawn to set up, which takes over two hours. “We are always one of the first to arrive and last to leave,” says Melanie. “And the lovely stallholders have become like family.”
Melanie says there’s a lot more appreciation for artisans and artists now than there used to be, and the market management team is ‘such a great and caring team promoting small artisans.’ They do a few other markets, but Kirribilli is a favourite.
“What we love about Kirribilli is how easy it is to set up and pack up as we can drive straight into the tunnel,” Melanie explains. “It’s next to a train line, free to the public, there’s lots of great art, fashion and gifts available and there’s even live music! What’s not to love?”
Sanaz, 48, has been running her clothing business Sanaz the Label at the markets for about 15 years. She arrived in Sydney from Iran as a five-year-old refugee when her parents got political asylum in 1983. Her father wasn’t permitted to work for some time, and it was a tough time for the family. She says her mother was always very stylish and made her own clothes.
“Back then it was cheaper to make clothes than to buy them,” Sanaz says. “So even though we were poor, we always looked nice.”
Sanaz prides herself on producing quality clothing made to last. She arrives around 4am to set up her stall. It can be physically tough lugging all the racks and clothing around, but it’s a great way to meet customers.
“People can look and feel (the clothes) and generally know what a good product is,” says Sanaz. “The markets are really fantastic in that I get to meet new people and once they know your brand and they’ve bought from you once they’ll buy again online if they can’t get to the market. I have some customers that have been coming for so long that they are now friends,” says Sanaz. “They swing by the market every week to say hello. The market organisers are lovely too, and we’ve all built relationships over the years,” Sanaz says. “I love the community of the markets.”
February market dates
Art, Design & Fashion
Sunday 1 and 8 February
8.30am to 3pm
General & Fashion
Saturday 21 February
8.30 am to 3pm
