By NARELLE COULTER
FIVE million people shop at the Dandenong market each year, ranking it alongside Melbourne’s other premier markets the Queen Victoria, South Melbourne and Prahran.
The market has been part of the Dandenong retail landscape for almost 150 years and is a key reason why people are drawn from all over Melbourne to shop at the fresh produce stalls, abundant meat, poultry and seafood halls, speciality shops, delis and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of market square.
With Market Week 2014 looming it is an exciting time at the bustling market.
General manager Jennifer Hibbs said Market Week, 6-14 September, would be a “wonderful celebration of our Global Community”.
“We have some amazing events inspired by the multicultural tastes, sights, smells and sounds that characterise Dandenong’s beloved market. Our spruiking competition is hotting up to be one of our main events for Market Week with the market’s most boisterous and colourful characters taking centre stage to battle it out.
“The cooking classes offer customers the opportunity to learn how to make dumplings, fresh pasta and fillet fish with our Dandenong Market experts sharing their traditional recipes; and of course we have the fabulous Full Moon Festival. We are really thrilled with the building excitement for Market Week, it’s set to be truly wonderful for Dandenong and the wider community.
“The free tours are a great way for residents to introduce themselves to the market if they haven’t been or haven’t been for a while.”
Ms Hibbs said over the next 12 months, the market would nurture Sunday trading, reinvigorate Market Square, plan an alfresco dining space, re-brand and improve its trader mix.
The market started Sunday trading in October last year to capture new audiences.
Transforming the Market Square, the market’s main eating area and a meeting place for shoppers, is a key project this financial year and will cost about $250,000.
An alfresco dining area and family zone are on the cards for the southern car park, with planning to happen over the next 12 months and construction to start in 2015-’16.
Plans include a collection of cafes serviced by a comfortable and inviting outdoor dining environment where customers can sit and enjoy food and beverages.
There will also be a children’s outdoor play area and parents’ facilities, as well as other complementary retail outlets.
In 2014-’15 the market will pilot evening trading opportunities starting with extended trading hours for the World Fare, which in March attracted 21,000 people.
The Market is open Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
