Adelaide Central Market facts for kids
The Adelaide Central Market is one of the biggest indoor fresh food markets in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a place where 1 million kilograms of fresh food arrives and is sold every month! You can find a huge variety of fresh foods here. This includes fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood. There are also cheeses, baked goods, and healthy foods. Some of Adelaide's most popular cafes and eateries are also located here.
More than 9.5 million people visit the market each year. This makes it a top spot for different cultures and fresh produce. In 2019, the Adelaide Central Market celebrated 150 years of being open. This makes it the oldest food market in Australia still in its original spot. It's also a popular place for tourists in the heart of Adelaide. Many people just call it the Central Market.
Contents
History of the Market
How the Market Started
The market first opened in Grote Street in 1869. It was known as the City Markets back then. The official opening was on January 23, 1870. The Mayor, Judah Moss Solomon, opened it. Land was bought for the market in 1869. It cost £2600 for three town acres.
At that time, the main market was the East End Markets. This market was located between Rundle Street and North Terrace. The East End Market was just as big as the Central Market until 1988.
Because the East End Markets were so busy, some traders moved. They came to the Central Market. The first market building was made of wood and iron sheets. It was finished in June 1869. When it first opened, it was open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. About 50 to 100 produce carts would come. Shops were built around the market's edges. They faced the streets. In the early 1880s, fish was hard to find in Adelaide. It had to be brought by train from Port Augusta and Port Pirie.
Today, the Central Market is surrounded by other areas. These include the Central Market Arcade, Adelaide China Town, and Market Plaza. The main part of the Central Market has fresh produce stalls. The shops around the edges and in the arcade are mostly cafes, restaurants, and variety stores.
Market Growth and Changes
On February 8, 1900, a special stone was laid. Mayoress Rosa Ware laid it with Mayor Arthur Ware. More shops were added. A refrigeration system was put in for fruit and fish. In 1902, electricity was added. It replaced the old gas lighting.
More arcade shops were added in 1915 on the eastern side. Fun games were also available. These included darts, shooting galleries, and ball bowling. Other businesses also attracted visitors. These were the Hampshire Hotel in 1911 and Moore's Department stores in 1914. Her Majesty's Theatre also brought in customers. The Market started opening for trading on Tuesdays in April 1920.
In December 1922, the fish area of the Market was taken down. More arcades with 32 shops were added. On December 27, 1925, a fire partly damaged the North Eastern part of the Market. In 1929, butchers' licenses were not renewed. This was due to concerns about cleanliness.
Major changes to the Market started on January 18, 1965. The east end of the market in Grote Street was taken down. A car park was added. The new market opened on June 17, 1966. Lord Mayor James Campbell Irwin opened it. Before August 1965, it was called the "City Market". After that, it became the "Central Market". It officially opened with this new name on August 16, 1965.
New Shops and a Fire
Coles Supermarkets joined the Central Market area in June 1967. More undercover car parking was built. A new shopping complex was also added. On June 22, 1977, a fire badly damaged the market's southern stall area. A lot of work was done to fix the damage. At this time, new shopping centers were opening in the suburbs. This created more competition.
More repairs were finished in 1987. Lord Mayor James Jarvis opened the restored market on April 14, 1987.
Today, the Market has 76 stalls. It covers about 8,000 square meters. There are also about 1000 car park spaces above the Market area.
The Central Market Area
The Central Market area includes the main market building. It is made up of five different parts. Each part is managed separately.
Adelaide Central Market
The Market itself has over 76 stalls. They are all in one large indoor area. The Market is owned by the City of Adelaide. It is managed by the Adelaide Central Market Authority. This group also manages the car park above the entire area.
Central Market Arcade
This arcade was first called Victoria Square Arcade. It is located just east of the Central Market. The current arcade was built after the market was redeveloped. Premier David Tonkin opened it on November 3, 1982. It has over 60 special shops. The City of Adelaide took over ownership of the arcade in September 2018. They plan to completely rebuild it. It will become a new arcade with a mixed-use tower on top.
The Market Plaza
This area is on the western side of the Central Market. It connects the market with Chinatown. The Market Plaza has many specialty shops, cafes, and a food court. Lord Mayor James Jarvis opened The Market Plaza on December 3, 1985. The Market Plaza is owned and managed by a different company.
Gouger Street
This is a main street in Adelaide's city center. It is famous for its many restaurants. You can find food from many different cultures here.
Chinatown
Images for kids
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Foundation stone for the Adelaide Central Market Buildings, laid on February 8, 1900.
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Plaque marking the opening of the redeveloped Adelaide Central Market Buildings on June 17, 1966.
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Plaque marking the opening of the Victoria Square Arcade (now Central Market Arcade) on November 3, 1982.
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Plaque marking the opening of The Market Plaza on December 3, 1985.
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Plaque marking the restoration of the Adelaide Central Market Buildings on April 14, 1987.
See also
In Spanish: Mercado central de Adelaida para niños
