Salamanca Market facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salamanca Market |
|
|---|---|
Salmanca Market in 2010.
|
|
| Genre | Fresh produce, local art and crafts |
| Date(s) | Every Saturday. |
| Begins | 8.30 AM |
| Ends | 3.00 PM |
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Location(s) | Salamanca Place, Hobart |
| Years active | 53 |
| Inaugurated | 22 January 1972 |
| Participants | 300 stalls |
Salamanca Market is a super popular street market in Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It's one of Tasmania's most visited places and has won many awards for being excellent!
Every Saturday, from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, over 300 stalls fill historic Salamanca Place, right by the Hobart waterfront. You can find amazing things like handmade glass, cool wooden crafts, stylish clothes, unique jewelry, fresh organic food, art, and yummy hot meals. It's a great place to explore and find special treasures.
The City of Hobart owns and runs this awesome market.
Contents
How the Market Began
The idea for a market in Hobart's Salamanca Place came about in 1971. A group called the National Council of Women Tasmania suggested it. The Hobart City Council liked the idea and decided to try it out.
The very first trial market happened in November 1971. It had just 6 stalls, all run by members of the National Council of Women. It was a big success right away! Because it was so popular, the market officially started on January 22, 1972, with about 12 stalls.
Growing Through the Years
At first, Salamanca Market only ran during the warmer months, from about four weeks before Christmas until Easter. But people loved it so much that in 1975, a group called the Tasmanian Puppet Theatre started a Winter Market. Later, the Salamanca Arts Centre helped run it too.
By 1977, the market had grown a lot. Many stallholders came regularly. They even formed a group to work with the Council. This helped regular stallholders get their own fixed spots and pay rent in advance.
In the 1980s, the market became even bigger, with about 150 stalls! It stretched across most of the lower part of Salamanca Place. The stallholders officially formed the Salamanca Stallholders Association in 1987. The market also started staying open longer, until 2 PM.
Expanding and Becoming Famous
The 1990s saw even more growth. By 1992, between 10,000 and 12,000 people visited Salamanca Market every single week! To make space for more stalls, the market was extended further down the street.
In 1993, the market hours were extended again, staying open until 3 PM. More stalls were added in different areas, including some for members of the Hmong Community. By 1996, the market stretched all the way to Davey Street.
There was an idea to try having a Sunday Market in Salamanca Place in 1998, but it didn't work out as well as the Saturday market.
Salamanca Market Today
In 2001, some Sunday Markets were held in a different spot called Mawson Place.
By 2010, Salamanca Market had grown from its original 12 stalls in 1972 to an amazing 300 stalls! It became Tasmania's most visited tourist spot, attracting between 25,000 and 40,000 visitors every Saturday. It's a vibrant and exciting place for both locals and tourists to enjoy.
