Looking to participate in your first design market?
If you’ve been considering beginner friendly markets for makers, choosing the right one for you can be a daunting experience.
As mentees to the maker community of Australia, we highly recommend getting your market feet wet at a smaller, often single day event before diving head first into the multi-day larger events.
Getting used to the ebb and flow of customers, bump in and bump out, packing up your handmade items for sale or simply getting used to customer service and transactions in a smaller, less intense atmosphere gives you the opportunity to learn before you take the leap into applying for those bigger design markets.
Check out our round-up of what we hear are the more beginner friendly markets for makers from all over the country, from cities to regional areas, below.
Know a market that you’d like to add to the list? Get in touch!
NSW
Sydney Made Market
Our markets feature amazing local designers and makers. Held at the iconic Town Hall in Sydney.
We celebrate all things handmade with local crafters, artisans and designers.
Coal Loader Artisan Market
This sustainable and unique market is held four times a year… and features around 100 makers!
Stalls display and sell art, ceramics, sculpture, basketry, eco products, fashion, jewellery, accessories, wool creations, textiles, food, children’s design and much more.
Held rain or shine, the venue offers a beautiful all-weather marketplace to showcase local creative talent, and it’s a pretty fabulous day each time!
Woodstock Artisan Market
Held in the lush grounds of the heritage-listed Woodstock Community Centre in Burwood, Woodstock Artisans Market has more than 70 stalls showcasing designers and makers of quality handmade homewares, fashion, art, ceramics, jewellery, curios, fresh and gourmet produce and much more.
Olive Tree Market
The Olive Tree Market was launched to provide Newcastle’s contemporary artists and designers with an arena to showcase their work at supportive, vibrant, culturally diverse event.
Our ethos is all about community, and supporting creators of handmade, maker, and ethically created goods.
Kirribilli Markets
The Kirribilli Markets were first held on January 21st 1976 in the back yard of the then newly opened Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre. Today, The Kirribilli Markets is one of Sydney’s oldest and most popular Markets. Featuring over 220 stalls selling, New and recycled fashion and accessories, Emerging local Fashion Designers, Home and Gift wares, Arts and Craft, Jewellery, Plants, Gourmet foods and a whole lot more!
Bondi Markets
With our eclectic mixture of trendsetting new brands and vintage gems, The Bondi Markets perfectly emulate the artsy, laid-back and quintessentially Australian scene of Bondi. This is a place where Sydney crowds flocks to after a morning dip to find the next big thing in clothing, jewellery, homewares and art.
The Markets provide local designers, artists and craftspeople the opportunity to sell their work directly to the public. Our stalls act as a launch pad for budding entrepreneurs and creatives to bring their concepts to life.
Manly Markets
We aim to be the best arts and crafts market in Sydney with our great variety of quality artisan products and friendly stallholders. We are located 100m from world famous Manly Beach and can be reached by ferry, bus, car, motorcycle, scooter, taxi, Uber and foot. 2 hours Free underground Council Parking is available in central Manly. We are surrounded by shops, cafes, restaurants and bars so you can be sure of a great day when you visit Manly Markets 2095.
VICTORIA
Rose St. Artists’ Market
The Rose St. Artists’ Market gives you the opportunity to peruse numerous stall displays, collect, source and commission unique handmade works; and of course meet, greet and speak with artists and designers in person.
Heide Makers Market
Heide Market is a collaboration between two well loved Melbourne institutions – Heide Museum of Modern Art and The Rose St. Artists’ Market.
Set in the picturesque surrounds of the Heide Museum of Modern Art sculpture park, Heide Market is the perfect place to shop for beautifully handmade work whilst chatting directly to the makers.
Once a month you’ll find an eclectic mix of art, design, handcrafted goods and tasty treats all made with skill by our fabulous stallholders – so get inspired and plan your visit to the Heide Market today.
Hawthorn Makers Market
Hawthorn Makers Market which is committed to supporting local, independent artists and designers and curating the best of Australian handcraft in one central marketplace.
Our monthly market is held inside and outside at the beautifully restored, Hawthorn Arts Centre. Each stallholder has a story and each product is made with authenticity and soul. Our market is artisan, unique and showcases the best in handmade happiness.
Ballarat Design Exchange
Australia is bursting at the seams with amazing independent designers, artists and creators. We celebrate small business, handmade, ethical trading and creativeness in an atmosphere that is inclusive and inviting.
Discover creative designers and makers, artisan foods, talented musicians and a cosy, relaxed atmosphere in one of Ballarat’s beautiful heritage buildings, the Mining Exchange.
QUEENSLAND
BrisStyle Handmade Markets
Whether you are an emerging or established local crafter or artisan, BrisStyle Hamdade Markets markets offer the perfect arena to promote your business as well as connect you with like-minded creatives. Held at Southbank’s Whale Mall at the Queensland Museum and featuring over 60 makers per event, this is a fabulous opportunity to connect with your community and learn while you’re at it.
Redcliffe Farmers and Artisan Markets
Set alongside the picturesque Redcliffe Peninsula, just north of Brisbane, the Redcliffe Markets are a hub dedicated to supporting and showcasing the best growers, makers, builders and bakers in Moreton Bay and surrounds – something we’re incredibly passionate about.
A hop, skip and jump away from the beach, Redcliffe Markets boasts ample free parking, waterfront access, free entry and a bustling entertainment schedule. Tie it in with a brekky or gelato from one the local cafes and a quick dip or visit to Moreton Bay Island, and you have one perfect family day out.
Distillery Road Markets
Distillery Road Market brings people together to enjoy, experience and support local through curated market experiences.
A taste of what is to come when the full precinct opens in 2023, DRM markets delight and deliver a cross section of experiences with pop-ups and our fortnightly Bazaar markets. Located in the undercover market hall adjacent the national headquarters of Zarraffa’s Coffee, Kiwanda Café and the onsite restaurants Sugar Creek Smokehouse and Posadas Cantina, our markets are events not be missed and the perfect place for our community to come together and celebrate what our local area has to offer!
Australian Maker Events Calendar
Did you know that Make Good Things Happen provides a FREE Australian Maker Events Calendar?
Bookmark the calendar to have the latest information about upcoming events, market application dates and exhibition opportunities.
Read on for more beginner friendly markets for makers.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The Last of the Creatives
The Last of the Creatives is an event held at the Crafters Institute Hall where local Creatives sell : sample stock, beautiful mistakes, discontinued ranges, one off pieces, studio stock, ex-exhibition works. Discover ceramics, homewares, artwork, fashion, jewellery, candles and other handmade goodness at fantastic prices.
Makers Market Kapunda
Held in the Kapunda Town Square on the third Sunday of each month from October 2022 to March 2023 at 10am to 2pm, the Kapunda MAKERS MARKET will showcase regional artisans, designers and producers. Whether you are coming to browse, to buy, or just to enjoy the atmosphere … we can’t wait to see you there.
TASMANIA
Makers Nest Tasmania
Makers Nest are the leaders of events within the state for the creative community. They have an incredible and loyal following of handmade-loving customers. The standards and visuals are what set them apart. On average Makers Nest exhibit over 180 sites at events.
Salamanca Markets
Salamanca Market is Tasmania’s most visited tourism attraction and runs each Saturday from 8.30 am to 3 pm, rain, hail or shine.
The market extends the full length of Hobart’s historic Salamanca Place, from the silos end to the top of Davey Street. You will find a huge selection of locally made products and you can meet the makers, the artisans, the designers and producers.
With over 300 stallholders, the market includes fresh produce from local growers, hot coffee, delicious breakfast and lunch options, lots of gift ideas and plenty of handmade products.
ACT
Old Bus Depot Markets
From humble beginnings, the Old Bus Depot Markets’ story began way back in 1992. From a simple idea to open a weekly market in the Nation’s Capital, to what the Old Bus Depot Markets is today – we could have never foreseen what the Markets have become. We are a place full of wonderful characters and their products that all come together each Sunday to surprise and delight all who pass through our doors.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Perth Makers Market
Perth Makers Market is an exclusively handmade only market South of the Swan River that makes its home at Heathcote Cultural Precinct in Applecross. All items that you will find at our market have been handcrafted by the stall holders themselves locally in WA.
NT
Malak Marketplace
Malak Marketplace is proud to support the many artists within the community, both young and old, established and emerging by providing them with the opportunity to showcase and sell their work. Regular contributors are joined by more casual stallholders featuring art, crafts, clothing, jewellery, home furnishing, accessories for babies and toddlers and more.
The information in this post is designed to assist Australian emerging designers, artists, crafters and makers to find out more about the beginner friendly markets that play host to the community of artisans. All of these businesses are in operation and accepted makers into their events from an application process at the time of publishing.
NB: Text regarding each market has been extracted from the corresponding event website.
Know a market that you’d like to add to the list? Get in touch!
