Of all the good things to do on a weekend in the Inner West, I think the consistently gooderest would be the Marrickville Markets. They take place every Sunday from 8:30 to 3 at the Addison Road Centre. The markets are a growers market, so don’t come expecting stalls of massage oils or bric-a-brac (although you’ll probably find them anyway). For the pedestrian challenged, parking is available at the venue.
If you live in Sydney you’re hardly short of options when it comes to markets and fairs. In the local area alone we have markets in Glebe, Rozelle, Balmain, Eveleigh, Paddington, the Rocks, Newtown, Chinatown, Haymarket and Pyrmont. Phew. A few years more of this anti-duopolopoly stuff and we’ll be running back to the guilty convenience of Woolies or Coles! I’ve only visited a few of the above markets I listed but there’s just something so.. relaxed about the Marrickville Markets in contrast to so of its more high strung compatriots. For starters the markets take place under the gorgeous dappled canopy of the Addison Road Centre.
Along what I guess you’d call the ‘main strip’ next to Reverse Garbage are a good choice of eats. A few tables and chairs are scattered around to snack at, but its just as pleasant to plonk your behind on a patch of grass nearby. There’s usually a satay tofu burger joint, a mexican roll stand, plus stalls that sell allegedly very yummy dumplings, gozleme (of course), fried spring rolls, rice and curries, breads, coffee, pastries, sugary treats and my favorite, a chai stall. The chai stall is a great place to sit in the sun and chat or people watch for a while (wearing appropriate cover or sunscreen, of course). Be warned, it comes out piping hot so don’t burn your tongue (like I seem to manage to every time).
Hot chai
Being a growers market the goods on offer on Sunday do tend to be edible in nature. There are several green grocers that sell straight-from-the-farm-fresh produce. One vendor drives all the way up from the far south coast every Sunday to sell their produce! There’s lot’s of organic produce on offer too, for pretty reasonable prices. Just look at the signs to see what’s organic and what isn’t. It’s great to be able to shop for whatever is in season – its a pleasant change from the anything you want, anytime reality of the big two. Some specialty stores complement the grocers quite nicely, including a mushroom stall that sells great big tasty portobello mushrooms. Take a few canvas bags along with you as you can do your grocery shop for the week here.
Beetroot – excellent for the urinary tract
A number of miscellaneous stalls fill out the stretch beside the car park, and seem to vary a bit depending on the weekend. You’ll find your usual array of second hand book and CD stalls, craftwork, clothing and jewelry. Of course no account of the Marrickville Markets would be complete without a further look at the two co-operatives that neatly bookend the markets: Reverse Garbage and the Bower Reuse and Repair Centre. It’d be much better all round if you visited their sites for an explanation of what they’re about, but broadly the two co-ops share the common goal of cutting down on waste by encouraging the creative reuse of, for want of a better word, ‘garbage’.
Reverse Garbage is a mystical and cavernous shed full of bizarre bits and pieces, all for sale. One day they might receive 200 disembodied doll heads – great for that macabre mobile you were always planning for the kids room – and the next 50 bird cages or a dozen bags of foam. If you’ve got even the slightest creative bent around the house or have kids you’ll find inspiration aplenty at Reverse Garbage. Follow Reverse Garbage on Twitter here for the inside scoop of when new goodies arrive.
The Bower Centre is a bit more of a serious affair, with a very explicit focus on the environmental and social issues related to our ever increasingly disposable patterns of consumption. You can read their mission goals here. As well as selling repaired furniture, electrical goods, bicycles and much more they hold a range of workshops on-site, and have a great little library. I plan on spending a bit more time at the Bower Centre – heaven knows my little apartment block could do with a communal herb garden.
So there you go, the Marrickville Markets. You should visit, its a great way to ease into Sunday! You can read all about the wonderful Addison Road Centre here. Reading through the broad array of businesses, individuals and cooperatives that call the centre home actually makes me really excited that such a positive collective exists in our backyard. I love the Inner West for a lot of reasons, amongst them the constant reminder that the Big End of business hasn’t won yet. The Centre and markets are a very comfortable 15 – 30 minutes walk from Stanmore.
Stanmore and the City 
Great post!
I had no idea beetroot was good for the urinary tract….
And I love the ‘The Bower’ sign.
You didn’t mention alcohol -surely there are some form of depressants?
Depressants? No siree, no need for those with so much wholesome well-being around! Actually no I don’t believe they do sell alcohol anywhere at the markets, it’s really not that kind of vibe though.
There is a wine stall there quite often, but not every Sunday I don’t think.