The entrance to Sydney's famous Paddington Markets, on Oxford Street.
Paddington Markets Sydney are the oldest not-for-profit suburban market in Australia, starting 38 years ago from humble beginnings.
The markets there are sometimes known as the Paddington Bazaar (or just Paddo Markets to the locals) they are open every Saturday from 10am to 5pm rain or shine, in the grounds of the Paddington Uniting Church, 395 Oxford St, Paddington, where where the market has been since its humble beginnings.
Paddington Markets have 200 busy stalls, and have grown from a small operation where craftspersons would sell the products they had made in the hall during the week to a thriving market where emerging artists, designers and craftspeople proudly still sell their creations.
Many of these Paddington Market stall holders will be creating more product while sitting at their stalls, and that’s an attraction in itself. Certainly, they are always happy to explain how they created their lovely products.
Wood turner, Al Wheatley, with hand-crafted pepper and salt mills at the BigAlwood stall in Paddington Markets.
Over the years, one thing has not changed at Paddington Markets, and that is the high quality. Real Australian-made products are sold here. Some of the stallholders have mainstream shops elsewhere, but most seem to sell only direct to the public at markets, through mail-order or even online.
Many of the items are sold at more affordable prices than those available in shops with their higher overheads.
When this writer visited Paddington Markets on a recent winter’s day in August, the sun was unseasonably warm and the atmosphere was vibrant. It was my first visit to these markets and I was utterly blown away, not knowing what to look at first.
Marionette-maker, Philippe, and his toy and puppet stall at Paddington Markets. He also sells them at The Rocks Markets.
There were stalls of beautiful clothing, stylish hats, ceramics, paintings, knitted goods, handbags, shoes, leathergoods, candles, jewellery, antiques, furniture, stationery, flowers and plants.
There was even a puppet maker called Philippe who makes the most wonderful marionettes to delight children and even adults.
Another interesting stall featured magic tricks with demonstrations from a real showman called Scott. His wallet that ”catches on fire” soon drew a fascinated crowd as he showed the secret and taught it to an interested buyer.
Candles are a particular passion of mine, much to the chagrin of my long-suffering husband who does not understand my obsession. So he tried to steer me away from the stall of candle-maker Mark who has a wonderful array of hand-poured fragrant wax candles and natural reed diffuses scented with his own custom-made fragrances – without success.
Magic man Scott Reidy teaches his 'flaming wallet' magic trick to a customer at Paddington Markets.
Yep, more scents to compete with each other in my home but I would not have it any other way.
At least I now have something in common with Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, celebrity chef Manu Feildel, Benji Madden from Good Charlotte and famous-for-everything Sophie Monk whom Mark says are some of his more famous customers. Still it didn’t impress my old man, though.
If you start to get hungry and need a break from your stall wanderings, there is a wide variety of food to suit all appetites. Apart from the cafe in the hall offering wraps, cakes, coffee, tea and cool drinks, there are stalls selling a variety of interesting and wholesome food, from the humble hot dog through to asian and european fare.
Here are some of the choices — barbecue, thai, home-made soup, baked goods and even Himalayan food. There are plenty of places to sit down near the stalls and near to where the musicians play — yes, there is a small band playing some groovy music as well, a wonderful respite from walking among the stalls.
Two musicians entertain the crowds under the sun umbrellas during lunch time.
If you want to escape the hubbub for a while, there are some tables and chairs in a small grassed area at the side of the hall.
Organisers of the markets are always being inundated with applications for stalls, and no wonder, considering visitors come from interstate and overseas as well as locally.
But there are strict guidelines — the goods have to be Australian-made and it is usually the makers of those goods who man the stalls personally.
Patrick Moor, with one of his unique hand-made Thai silk sports jackets. He spent three years in north Thailand finding people to weave soft silk on hand looms for him.
One of the visitors I spoke to said they especially enjoyed talking to the crafts people, finding out how they made their wares and even watching some of them at work.
“This is by far the best market I have been to. I thought the markets around Sydney were mostly stuff people were throwing away, jewellery and clothing and the like,” the woman, from a Sydney suburb, told me.
I felt the same way. New to market-gazing, I had only been to markets of second hand and some new goods. Now, don’t get me wrong, those markets are wonderful as well. But Paddington Markets were a new experience for me, and it is a market I will visit again, especially when the sun is shining.
Artist, Nigel Gillings, selling some of his paintings at Paddington Markets. He was perfectly happy for me to take a photo, but not all the artists feel that way.
Paddington is one of the upmarket eastern suburbs of Sydney. The suburb has emerged from working class to elite so , when you are finished with the markets, wander around the streets and see the exclusive shops and well-maintained terrace houses. You will be surprised by some of the prices, especially when compared to the value-for-money items in the markets.
Getting there: Catch the M40 bus from Stand A in York St, near the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) or from Elizabeth St near Pitt Street. When you get on the bus, be sure to ask the driver to let you know when it’s time to get off at Paddington Markets.
Paddington is an inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney in the state of New South Wales.
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