General News
14 December, 2023
Strong start for Mortlake market season
THE Mortlake Markets are on pace for another successful year, with the final market for 2023 drawing a crowd over the weekend.
The Mortlake Markets, hosted monthly by the Mortlake Community Development Committee (MCDC) between October and June, have experienced a resurgence since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
A wide range of bric-a-brac, clothing, household items, produce and plants, arts and crafts, food stalls and the Mortlake Lions manning the barbecue has proven successful for the MCDC, drawing locals and travellers alike.
With the first three markets for the 2023/2024 season having been held, MCDC president Kelvin Goodall said the season was again proving to be a success.
“It’s been good this year,” he said.
“We’ve been quite successful despite having competition with markets in Timboon and Koroit, which has had an impact on stallholders.
“We had 20 paying stalls in November, which was down, but the stallholders had provided feedback saying they had done well.
“We had back over 30 stallholders this weekend, so it’s been steady.”
Records were set last year with between 36-45 stallholders filling Market Square each month.
While there has been a decline to start the year, Mr Goodall said attendance has remained steady with a busier period on the horizon.
“Attendance has been really good and stallholders are happy,” he said.
“Earlier in the year at the end of last year’s season, we have some absolute rippers – especially over the long weekends.
“Those markets attract a lot of people who are travelling through Mortlake on the way home from Port Fairy or Warrnambool.
“Those long weekends really draw in a lot of stallholders who are well stocked.”
A highlight of the markets each month has been the opportunity to raise funds for local causes.
The November and December Lucky Market Prize also raised $233.20 towards the Country Fire Authority’s Christmas lolly run.
The season will continue in 2024 from Sunday, January 14.
Through 2024 there will be six markets, including the March 11 Labour Day market and June 10 King’s Birthday market.
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