With up to 120 stalls, including a chook auction, the Girgarre Market is an opportunity for locals and visitors to try some of the finest produce, arts and crafts from across the region.
The market focuses on produce such as handmade cheeses, honey, fruit and vegetables, cakes, biscuits — and for the garden lovers, plenty of plants.
There are also tools available and for those that love crafts, handmade jewellery, glassware, sculptures and knitted and crocheted items.
The chook auction at the market has anything bird-related. Chickens, ducks, pigeons, budgies, quail are some examples of what is sold.
“The last few years we’ve had 500 lots at each auction. We sell everything from a finch to we actually 10 years ago sold a six-month-old ostrich,” Greg Fitzpatrick said.
The market started in 2004 and Jan Smith, who is one of the founding members, says the reason the market has survived for so long is due to the Girgarre’s “willingess to have a go”.
Ms Smith said there were only eight stalls at the first market, with 1000 people showing up; however, all stock was sold out by about 10am.
“It’s slowly built up until it stalled three years ago when COVID hit,” she said.
“Many of our stall holders have moved on. We are in that rebuilding phase but we trying to have it as resilient as it has been.
“The market has been one of the vehicles that has helped fund this community all these years.”
Many charitable organisations are able to come and fundraise at the market, such as the CFA, RSL, the Girgarre Community Group and the local school.
If you are interested in becoming a stallholder you can enter your application to the Girgarre Farmers Produce and Crafts website: https://www.girgarre.com.au/markets
8°C