General News
24 June, 2025
Dunolly’s market to discontinue
Despite announcing a winter hiatus earlier this year, the Dunolly Country Market will officially finish after the end of July.
Dunolly Country Market coordinator Lynda Vater announced last week despite continued efforts to revamp the market, persistent lack of visitors has meant it could no longer continue.
“It is with a heavy heart that I will be finalising the market at end of July, I have tried many different tactics to keep it all going, I thank everyone for their hard work, especially the stallholders, my volunteers and the musicians that gave it the vibe,” she said.
“In my two and a half years as market manager, I have seen many stalls come and go, my stalwart regular stallholders are the backbone of this market, but attaining and keeping new stallholders has proved a challenge.”
Earlier in the year, concerns were raised over the decline in interest at the Dunolly market.
“In my first year, we were averaging 40 or more stalls at a market, unless it was pouring with rain or other bad weather. Last time we had around 14,” Ms Vater told The Advertiser in March this year.
Various attempts were made for additional events to coincide with the market, but Ms Vater said new ideas eventually became limited.
“Every market has been an experiment to see what works and what doesn’t. But you start running out of steam when everything you do doesn’t get a really good result,” she said.
Known for being a market based on arts and craft, the current cost of living and changes in consumer habits has been blamed for the visitor decrease to the market.
“A combination of timing, an unstable financial climate and changing times has been to blame,” Ms Vater said.
Stallholder and market shopper Helen Jesser said she felt the much loved market’s loss.
“Yes, Dunolly will miss their monthly market. It attracts a wide range of people, visitors, and locals alike, giving the opportunity for social interaction and community building. But it takes a certain talent and drive such as Lynda has to keep interest and vitality to this event,” she said.
“Everything has its cycle and Dunolly has just a small core of volunteers who are finding it taxing to spread their time. There has been a good variety of stalls providing interest to all. But even small permanent businesses are finding it tough due to current pressures.
“The market has had its highs and lows in the past bringing Broadway alive so hopefully enthusiasm will prevail and our fire will be lit again. Thanks to Lynda for her community work, we appreciate her efforts.”
There is still hope that another community-led initiative may take the market's place in the future.
Ms Vater said talks are underway about smaller seasonal pop-ups or a one off food and craft festivals, but for now, the market has packed up for the last time. For Ms Vater, it’s the end of an era.
“If there is a sole trader or community group that is interested in doing the market again, please come talk to me. They will need their own public liability, their own insurance, etc,” she said.
“I appreciate the support and hope this doesn’t affect the volunteers and stallholders too badly.”
The Dunolly Market will officially end operation on July 31, 2025.