by Dick & Sue Thompson

We heard about the proposed market for Red Hill and thought that it sounded like a really good idea so we had a head scratching session about what we might sell. The upshot was that Dick built some wooden flower boxes which Sue planted out, some with flowers (petunias) and some with herbs.

At the first market in September, 1975, which was held at the Red Hill Hall, there was an enthusiastic group of marketeers feeling their way and a there was a good feeling of community. This first market was the start of new careers for some participants and for all the start of a most enjoyable, sometimes exhausting but financially rewarding nine days a year.

Some very funny incidents occurred at the early markets. One in particular involved a woman who was selling goat kids. She approached Dick and asked if he knew anything about castrating goats as she had a customer who wanted a wether goat and she only had a whole billy. Dick agreed to assist and, with the help of the little green rubber ring, the castration deed was quickly done and the little feller writhing on the ground. End of story? No! Some twenty minutes later the same stallholder came back and told Dick that the first customer had changed her mind but she had another customer who wanted a whole billygoat. Could Dick please reverse the procedure! Well, the ring was hastily removed. Was it a reprieve for the billy or was he a wether, we’ll never know!

Another story involved the very speedy escaped rooster that evaded capture for some time with people chasing him around the market, doing rugby tackles after him, hoping to grab him, but only catching handfuls of air. The rooster got a bit tired after a while and decided to take refuge under a car. Well, four of the people pursuing the bird approached the car, one at the front, one at the back and one at either side. Then, in unison, they lunged under the car. There was a sudden flash of red and then a moan of dismay from the pursuers as the rooster once again showed that he was tops and stood up a few feet away and gave a mighty crow.

We graduated from flower boxes to growing herbs and then to a successful wholesale nursery, Coora Cottage Herbs. We attended the first seven years of the Market then, because our nursery had grown to a rather large size, we had to stop the monthly visit to Red Hill on the first Saturday. However, the herb business was eventually sold and Dick is back at the market again, this time selling his outdoor furniture.

The Red Hill Market has never lost that feeling of community. It is certainly much bigger now than the first markets, but it still has a great spirit to it which is unique. It is well run and the quality of products sold there is excellent!

The Red Hill Community Market is temporarily closed.

On the 30th birthday of the Red Hill Community Market we would like to acknowledge all of you who have supported our market concept.

Many have contributed to its success in different areas. Stallholders, customers, people who have helped park cars and those who have maintained the ground. We appreciate that a successful market is a team effort. Our thanks to you all.

We’d like to give special thanks to our manager Allison Dillon and her Craft Market Australia team, who now take responsibility for the day to day organization of the event.

We are proud that our original concept of “Make it, Bake it, Grow it, Breed it” has been copied and used all around Australia.

Our team will continue to bring to Red Hill the very best of Australian made Craft and Produce.

Directors: Carole Stapleton, Beth Wilson, Cathy Thompson

by Pat Hawkins, Newspaper Article

Red Hill’s market celebrates its 10th birthday next Saturday, October 5. From 8 a.m., cars are expected to be bumper-to-bumper on the roads leading to Red Hill Showgrounds as people try to get there before the best things have been sold. The market stays open until about midday. The market attracts thousands of people not just from the Peninsula, but from the city as well.

And it’s the theme of the market – unchanged in 10 years – that attracts them. To have a stall there, you must “make it, bake it, grow it or breed it” yourself.

ABOVE: Judy Hines spins wool for Red Hill’s 10th anniversary market.

Cathy Morrison, one of the founders, recalls that in 1975 she and her husband, Graeme, a part-time teacher, their friends Carole and Kevin Stapleton, Beth and Barry Wilson and Alan and Elaine Watt, began the market as a natural development of their way of life in the district. All the women were then in their early 30s and had young children. Virtually the same original families still form the market committee.

When we first started it, we were baking our own bread, growing our own plants and beginning to weave, spin and make pots, Cathy recalled. “The market just grew out of this kind of barter system where we could all exchange these things.”

The famous guidelines of the Red Hill Market evolved: Only locals may have a stall. Holders can only sell produce if they “make it, bake it, grow it or breed it.”

“It seemed to have an instant appeal to the public and it just took off,” said Cathy. “Now, of course, it’s almost an institution on the peninsula.”

There were 28 stall holders at the first market. Each paid $1 a morning, and the committee paid $25 to the Flinders shire for hire of the grounds. They paid for all other expenses such as telephone calls, publicity and stamps from their own pockets.

“It was a very casual way of doing it,” Said Cathy. “We really didn’t work out how much it was costing us for about three years. By then the market had become so popular we realised we were the only ones involved in it who were not making any money!”

Ten years later, the number of stall-holders has grown to more than 200, each paying $13 a morning. The committee now pay $6,000 to the shire’s showground committee for the season of nine Saturday mornings.

LEFT: Bernie Shallekoff, the mustard man, prepares his tasty condiments for sale at the market.

You want it? The market is sure to have it – pots, plates and plants, lampshades, leather belts and lavender bags; fresh herbs, honey and dried flowers; cushions, clothes, or a firetongs of hospinnied called matilda or a goat named Archibald.

Pictures PHILIP ROWLEY

RED HILL COMMUNITY MARKET sprung from ideas of a tudor style market to cater to the many and varied crafts people who had chosen Red Hill as their home. Also the orchards offered great produce and many people were looking for the “alternate lifestyle”on their few acres.growing plants vegetables sheep for their wool and many other types of produce.

Four local families were involved initially, now Cathy Thompson, Beth Wilson and Carole Stapleton are the organisers

The response to the first market was exciting and very enthusiastic and the market grew steadily as more and more people turned their hobbies into full time craft work. From this came the pleasure of direct contact with their customers and the feedback from which they could generate their creativity.

Young mothers could work from home to supplement the family income and senior folk found new interest for their talents

The markets are a meeting place for catching up with old friends and distant relatives and for making new friends, the atmosphere is one of friendliness enthusiasm and pleasure.

The market is a showcase of peoples talent and creativity, the range is wide and varied.

Besides an extensive variety of fine food, produce and plants, the market has some wonderful wood craftsmen who display their pieces with pride. Richard Davis not only makes a beautiful ironbark hall table but a wonderful range of brentwood benches, chairs,

Jason Mc Kinleys father began with the market in the early years with a great range of pine outdoor furniture, His swinging seat is a best seller and Jason continues to make the fine furniture his father created.

Brett Bancroft makes his unique furniture out of unsawn timber and his designs are quite clever

Glass has made a resurgence in popularity and you won’t find a better craftsperson than Seeber whose copper foiled boxes, butterflies jewellery along with his slumped platters etc are a joy to behold.. Cindy Durant has a nautical theme to her glass and Helen Lewis makes wonderful mobiles with moons stars hearts etc.

The stallholders who cater for the fashions come up with new styles and colours for each season, Do you realise it is 20 years since we saw the first painted windcheater?? Childrens clothes of fine quality are always popular, as are the great range of teddies ,soft toys, wooden toys and puzzles, nursery furniture

We always endeavour to keep the face of the market changing, this way we keep the market fresh and interesting.

Jenny Thomas’s clocks are fascinating. Jan Gustavsen’s bathing boxes are very popular, too,

We have our own easelologist Ted Lever who keeps our artists supplied with all their requirements; a delightful man with an equally delightful wife

Red Hill continues to serve the market public with the best Victoria can offer and will continue to do so for the next 20 years.

4 August, 1995

Maybe the last time you visited Red Hill Market was in a baby stroller 20 years ago. Isn’t it time to visit again and see the market at a different level?

The Red Hill Market is still as fresh as the early morning that it greets on the first Saturday of the month.

The quality of the wares offered must be seen to be believed. So much pride goes into the product and the stallholder loved to talk to you about how their goods are made, maybe offer to make you something especially for you.

Have you thought of a special box for a keepsake or gift? Vicki has a wonderful range of stencilled boxes for secrets, photos, letters. Carole decorated her boxes with delicate pictures enhanced with handpainted flowers. Donna takes your personal photos, poems, letters and incorporates them in her superb handpainted heritage boxes. Decoupage boxes of the highest quality and range are there for the choosing and when you buy the C.D. cabinets for a 21st gift, you will end up keeping it yourself.

This is just a tantalizing glimpse of the Red Hill Market. Come and enjoy every stall, maybe with your baby in a stroller

1st Saturday from September to May inclusive (7am – 1pm)

by Betty Heywood

Make it Bake it Grow it Breed it are the rules all stallholders keep

Their craft is made of wood or steel, cane, lace or wool

Fine jewellery in copper or silver

Paintings large and small in bark or oil

Pottery, preserves, hats and scarves

Pullovers and coats and nanny goats

Boxes all shapes and sizes

Cakes and scones, biscuits and bread could win prizes

Budgerigars, canaries, ducks and hens

Rag dolls, cuddly bears and souvenir pens

Leather belts and bags

Hanging baskets and plants

Fresh fruit and vegetables

All make up for the success of the Red Hill Community Market.

May 1976

With this market we conclude our first year of operation: before a winter recess.

The Red Hill Community Market began last September in the Red Hill Hall, with perhaps romantic notions of a small group gathering each month to trade and purchase locally produced goods. It was obvious from the first market that the response to such a venture was to be beyond our wildest expectations and that a new site would need to be found hence the shift to the Red Hill Showgrounds

Since that initial market, stall holders and buyers have grown enormously with regular visitors coming not only from the local area but from throughout the Peninsula and Melbourne.

Through criticism, praise, suggestion and general comment it is obvious that the attraction to regular attenders is the unique nature of the market offering a comfortable, friendly, almost old-world village style of trading in goods personally produced a delightful gathering of craftsmen, gardeners cooks and producers of livestock. The greatest fear expressed is that the market could become ‘too commercial’ or develop into a ‘trash and treasure’ venture common throughout Melbourne.

During the year the Managing Committee has attempted to steer the direction of the market to avoid those fears becoming reality, but because initially, firm guidelines were not established as to the nature of stall holders accepted, there have been difficulties in maintaining the market’s unique character. In the establishment of a policy to cope with the enormous and increasing requests for stalls, it is true that some anomalous situations have occurred in acceptance and refusal of stallholders.

The Committee now feels that for the second market season beginning on September 4th (and thereafter on the 1st Saturday of each month), that an underlying policy needs to be established and stated as guidance for the growing number of interested stallholders. The original concept of traders marketing their personally produced products at reasonable prices is still felt to be crucial if the market is to continue in its present form.

Therefore, as a basic theme and policy for future markets, stall holders, to be accepted, must fit into the catch-phrase:

‘MAKE IT, BAKE IT, GROW IT OR BREED IT’.

We realize that most stall holders already meet these requirements and a few others would be acceptable through slight modification or selection of the goods.

Some problems have been experienced with a few stall holders acquiring extremely large frontages in the setting up of their stalls making it unjust for smaller stalls and awkward in unifying and isolating a group of traders from parking areas. It has, therefore, been decided to charge $1 for stall frontages under 8 ft. $5 for larger frontages (Maximum 15 ft.) and 20c. for children’s stalls. We are sure that stall holders will understand our desire to retain those qualities which have made the market attractive to so many patrons and we ask for their cooperation.

By adhering to the general policy and by making prices comparatively low in keeping with the minimum charges levied, we feel sure that the new market season will be as successful as the one just completed.

NOTE: The market pavilion will not be opened before 8a.m. for setting up stalls.

The Committee of Management accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of goods nor injury to any person during market day.

Sung to the tune of Wild Colonial Boy

(written by one of the stallholders’ mother)

Come to Red Hill once a month
Our market sure is great
The hub of the Peninsula
The best in all the State.

You’ll have to get there early,
It’s hard to park your car.
The Lions Club they pack you in,
The cars from near and far.

The locals all make goods for sale,
They sew and bake and grow.
There is a happy atmosphere,
It all makes quite a show.

There’s wool and toys and sweets and soap,
Baskets, candles and pots.
Flowers, jam and jewellery,
Yes, plants there’s lots and lots.

Cherries, apples, strawberries,
Pumpkins and spuds you’ll see,
Ice cream, toffees, chocolates,
And scones and billy tea.

If you want a taste of honey,
Hamburgers or pancakes,
You’ll find them at the market
Along with lots of cakes.

If you would like a morning’s fun
And like to browse about,
Be entertained by buskers,
I really have to shout.

Come to Red Hill once a month,
Our market sure is great.
The hub of the Peninsula,
The best in all the state.

The song perfectly captures the spirit that is the Red Hill Community Market

7 August 1986, Red Hill Community Market

We hope our second decade will be even better than the first ten years. We welcome new stallholders and hope Welcome to our eleventh season. that old hands will give them any help or advice they may require.

Last season everyone, in true Red Hill Market fashion, took the mammoth move in stride. This season, following the wishes of the majority of stallholders and with the help of your suggestions, we remain on our last season’s site with only one change. Most permanent stallholders are now situated around the perimetres of the outside sections and the casual stalls are located in the centres. If you are one of the very few who has been moved without having requested it please understand that we have considered your needs as much as possible in the overall scheme of things.

Let’s hope the Shire or Reserve don’t get ideas for our present site so that positions can remain stable.

Another suggestion we have acted upon is a sign near the large pavilion showing the overall plan of the market. This should be a help to new patrons.

We have been asked about the publicity which the market receives. Last season articles were featured in “The Age”, “The Good “The Sun”, “The Standard” and “The Weekender”, “Life Be in It.”, “The Weekly Times”, Gazette”; two radio stations, 3L0 and 3RPP, also requested interviews; publicity dodgers are in local tourist bureaux. We have been lucky enough to appeal to a very wide community for our diverse, high quality, well priced home made goods.

Please make sure you read your regulations again so that you are familiar with the things that help the market run in the most efficient manner.

A few long term “marketeers” have left this year, including three stallholders from the large pavilion, Mrs. Rossiter, the Jacksons and Mr. George Young. We wish them a long and happy retirement.

The market has so many caring people who use their talents to provide for their favourite charity. We are privileged that they involve themselves with the market; it really does seem to bring out the best in so many people.

Please keep your entry pass in the glove box of your car so you have it handy to display to the gatekeeper as you enter the grounds.

Note that outside positions will be marked this season with metal discs set in the ground.

We look forward to seeing you all again in September and wish you a good market season.

by Marjorie Cleine

First it was just a rumor.

“They’re talking about holding a market in the Red Hill Hall.”

I followed up the rumor and in my column “Around Red Hill” in the then Peninsula Post of September 3, 1975, I was able to write, “There’s been an enthusiastic response to the idea of a community market in Red Hill,” and to quote one of the organizers (Cathy Morrison, now Thompson) as saying that thirty stalls were expected at the market the following Saturday, with a variety of wares for sale.

There was a lot of traffic past my place on Market day. Cars were soon parked in my driveway and all down Mechanics Road. It was quite exciting joining the crowd heading for the hall where the car park was full.

The stalls wouldn’t all fit into the hall. Outside the hall door a man had set up a stall selling mussels, “alive and fresh from the sea.” An interested circle of children surrounded four puppies in a cardboard carton.

A small boy intrigued by a crate full of hens hastily withdrew his fingers when one of them popped its head out between the wires.

The hippie era was still with us and a couple of flower children with flowing locks handed out jonquils free to all comers.

The hall was packed. There was a buzz of voices and a scent of boronia. It was an age-old scene played out for centuries in every country, in every city, town and village — people with goods to sell, people looking for goods to buy.

The Market’s “Make it Bake it Grow it Breed it” motto was not entirely in force. Among stalls selling cakes and vegetables, pottery and woodwork, plants and knitwear, herbs and toys was one offering bolts of cloth, bargain-priced remnants and bundles of trimmings and lace edging. The locals poured in, bags and baskets at the ready. Weekenders on their way to Point Leo or Flinders saw the cars and stopped to investigate.

Soon they were fighting their way out again laden with spoil. A bunch of silver beet towered overhead, another shopper walked under a plumy pot of fern. A small girl cradled a shoebox with a couple of fluffy chickens. Out they went to their cars and many of them dived back into the hall for another foray.

The atmosphere was buoyant.

There was an “Isn’t this great?” feeling. You could pick out the Market committee — circulating, watching and getting that floating on air look that comes with success.

They had introduced a winner and two things were certain.

They’d have to have another Market next month and the hall simply wasn’t big enough.

On October 4 the second Market, held in the showground, had twice as many stalls and twice as many people.

A number of local charities seized the chance to raise some funds.

You could buy everything from a duckling to a doll’s house.

Twenty years on and it still hasn’t lost its appeal.