By Dylan J. Stone
Over this last weekend, Broken Hill locals and tourists were treated to not one but two very successful markets.
The Community Markets, which were postponed due to poor weather on the August 13 was held at Perilya Green on Saturday, followed by the Bash Markets and Family Fun Day, hosted by the Patton Village Broken Hill Committee, on the Sunday.
Tom Barraclough, a regular stallholder at the Community Markets, also had a stall in the Bash Markets on Sunday.
His stall, Aus-Kustum Gaming, was very popular with buyers on both days.
“It was great that both markets were held on the one weekend,” he said. “It saved me from having to unpack the trailer only to reload it later on.”
Mr Barraclough also noted how busy both the markets were.
“These were certainly some of the busier markets I have held a stall in, there were so many locals and tourists around and it was great we could put on a show for them.”
The Community Markets are generally held monthly, and continue to attract a strong level of support from the community.
A second market in as many days certainly provided the community with another event to support, and provided another activity for Mundi Mundi Bash visitors on their way home from Mundiville.
Larry Angell, from the Patton Village Broken Hill Committee, said the Bash Markets were, “absolutely spectacular. Patton Street was rocking, the old Coles car park was full, and there wasn’t a park anywhere in sight.”
Mr Angell added, “it was great to see some Patton Street traders open their shops on Sunday and create stalls at the front of their shops, as this only added to the village atmosphere.”
The Bash Markets was the first major event organised by the new Patton Street Village Committee, and Mr Angell said, “we need to credit Jason King at Bells Milk Bar who provided sponsorship to the Patton Village Committee to ensure the markets could go ahead, Robert Lohmann who performed live music at no cost for the day, and Broken Hill Bouncy Castles who also supported this event.”
With more events listed for the future, including Christmas in the Park on November 26, Mr Angell said, “the Committee is open to suggestions, so if people want to see different things, then please let us know”.
The combination of the Community and Bash markets over a huge weekend for Broken Hill saw a number of stallholders break previous sales records, with the market-weekend encouraging stallholders who might not have been holding a stall in recent times to dust off their tables and get out to sell their merchandise.
Mr Barraclough said it was brilliant to see so many people at the markets.
“Certainly I believe a market-weekend is a great idea for the future, because the marketeers can take one weekend off from work and be able to basically double their income by coming to the markets.”
