Media Release – Thursday 21 August 2014
Canberra’s Old Bus Depot Markets are celebrating 20 very successful years in operation next month. They will mark the occasion on Sunday 14 September.
“The Old Bus Depot Markets have been a Canberra Sunday tradition since 1994,” said one of the Old Bus Depot Markets’ Directors, Diane Hinds.
“We’re so thrilled to be celebrating 20 years in Canberra. We’ve come a long way to develop our Markets to what they are today, and it’s all been possible due to the support of our fabulous stallholders, customers, visitors to Canberra and the local community,” Diane continued.
Diane is joined by fellow Director, Morna Whiting, and together they have managed the Old Bus Depot Markets since their inception in 1994. The pair pull together over 200 stallholders and staff to deliver a high quality Market on almost every Sunday of the year in the Canberra suburb of Kingston.
“There have been so many changes in the last 20 years, both in terms of the development of our business and the ever-changing Kingston foreshore area itself. Still, we believe we found a niche and the Old Bus Depot Markets have become a fabulous Canberra icon, and also one of the capital’s longest running businesses,” said Diane.
The markets were inducted into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame in 2006, included in the top ten Canberra ‘Places of the Heart’ in the noughties and more recently included in the Canberra 100 experiences for the Canberra Centenary last year.
“We’ve seen major changes to the Old Bus Depot Markets building, grown our attending stallholders list, secured a great range of entertainment each week, developed many exciting regular theme events, and we manage to remain a wonderful weekend ‘must do’ for Canberrans and visitors to Canberra alike.
“The markets are also a hive of creativity and expression for so many each and every week. It’s a place where our stallholders can exhibit their wares and where handmade, personal touches are really appreciated,” Diane continued.
On Sunday 14 September, the markets’ community will be coming together to make the day a special one. A selection of the markets’ regular buskers will perform throughout the day, and will be joined by long time stallholders and market characters to mark the occasion.
“This will be a vibrant, fun and happy day of celebration at the markets. We look forward to sharing this special day with our customers and the stallholders who Canberra has come to know and love since back in 1994,” concluded Diane.
The Old Bus Depot Markets’ 20th birthday will be celebrated on Sunday 14 September from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free. For more information on the Old Bus Depot Markets go to www.obdm.com.au
