Paddy's Markets

Paddy's Markets is a commercial enterprise that has two large markets in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Paddy's markets are located in Haymarket and Flemington and specialise in the sale of fruit, vegetables, fish, clothes and giftware.

Flemington Paddy's is the larger site and specialises in fruit and vegetable sales. The market is the primary delivery service of these products for Sydney. The market has a wholesale sales section that caters to larger business and general sales to the public. The market is the central marketplace for Sydneys farmers to sell their products. Paddy's Flemington also has Sydney Central Fresh-Cut Flower Market, that is the central provider of flowers to Sydney's florists. On weekends, the markets also feature clothes, gifts and souvenirs. There is also a second hand market, where vendors set-up a sales stand selling a range of second-hand goods.

The Haymarket Paddy's is located in the 'Market City' site, beside Chinatown and is more like a traditional flea market, specialising in cheap imported clothes, giftware and also has a small section for fruit, vegetables and seafood. Paddy's Haymarket also sells souvenirs which makes it popular with tourists. Market City features these markets along with The Peak apartment building and a modern shopping centre containing a food court, restaurants, boutiques, specialty shops and a cinema complex.

History

In 1834, then Governor of New South Wales General Richard Bourke moved the cattle, hay & grain markets to Campbell Street in the area now known as Haymarket. A "fringe" market had been set up to serve the traders & some moved to the new markets in order to keep the business that they had built up over the years. Shortly after, the markets were allowed to stay open until 10:00pm on a Saturday night. Opposite the markets, a site that was a favourite with circuses resulted in a carnival atmosphere emerging, complete with sideshow attractions.

The origin of the name is unknown, but is believed to have come from Liverpool, England. In the 1870s, a similar operation had been set up in the back alleys of the Irish area of Liverpool which was known as Paddy's Markets. A fruit market opened in the early 1890s on the former circus site & stallholders were asked to apply for space or leave the area. Stall holders were moved again in 1938 to the no.6 building, which was near the former site.

In the late 1960s it was decided to move the markets away from Haymarket to a new site at Flemington, further west. As by this stage Paddy's had become, as the Australian Labor Party opposition had put it, "a feature of Sydney life", It was decided to include a new Paddy's Market in the new complex, which opened in 1975. Shortly after, with the construction of the Sydney Entertainment Centre, the no.6 building in Haymarket was demolished with the markets being moved into the no.1 & no.2 buildings.

See also

* List of markets in Sydney

External links

* [http://www.paddysmarkets.com.au/ Website of Paddy's Markets]