Market a success
The inaugural Taylor Square Community Market has been hailed a great success by members of the Darlinghurst Community and has paved the way for future markets of its kind intended to invigorate the square and bring back a positive daytime atmosphere.
The markets, held last Saturday, attracted about 5000 people who flocked to Taylor Square to enjoy DJ’s and live music back to back all day, roaming drag queens and face painting for the kiddies.
Visitors also took advantage of the opportunity to snap up emerging art, vintage goods and other quirky bits and bobs at the 33 stalls showcasing Darlinghurst’s diverse local retailers, community groups and artists.
Testament to the success of the markets, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation raised more than $6000 from the sale of themed underwear during the day and other stall holders have reported good sales results.
Cafes in the surrounding area had one of the busiest days of their year as visitors wandered into the surrounding area for a good coffee and bite to eat.
Darlinghurst Business Partnership president Andrew Duckmanton said the market was important activity to reinvigorate the area.
The market injected much needed life into Taylor Square, it bought the community together and celebrated the creativity and diversity we have in the area, he said.
The ground swell behind these markets and the fervent community participation proved that Darlinghurst locals share a desire to work together to make these events happen.
We would love to work with City of Sydney to make the event regular so we can continually remind Sydneysiders of what a fabulous melting pot of creativity we have right here at our doorstep.
I was driving through the area on Saturday evening while they were setting up, and it looked like it was going to be good. Glad to hear it was a success. I’m not keen on “gay ownership” (or any ownership), but it’s better than the area full of early morning drunks, etc.
Still, Oxford Street on Saturday night looked like the same rough dive it has for the last 20 years or so.
The day was FANTASTIC! Was like a mini Fair Day right in the heart of Oxford Street. What a great welcoming committe for our overseas guests arriving the week before Mardi Gra. It created the perfect atmosphere, & reclaimed gay ownership, of the strip. Would love to see it one once a month. The art stalls were great. The whole thing shows there is much more to us (and to the strip) than just nightclubbing. Were quite a few straights there too, interacting. Just had an incredible vibe to the whole thing.