When one of the southeast’s oldest markets could re-open

An iconic fresh food, bric-a-brac and plant market north of Brisbane is in talks about re-opening. This is what it will take for that to happen.

One of the southeast’s most popular markets is in talks about re-opening, after the coronavirus pandemic forced them to shut the gates.

The Caboolture Country Markets had been operating for 40 years until more than 300 stallholders had to shut up shop in March following COVID-19 for health and safety concerns.

The Caboolture Show Society will monitor any repercussions of this weekend’s relaxation of lockdown restrictions, before meeting again in mid-May to further evaluate the situation.

Caboolture businesses confident community will bounce back from coronavirus

Gather and Feast Caboolture reopens after one-month closure

New date to re-open four of Brisbane’s biggest markets

Society secretary Michelle Goullet said that if cases of coronavirus did not increase after the easing of restrictions this weekend and “everything went to plan”, the society would consider re-opening in June.

Ms Goullet said she knew stallholders were hurting, but people’s health and safety came first.

She added that it would be expensive to restart the market, and the committee did not want to re-open only to be forced to close again later.

“Who knows what the restrictions are going to be halfway through May,” she said.

“Let’s see what the repercussion are in two weeks, and if the numbers (of COVID-19 cases) don’t increase, then fine.

Plants are among the top three queries from customers about stallholders during the closure of Caboolture Country Markets. Picture: AAP/David Clark.

“That’s what we’re worried about, we don’t want anybody to get sick at our markets.

She said the market may be criticised for not re-opening, “but I’ve got broad shoulders”.

“We found the last market that we had, trying to social distance people, and keeping people a safe distance away from each other – it doesn’t work,” she said.

“We want to get back, but we have to be sensible about it. Health is the most important thing.

“I can sleep well at night, knowing we’ve made the right decision.”

Some stallholders, especially plant sellers, have posted their contact details on the Caboolture Country Markets Facebook page to connect with customers while the markets are shut.

Ms Goullet said the top three queries from customers about stallholders during the closure were about plant sellers, if fresh produce sellers were delivering fruit and vegetable boxes and people wanting pet supplies.