Mosman Markets: Stallholders left angered after event suspended for town centre upgrades

Stallholders of a popular north shore market say they have been left high and dry after the event was shut down until further notice to make way for a town centre upgrade.

Stallholders of a popular north shore market say they have been left high and dry after the event was temporarily shut down to make way for a town centre upgrade.

Mosman Council has temporarily suspended the monthly Mosman Markets, sparking frustration among more than 100 regular stall holders who sell their goods at the event at Mosman Square and Village Green.

The temporary closure, which came into effect on August 6, coincided with the commencement of a multimillion dollar redevelopment of the town centre precinct.

The council project, which is estimated to cost about $3 million and funded by a state government grant, will include new and improved lighting, a nature playground, seating, landscaping works, paving, accessibility works and upgraded green space.

The owener of the El Natural Soya Candles stall said the closure came with little notice and would impact stallholders in what should be their peak season.

The markets will be closed for about six months.

“I’ve been part of the market for 20 years and it couldn’t have come at a worse time,” she said.

“We went through so many years of lockdowns and we barely had a Christmas last year because we were just coming out of all the restrictions.

A concept plan of the town centre upgrade, estimated to cost approximately $3 million.

“We started again this year in February and then had all the bad weather then all of a sudden we’re given one month’s notice that it will be shutting in August.

“There are so many alternative sites it could have been held and we would have thought they would be able to relocate it to Allan Border Oval, given it’s only monthly.

“At this stage who knows when the markets are going to happen again. It could be February or March but we don’t know. The risk is the market will lose momentum and stallholders and will find other markets and won’t come back.”

The markets are held monthly.

Verve Candles Owner Brooke Gallard is also counting the cost of the closure and believes the town centre upgrade should have been carried out during winter.

“A lot of people rely on it for their livelihoods and we’d already stocked up for the Christmas period,” she said.

“Spring is also a good time for markets (and) we have many regulars who come to the markets each month knowing we’ll be there.”

Mosman Council said the town centre upgrade was expected to take six months to complete and the markets “would return as soon as works are complete”.

The decision to close the markets follows a council meeting in June where councillors voted against staging the markets at an alternative location proposed at the western end of Gouldsbury St.

The markets are run by the council.

Speaking at the meeting, councillors raised concerns over site constraints at Gouldsbury St along with lack of amenities, potential road closures that would be required for the markets and impacts on neighbours.

“No one wants to see the markets close but I think the big thing is there’ll be a wonderful new civic plaza and the first market back (at Mosman Square) can be an absolute humdinger,” Mosman mayor Carolyn Corrigan said.

“I think the crowds will come back. It’s the best location for the markets and has the best access.”

A Mosman Council spokeswoman said the state government grant was conditional on works being undertaken from August.

She said stallholders were informed of the closure via email on June 10.

“Council is continuing to work with the state government to seek greater flexibility regarding the timing of the works and will revisit the works scheduling if this eventuates.

“The potential relocation of the market proved challenging due to the large nature of the event, the requirement for a central location and need for an appropriate amount of level space for siting market stalls.

“Mosman’s sportsfields, such as Allan Border Oval, are typically fully utilised by local sporting organisations with maintenance carried out in downtime.”

Mosman Markets is a showcase for many local artisans and craftspeople, selling goods ranging from jewellery, woodwork, glassware and food products.