New Beckley Park Market operators to breath fresh life into weekly event

A long-running and much-loved community markets has been given a second chance and is expecting more “creativity” under new management.

A sign advertising the weekly market at Beckley Park.

The Beckley Park Market is set for a makeover with new managers chosen to operate the weekly event from this weekend.

The future of the long-running market was in doubt earlier this year after the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club told stallholders they would no longer manage it.

In a last-minute reprieve, the Beckley Park Management Committee took over the market as an interim operator in June.

On Monday, it was announced Bacchus Marsh-based management company Urban Markets would be the event’s new operator.

Beckley Park Market stallholders. Picture: Alan Barber

Urban Markets director Felicity Ashman said the company would work with stallholders over the coming weeks to “breath fresh life into the market”, which has been running for 45 years.

“It’s such an important institution in the Geelong area … this is a brilliant opportunity to do so much more with this market,” Ms Ashman said.

“We’d love to inject some additional creativity into the event … so Beckley Park becomes a ‘must-do’ market on every Victorian and interstate visitor’s list.”

Stall areas will be re-marked at Beckley Park, new logo and signage will be put into place as well as a general tidy up in preparation for a relaunch on December 3.

Ms Ashman said the response from Geelong locals had been absolutely fabulous.

One user on the Beckley Park Market Facebook page said they were “looking forward to some great new things”, and another said “this is great news to hear, such an iconic historical Geelong market”.

“It’s nice to receive feedback from the community … there are a lot of supporters that are keen to see the market come to life again,” Ms Ashman said.

Shane Perry from All Heart Flowers at the Beckley Park Market.

Urban Markets is expecting 100 stalls to be at event on Saturday, dependent on the weather.

“We have about 60 to 70 permanent stalls, which are there all the time, and 30 to 40 casual sellers that come when they can,” she said.

Vendors range from fresh fruit and vegetables to plants, craft supplies and even ugg boots.

“People have been commenting they that used to love the market because of the wide range of stalls … we want increase the number and variety of stall holders at the market,” Ms Ashman said.

The market is at the Beckley Park Centre in Corio and held every Saturday morning from 8am.

Originally published as New Beckley Park Market operators to breath fresh life into weekly event