Salamanca Market stallholders sweat on Premier’s decision on Tasmanian border restrictions

What a scaled-down Salamanca Market might look like is likely to be heavily influenced by a decision today about whether Tasmania opens its borders to visitors from other states.

SALAMANCA Market stallholders will be sweating on Premier Peter Gutwein’s announcement on Tasmanian border restrictions today, as talks continue about a scaled-down event.

The running of a smaller version of the market could be strongly influenced by whether Tasmania brings down its walls and allows travel between other states.

A popular event with tourists, the Saturday market has not run since March because of coronavirus restrictions.

But Hobart City Council this week announced the market could return as soon as next month under a modified format to comply with public gathering restrictions.

An expression of interest issued to all stallholders last week identified about 140 stallholders — less than half the usual number — were interested in trading on a smaller market.

A further easing of restrictions will allow outdoor gatherings of up to 500 people, which the State Government has confirmed would apply to events like Salamanca Market.

Salamanca Market could resume as early as next month. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

HCC general manager Nick Heath said it would seek further information from Public Health about the implementation of public gathering restrictions.

“We’ve always said that we won’t hold a market until we are confident that the health of stallholders, staff and the general public can be assured,’’ he said.

“Before making any decisions, we will speak to stallholders about what might be possible under the existing restrictions and determine actual participation numbers.”

The Mercury understands council will communicate with stallholders again on Friday after Mr Gutwein’s announcement on border restrictions.

Salamanca Market Stallholders Association president Holly Farley said it was too early to tell whether a scaled-down market would be viable for stallholders given current restrictions limited tourism.

“It is difficult to tell if the market will be viable or not in this situation, however some stallholders are really struggling so any income will be better than none,’’ she said.

“Salamanca Market has a broad, eclectic range of products that appeal to a number of target markets, including the local market and I’m sure those stalls are keen to attend.

“I’m really hoping the local community gets behind Salamanca Market reopening and helping to support this important local landmark event and tourism attraction.”

Stallholder Graeme Young, who sells his timber creations from his stall Wood on Salamanca, said he was keen for the market to return because it was his sole income.

Mr Young estimated 15-20 per cent of his clientele was international visitors, 70 per cent domestic tourists and the remainder locals.

Like him, he said many stallholders were reliant on the market for their income, and he encouraged Tasmanians to get behind the market if it was to reopen.

“Because of the reliance on international and domestic tourism, the market will not be overly good,’’ he said.

“We need the borders open to run a really successful market. It’s a tourist market.”

Public Health Director Mark Veitch said the new gathering limit of 500 people would affect events like Salamanca Market.

Mark Veitch. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“We know that a market such as Salamanca doesn’t have 500 people. It has tens of thousands of people moving through the market in the course of the six or so hours that the market is open,’’ he said.

“Obviously they are not all there at once, but it represents a much larger and much more freely mixing and much more closely mixing gathering than we’re currently contemplating.

“So I think what it means is that a market like Salamanca as we’ve known it historically is a little way off.”