There’s something special about community markets in a small Australian town. Looking through markets is probably one of my favourite weekend activities to relax and support small businesses in the process. There’s so much to see and buy, and there’s always something different and quirky you’ll find that you can’t buy anywhere else. Plus, the food and drinks always hit the spot!
Homegrown Markets are held twice every month at Speers Point Park, with crowds gathering around each stall. They are the largest markets in Lake Macquarie and offer a range of different handmade and eco-friendly items for sale, including jewellery, clothes and textiles, self-care items like soaps and bath products, pottery and even some new-age health products! Of course, community markets aren’t complete without some unique food trucks offering a range of cultures, as well as the Australian classics. Spiral Spud anyone?
When we first arrived it wasn’t too busy; but to be fair, we got there just as everything was opening. It definitely picked up later on. There were a lot of different stalls selling very unique items. The jewellery was just adorable. I love the styles you see at markets. Everything is so colourful and artsy, as well as some particular items that wouldn’t be allowed to be sold in regular stores. There’s so much freedom to make what you really want to at markets, without having the pressure or judgement of bigger stores put on you.
I eventually stopped at one stall that was selling soaps and bath products. The scents I was smelling were amazing. The designs of the soaps were also beautiful, with each colour and pattern of the bars creating a relaxing atmosphere. I quickly recognised the logo of the store. I’d bought a bar of soap from another one of their pop-up stalls at another location for a friend. I had to get one for myself. So, I picked up a beautiful pink and cream swirled bar and instantly fell in love with the smell of roses. Another thing you’ll notice at these kinds of markets is how kind and lovely the store owners are. When I was paying for my soap, she gave me a discount because I was a returning customer. Now that’s something you won’t get at any big brand stores!
Markets aren’t complete without crochet stalls. We walked past one that caught my eye; crocheted dinosaurs! I think my partner’s love of dinosaurs has rubbed off on me a bit, because as soon as I saw the crocheted triceratops I already had my card ready to go. They were so cute! And you could see the amount of effort and love that went into creating each and every one of these crocheted masterpieces. This is another thing I love about buying from markets like these; every item is made with care so that each and every customer is happy with what they are buying. They’re not in a rush to make as many items as possible to sell as many items as possible to make as much money as possible. They’re made with customer satisfaction in mind, as well as being proud of their own creation. By buying from market stalls and small businesses, you’re contributing less to sweatshops, and you get better items in the process!
Like I said before, you can find some pretty unique items at small-town markets. My friend’s birthday was coming up, and I wanted to get her something small to go with a gift I had already bought her. It just wasn’t enough yet, not for the friendship and loyalty she has given me since we’ve known each other. So I was on a hunt for something special. I came across this stall that was selling “message in a bottle”. They were small jars filled with shells, stars, rocks, crystals and other small items, with a rolled-up message inside. These messages were hand-typed on a typewriter and rolled up so that whoever received them didn’t know what they said until they opened it. I saw a jar with a moon cycle pendant tied around the cork and immediately knew that this was the one for my friend. See my whole friend group has had our struggles over the past few years but we’ve stuck together through it all. When I read the message I knew why I was drawn to it. “The moon is a reminder that no matter what phase you’re in you are still whole.”
Markets are probably the best place for food trucks and stalls. We saw a few stalls selling homemade cookies, honey, and even some special dog foods. Market foods are amazing, if I had a big enough stomach I would try out every truck. But unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen, especially considering I had already had breakfast shortly before. But my dad pointed out a truck selling freshly squeezed orange juice, and I wasn’t going to say no to that! The food and drinks at markets are so fresh and natural it’s a great change from fast foods and artificial ingredients.
So, with my successful shopping haul, having visited all the market stalls for the day, it was time to leave. Speers Point Markets definitely aren’t as big as say the Queen Victoria Markets. But there’s a small-town charm to them, and you’ll definitely find something!
All photos in this post are taken by me.
The Travel Journal 
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