A beloved, family-owned community market on the Mornington Peninsula has opened its gates today for the very last time. The local council has decided not to renew the market’s license to operate at its usual home. Leaving patrons and organisers devastated.
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00:00For almost 50 years, the Red Hill Community Market has charmed locals and visitors alike.
00:09Today it received an emotional send-off as it prepares to shut down.
00:13It's grown to be an icon of the area.
00:17It's really meant a lot and to see it grow over the years has been really special.
00:22Craft Market Australia says the Mornington Peninsula Shire's decision not to grant it a licence
00:27to continue operating at the Red Hill Recreation Reserve has come as a complete surprise.
00:32I can't believe that something that the public loves so much has to close down.
00:40Operators say they only found out two days ago.
00:43Today was meant to be the first day of trading for the season.
00:46Those two? It's 8.15, thank you.
00:50Some vendors have been there from the very beginning.
00:53It's a big community, it's lovely.
00:55This has got history. People come from all over the place to this market.
00:59Not just from Melbourne, they come from interstate.
01:02It's like meeting up with old friends once a month at the market.
01:05Mayor Simon Brooks says the council received multiple expressions of interest from other local groups
01:10wanting to run events at the venue.
01:12The Red Hill Agricultural Society will take over the venue from next month and run a different market.
01:18Their intention, according to what I've seen, is to reinvest back into the community.
01:24When the Red Hill Community Market began, there were just 28 stalls and it cost 75 cents to register as a seller.
01:31Today, on its final day of operation, there are now 240 stalls all competing for business.
01:37But it might not be the end, with organisers looking for a new home for the market.
01:42We'll look into, hopefully, new areas and we'll see what we can do.
01:47Hope for a cherished community favourite.