Image right: Artist's impression of the new Sydney Markets, c.1975
Throughout the 1950s there had been considerable agitation to relocate the fruit, vegetable and flower produce markets, then in operation at the Haymarket, and controlled by Sydney City Council. Increased fruit and vegetable production after World War II affected the Haymarket site’s ability to cope with greater volumes of both produce and traffic. As early as 1946, a delegation from the NSW Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries petitioned Premier McGirr for a more suitable site.
The Government finally intervened in 1951, establishing a Committee which recommended moving the markets to Homebush.[1]
Land was reserved at Flemington but no further action was taken. As Sydney’s population continued to expand to the west, the new site was roughly in the centre of the Sydney metropolitan district. The stalemate continued until Sydney City Council was sacked in 1967 amid claims of corruption. The Liberal State Government quickly established a new market authority to take over the existing city markets and construct new markets at Flemington through the Sydney Farm Produce Market Authority Act of 1968.[2] This authority was given the sole right to run wholesale markets in the County of Cumberland, removing all control from Sydney City Council.
After the closure of the Homebush Saleyards near Flemington Railway Station in 1967, Strathfield Council had hoped that the site could be redeveloped for housing. However Council did not own the land, the majority of which was owned by the Metropolitan Meat Industry Board. Instead the site was redeveloped as Sydney (or Flemington) Markets. Residential land was also required and homes were demolished. Hammersmith Road disappeared and Marlborough Road was reconstructed after the demolition of the properties on the western side of the street. Centenary Drive was later built adjacent to Marlborough Road. Austin and Kerruish Avenues now exist purely as access roads for the markets.
Construction on the 41-hectare site commenced in 1972, costing $49 million. The Sydney Markets project became the second largest capital development program ever undertaken by the NSW State Government - after the Sydney Opera House. Flemington Railway Station, for 80 years the gateway for millions of heads of livestock arriving to market, was now the colourful scene of fresh produce transportation. Governor of NSW, Sir Roden Cutler, officially opened the new markets on 12 September 1975.[3]
Upon opening, the markets could accommodate 3000 vehicles and provided a hotel/motel and Sydney’s biggest suburban police station. One of its more intriguing features was the banana building, measuring 275 metres by 30 metres, which included 192 storage and ripening rooms.[4] The markets offered considerable employment opportunities for local residents.
A weekend Paddy’s Market selling general goods was also included at Flemington from 1975 when the Haymarket stallholders were temporarily relocated for the development of the Entertainment Centre. Paddy’s Flemington still operates from Friday to Sunday each week including both a Farmers’ and Swap & Sell markets on Saturdays.
The Markets posed significant traffic challenges for the Municipality of Strathfield. Although conveniently serviced by railway and the adjoining Flemington Railway Station, the increased road traffic passing through the Municipality to and from the Markets was a challenge. The main routes to the markets were via Parramatta and Concord Roads. However, traffic from the south passed through the residential streets of Strathfield and Homebush. An overbridge at Marlborough Road sought to alleviate some of these issues when it was opened to traffic on 29 November 1976. Additional traffic lights were installed at the intersections of Parramatta Road with both Marlborough Road and Potts Street to further alleviate traffic congestion. The later construction of the F4 (now M4) Motorway, Homebush Bay Drive and Centenary Drive also helped.
In 1997 ownership of the markets was transferred from the Sydney Markets Authority to Sydney Markets Ltd by the NSW Government. Sydney Markets Ltd purchased the Flemington site from the State Government in 2002.
For 50 years now, Sydney Markets has provided a centre for the sale and distribution of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers. It is one of the largest food distribution centres in the southern hemisphere allowing 20,000 growers to provide fresh produce to two thirds of the Australian population through buyers from greengrocers, supermarkets, restaurants and food processors at the Sydney Produce Market. It is the only Australian wholesale market to also provide access to members of the public. Individual growers sell their own Sydney-basin grown produce through the Sydney Growers Market daily. More than two and a half million tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables are sold annually through the Sydney Produce Market and Sydney Growers Market with a value of more than three billion dollars.
Today the Sydney Flower Market is the largest flower market in Australia, selling more than $150 million of fresh flowers each year.[5] Sydney Markets Plaza also provides other services such as banks, shops, cafes and agricultural supplies. Sydney Markets even has its own postcode of 2129.
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Christie, Michael The Sydney Markets 1788-1988. Flemington: Sydney Market Authority, 1988 p.130
[2] Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales 20 December 1968 p.5001. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220039192
[3] Sydney Morning Herald 12 September 1975 p.11
[4] Sydney Morning Herald 12 September 1975 p.11
[5] Sydney Markets https://corporate.sydneymarkets.com.au/about-us/our-markets.html