The Margate Train offers shopping with a difference at Margate, southern Tasmania. Margate is 20 minutes south of Hobart (19km) and a short drive south of Kingston.
The Margate Train – formerly known as the Tasman Limited – made its final rail journey on 28 July 1978. The Tasman Limited was built in England in 1950 and served as a passenger service between Hobart and Launceston until 1978.
The train’s carriages now house a variety of retail businesses including arts and crafts, bric-a-brac, a microbrewery and a buffet car offering espresso coffee and a pancake parlour.
There is also a huge antique warehouse and second-hand shop here, located in an old IXL apple packing shed, as well as a children’s play area, toilets, baby change facility and plenty of car parking.
Showcasing the northwest region, Providore Market is where the city connects with the farms. It is an all-weather modern pavilion, that will be known as the place to see the newest and freshest products from Tasmania. It is designed to suit both the local community and the ever growing tourist market.
Harvest Launceston Community Farmers’ Market has established itself as a signature weekly event where the community gathers to shop, share a coffee and feast on a diverse array of local offerings, dictated only by the colour palette of Tasmania’s four distinct seasons.
Think of the blackness of fresh truffles, handmade pasta and pink smoked salmon, artisan sourdough loaves and pastries, the glorious colours of seasonal vegetables such as zucchini blossoms and heirloom tomatoes, the air scented with bunches of basil, freshly pressed olive oil, hand-picked asparagus, plump apples and pears to the reds of the freshest berries or a cold climate pinot noir or riesling wine. Depending on the month of the year, this is just a small sample of what Tasmanian producers, the farmers, bakers, fishermen, growers, jam and pickle makers, winemakers and brewers bring from their paddocks, orchards, cellars and kitchens to transform an inner-city car park into a bustling farmers’ market.
Read more: Our favourite open air markets around the nation
The Sorell Antiques Centre, in southeast Tasmania, offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables. The town of Sorell is a half-hour drive from central Hobart (27km) and a 15-minute drive from Hobart airport (13km).
The Sorell Antiques Centre is operated by 12 independent Tasmanian antique dealers. You can browse the centre’s 300 square metres of antique and cottage furniture, china, glassware, collectables, militaria, ephemera, advertising and books. The Sorell Antiques Centre is located in central Sorell, in the town’s original School of the Arts Building (1862).
Tasmania’s rich colonial and convict history draws antique hunters and collectors from across the world. Sorell has a number of second-hand stores and a regular market where you can unearth some surprising treasures. From here, it is a short drive (14km) to the township of Richmond where you will find an abundance of antique, art and craft shops, Georgian architecture and convict history.
The Evandale market is a popular country market in historic Evandale in Tasmania’s north.
Come and be a part of one of Tasmania’s favourite markets with more than 100 stalls, including a wide range of wares from high-quality crafts to bric-a-brac for every budget. There are also plenty of great food stalls.
Evandale is a lovely Georgian village with well-preserved cottages, houses, churches, inns and shops. It is a great place for browsing in antique galleries and art and craft shops. The Launceston airport lies between Evandale and Launceston. You can also visit other historic towns nearby including Longford and Westbury. A short drive into Launceston will offer you a host of street-side cafes, boutique shops and leafy city parks. You can also head down the Tamar Valley Wine Route to sample some of Tasmania’s finest cool-climate wines.
The market is open every Sunday from 8am to 1.30pm. Evandale is located just 15km south of Launceston.
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The Ring Road Antique Centre in New Norfolk offers a range of antiques and collectables. New Norfolk is a 30-minute drive west of Hobart (33km) in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley.
The Ring Road Antique Centre offers a broad selection of antiques and collectables dating from the Victorian era to the mid-20th century. You can browse the extensive display of items, which includes antique furniture, china, crystal and glassware, pottery, kitchenware and jewellery. The Ring Road Antiques Centre is a centre of 13 antique dealers and collectors, ensuring the equality and diversity of the collection.
New Norfolk is known by collectors as an antique mecca. You can explore the town’s many antique shops and discover a new treasure to add to or begin your own collection.
The Brookfield Margate Market is on every Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
It is situated in the beautiful grounds of the Brookfield Shed on the Channel Highway at Margate, which is well known for its coffee and yummy food.
Why not come over for coffee, breakfast or lunch and check out this friendly market.
It’s the place to be on a Saturday.
Information from Discover Tasmania’s Shopping and Markets page.
Which are your favourite places to pick up something distinctly Tasmanian? Why not share your Tassie tips in the comments section below?
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