Lonsdale’s New Addition: The Haig Markets
The new Haig Markets at the top end of Braddon are buzzing. Sundays at 8am you will find Canberra small businesses turn up to showcase the best local produce they have to offer. The markets started in February this year and hopes are they become a staple of Canberra life.
Once known as a rather seedy area that you wouldn’t want to walk through by yourself at night, Haig Park has been rejuvenated into a thriving family friendly area. The Barr Government have made it their prerogative to change the culture in Canberra to give it life and its own sense of culture.
So far this has been a success. A city once known as being boring and only a place you visit on school excursions has changed for the better. What better place to showcase these changes than at the end of arguably our most ‘hip’ street, Lonsdale Street.
If you currently live in Canberra, or just here for a visit, the Haig Markets are a must see.
I chose a great day to venture in. It was sunny, very busy and there were just as many four legged fury friends as humans. My first stop on my Sunday while there was ‘May Farm Flowers‘!
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It’s hard to not be taken away by the beautiful array of flowers that are on show at May Farm Flowers. Probably my favourite pop up, purely because of the amazing colours on show. Whether it’s lilies, sunflowers or roses you’re looking for, this stall has it all and at very reasonable prices. With mothers day just around the corner I can imagine this will be a very busy stall in the coming weeks. The smell and colour of the flowers in the light was amazing.
Next was on to ‘The Bite’s Pretzels‘.
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This is a stall for the savoury lovers out there. Claiming to be Canberra’s first New York style Pretzels, these things are huge. They’re not your run of the mill Australian pretzel that come out of a packet. These are American pretzels that are bigger than the entirety of your hand and will take a hungry person to devour by themselves. You’ve got to get in quick here though as these guys are known to sell out!
Time for sweet food now and ‘Cocoa Bun Buns‘ is calling.
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Run by Sarah Pineda, part time amazingly. This is a small stall that you’ll only find here at the Haig Markets or at the Binalong Community Markets. Showcasing a wide variety of cakes and desserts Cocoa Bun Buns is sure to fulfil that sugar craving. These deserts are sticky and sweet and look amazing. You can personally see the amount of time, thought and love that has gone in to creating every one of these desserts. After all the walking you do around the market’s you’ll surely deserve one of Sarah’s amazing creations. You can visit the Cocoa Bun Buns website here to order for yourself.
A mid markets recap. It’s packed and the people seem so happy to be out and about enjoying the freedom of socialising after the year thats been. A family affair, there are a lot of families (pets included) perusing the various stores. The shade from the massive Cyprus pines give adequate shade as to not make it to warm to walk about.
Now I was in need of some fresh produce. Next stop was ‘Banjos Paddock‘.
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After all the sweet and savoury treats it’s probably important to stock up on some healthy food. Banjos Paddock is the place to do that. Established in 2016 providing organic fruit and vegetables, Banjos has a full variety of healthy stuff you want. If you want to support small local business this is the place to do that. After surviving two major floods and the Coronavirus pandemic since they established, giving back to small local businesses like this is fantastic!
After all the walking I needed some ‘Local Spirit Coffee‘.
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Lastly, but certainly not least I needed some energy to get home after all this shopping. How better to do that than with a caffeine infusion. I picked myself up some cold brew coffee which is the speciality of local Spirit Coffee. Another local Canberra business, you can pick up some beans to take home to savour the taste for weeks ahead.
These shops only touch the surface of what is on offer at the Haig Markets. It’s a great way to support local business and for the government to showcase the major steps Canberra has made towards having the soul of a big diverse city. It may be getting colder so please put on a jacket, beanie and scarf and head to the Haig Markets to support Canberra and the businesses within.
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