Published: The Mercury 17th September 2025
They are the place where business ideas can flourish and where every dollar spent is supporting local
Edwin Johnstone
As the days lengthen and Hobart’s streets warm under the first sun of spring, the city’s markets are once again bustling with energy, colour and fresh local produce. From the Salamanca, Farm Gate and the Hobart Twilight markets to suburban pop-ups, these vibrant gatherings are more than weekend markets, they are a vital force in Hobart’s economy and community life.
Markets have become one of the economic engines of Hobart with Salamanca Market alone contributing up to $75m to the local economy. A 2023 report found that 70 per cent of visitors to Hobart said Salamanca Market influenced their decision to visit the city, with 36 per cent citing it as a major reason.
Perhaps the strongest argument for supporting local markets is simple: money stays here. Each dollar spent helps a local farmer, baker, brewer, artist or florist. That spending flows back into wages, equipment and the survival of small businesses across our region. It’s a cycle of support: customers sustaining businesses, businesses sustaining jobs, and jobs sustaining communities.
But the impact goes well beyond visitor spending. For small businesses, markets are the launch pad. They provide a relatively low-cost way to test new ideas without the burden of long leases, fitouts or major overheads. A simple trestle table and a banner can be enough for an entrepreneur to discover whether their product resonates with customers.
Markets also allow small operators to build a loyal following from the ground up. Stallholders meet their customers face-to-face, hear feedback immediately, and refine their offer week by week. A grower can adjust what they plant based on conversations at the stall. A maker can tweak designs based on what sells best. That kind of real-time market research would cost thousands of dollars in the corporate world.
For many, those first market weekend experiences become the foundation of something much larger. A distiller can move from sharing samples at Salamanca to bottling for export. These are not isolated stories, they are part
of the Tasmanian business journey, repeated again and again by people who took their first steps in the marketplace.
Markets are also social spaces. After the shorter, quieter days of winter, Hobartians are rediscovering the simple pleasure of strolling past stalls, chatting with growers, or enjoying a coffee in the sun. Markets are where neighbours meet, families wander and visitors soak up Hobart’s character. In an age when so much shopping happens online, markets remind us of the value of personal connection.
Tasmania’s reputation for clean, high-quality produce is proudly on display. From organic vegetables, fresh raspberries, artisan cheeses, small-batch spirits, olive oils and sourdough bread, every stall reflects the best of what Tasmania has always produced. For visitors, markets are a showcase of what makes our island unique.
For locals, they’re a weekly reminder of the quality available just a short drive away. Choosing to shop at a local market is not only a culinary choice but an environmental one. Produce that travels fewer kilometres means fewer emissions. Food harvested just hours before sale is fresher, healthier and
longer-lasting. In a time when supply chains can feel fragile, markets offer food security and resilience.
Markets also serve as cultural showcases. Buskers bring live music to the streets, artists share their craft and multicultural food stalls tell the story of Tasmania’s growing diversity. For tourists, it’s an invitation to experience more than the scenery, it’s a chance to taste and hear and feel local culture.
As Hobart grows, markets offer a vision of sustainable, community-driven development. They remind us that economic success is not measured only in major investments and exports but also in the everyday exchanges
between neighbours.
If we want markets to thrive, we need to support them, not only as shoppers but as a community. That means councils making it easier for stallholders to participate. It means investing in infrastructure like public transport, waste management, and amenities that make markets welcoming and accessible. It means recognising the value of markets as serious economic and cultural assets.
This spring, the stalls are full, the buskers are playing, and the air is rich with food smells. For the economy, for local jobs, for the community and for the joy of being outdoors again, Hobart’s markets are in full bloom and worth celebrating.
Edwin Johnstone
Chair, Confederation of Greater Hobart Business
