Magnolia Square Craft Market
Market History · Victoria
Remembering Magnolia Square
The boutique design market that helped spark Melbourne’s handmade boom in the late 2000s.
Please note: Magnolia Square no longer appears to be running. This page is kept as a record of one of Melbourne’s early boutique craft markets.
2007
Opens in Malvern
2008
Expands to Brighton
150+
Makers at its peak
Riding Melbourne’s handmade wave
In the late 2000s, Melbourne was abuzz with handcraft markets, and local councils were getting behind the growing cottage industry. Magnolia Square stood out for the originality, quality and style of its stalls.
It opened in 2007, finishing its first year with a Christmas market of more than 60 handcrafters, artisans and gourmet producers. In 2008 it expanded to Brighton, and it grew to feature more than 150 artists, designers, stylists and craftspeople.
Town hall markets
Rather than a weekly or monthly stall, Magnolia Square ran as multi-day events several times a year, open from 10am until 9pm, in two of Melbourne’s grand town halls.
Malvern Town Hall
Corner Glenferrie Rd and High St, Malvern
Brighton Town Hall
Corner Wilson St and Carpenter St, Brighton
The market later announced an expansion to Sydney, with events planned at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
Some of the makers
Stallholders included independent labels across illustration, photography, textiles, fashion, homewares and design, among them:
Brett Jacques Photography
Ceinture
Cosse
Ella Sanders
Emerald Green Submarine
Emotional Baggage
Flat Bird Surfaces
Frankie and Ray
Hamb
Heatherly Designs
Heavenly Creatures
Illustrata
International Textile Collection
Kids with Crayons
Klei
Kristina Brenke
Leoni and Vonk
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