Capital Region Farmers Market
A Rotary-run market at EPIC that grew out of a rose stall at Old Parliament House, now Canberra's biggest producer-only Saturday market.
About this market
Capital Region Farmers Market traces its origins to an unlikely start: in 2003, the Rotary Club of Hall began selling roses from Old Parliament House, a modest fundraiser that did surprisingly well. Building on that success, the club held Canberra's first proper farmers market at Exhibition Park in Canberra in 2004, and the market has grown every year since under the same Rotary stewardship.
Run by the only rural Rotary club in the ACT
What sets Capital Region Farmers Market apart is who's behind it. The Rotary Club of Hall, the only rural Rotary club in the Australian Capital Territory, runs the market as a genuine community project, with every dollar of profit returned to local and Australian community initiatives rather than private hands. More than 100 stallholders now trade here each Saturday under EPIC's covered sheds, all vetted through strict producer rules and regular farm visits to guarantee produce comes from within roughly 300 kilometres of Canberra.
Market at a glance
Reviewers consistently rank it among Canberra's best markets, with fresh bagels, coffee and an impressive range of fruit, vegetables and other regional goods drawing a loyal Saturday morning crowd who describe a genuinely friendly, unhurried atmosphere among stallholders and shoppers alike.
Capital Region Farmers Market exists because a Rotary rose stall outside Old Parliament House did better than anyone expected in 2003, a modest flower fundraiser that, within a year, had grown into Canberra's own farmers market at EPIC.
Good to know before you go
It wraps up at 11:30am, earlier than many farmers markets, so a prompt start is worth it to see the full range of stalls. All profits flowing back to community initiatives means a Saturday shop here does double duty as a small act of local support.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time does the market open?
- Saturday, 7am to 11:30am, in the covered sheds of Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Mitchell.
- How did it start?
- In 2003, the Rotary Club of Hall began selling roses from Old Parliament House and found unexpected success. Building on that, the club held the first proper farmers market at EPIC in 2004, and it's grown steadily every year since.
- Are all the stallholders genuine producers?
- Yes. The market enforces strict producer rules, including regular farm visits, to ensure everything sold comes from within roughly 300 kilometres of Canberra and is genuinely grown, raised or made by the stallholder.