Kirribilli Markets
One of Sydney's oldest markets, started in a neighbourhood centre's backyard in 1976 and now 220 stalls under the Harbour Bridge.
About this market
Kirribilli Markets began on 21 January 1976 in the backyard of the newly opened Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, a modest fundraiser that quickly outgrew its own backyard and spread into the adjacent grounds of the then Kirribilli Public School. Today it's one of Sydney's oldest and most popular markets, held right under the Harbour Bridge at Milsons Point.
From a backyard fundraiser to 220 stalls under the bridge
The market's location has moved more than once as it grew. When Kirribilli Public School was sold, the market shifted to the park along Alfred Street South beside the bridge, then briefly to Bradfield Park underneath it, before North Sydney Council's acquisition of the old Milsons Point Bowling Club gave it permission to use the bowling green and Burton Street tunnel, the site that finally let it expand to its current 220 stalls.
Market at a glance
Reviewers consistently point to the market's setting as much as its stalls, a genuine harbourside experience with the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a backdrop, an easy ferry ride and uphill walk from the CBD, and enough variety across new and secondhand clothing, homewares and crafts to justify the trip on its own.
Kirribilli Markets has moved location at least three times since 1976, from a neighbourhood centre's backyard to a public school yard to a park beside the Harbour Bridge, before finally settling on the old Milsons Point Bowling Club site it uses today.
Good to know before you go
Dates don't follow a fixed weekly pattern, so checking the market's calendar before setting out is worth doing rather than assuming a specific Saturday or Sunday. Every purchase directly funds the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre's community programs, giving a market visit a genuine local purpose beyond the shopping itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What day does Kirribilli Markets run?
- Dates vary rather than following a fixed weekly day, so it's worth checking the market's own calendar before planning a visit. On market days, management is on site from around 6.30am.
- How did it start?
- The first Kirribilli Markets were held on 21 January 1976 in the backyard of the newly opened Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, before spreading into the yard of the then Kirribilli Public School as it grew in popularity.
- Where does the money go?
- All proceeds from Kirribilli Markets go directly to funding the programs of the Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, making every stall purchase a small contribution to local community services.