Mareeba Markets
A market in a town first known as Granite Creek, renamed when the Cairns-Kuranda railway reached it in 1893.
Also known as Mareeba Lions Markets, Mareeba Markets 100 Park.
About this market
Mareeba Markets trades in a town that's changed its name once in a genuinely significant way. First known as Granite Creek, the settlement began in 1880 around a wayside inn and store where the coach road from Port Douglas crossed the halfway mark on the route to the goldfields. That changed in 1893, when the Cairns-Kuranda railway line was extended to the site, and the settlement was renamed Mareeba to coincide with the opening of its new railway station.
From a coach-road inn to the Tablelands' biggest town
That railway connection transformed Mareeba's fortunes: by 1919, it had grown into the district's most important town, and today it holds that title more emphatically than ever, the biggest town on the Atherton Tablelands and a major regional centre for agriculture and tourism. The market trades at Centenary Park in the middle of town, drawing on that agricultural heritage with fresh, locally grown produce direct from Tablelands farmers.
Market at a glance
Reviewers consistently praise the fresh, locally grown produce direct from Tablelands farmers, alongside fabulous coffee and a specific mention of the CWA stall's cheap tea, jam, scones and cake, plus a well-regarded bacon and egg roll van making the trip from nearby Mossman worthwhile.
Mareeba wasn't always called Mareeba. It began life as Granite Creek in 1880, and only took its current name in 1893, timed exactly with the arrival of the Cairns-Kuranda railway line and the opening of its own station.
Good to know before you go
The unusual second-and-fifth-Saturday schedule, rather than a simple fortnightly or monthly pattern, makes checking the calendar genuinely important before planning a trip. Being worth the drive from Cairns, according to regular visitors, makes it a reasonable day-trip destination alongside other Atherton Tablelands attractions.
Check the address as well as the date. The market spent a period at the Mareeba Turf Club after traffic concerns pushed it out of town, and stallholders reported losing up to 60 per cent of their takings as the crowds fell away. It returned to Centenary Park in June 2024 when the Lions Club of Mareeba took it over, with a traffic controller and a 40km/h limit on market days as the fix. Plenty of listings still send people to Fenwick Street, which is now the wrong side of town.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When are Mareeba Markets held?
- The second and fifth Saturday of the month (whenever a month has a fifth Saturday), from 7am to 12.30pm, at Centenary Park on Byrnes Street, known locally as 100 Park.
- What's the history behind the name Mareeba?
- The settlement was first known as Granite Creek, established in 1880 around a wayside inn and store where the coach road from Port Douglas crossed the halfway mark. It was renamed Mareeba when the Cairns-Kuranda railway line was extended there in 1893, timed with the opening of the new railway station.
- How significant is Mareeba today?
- Mareeba grew to become the district's most important town by 1919, and today it's the biggest town on the Atherton Tablelands, a major regional centre for agriculture and tourism.
- What are Mareeba Markets opening hours?
- The second and fifth Saturday of the month. The market is at Mareeba, QLD.
- What days is Mareeba Markets open?
- Saturday, 7am to 12:30pm.