Collinsvale Market
More than sixty undercover stalls in a Derwent Valley hall on the last Sunday of the month, with a Highland cow and a dog park thrown in.
About this market
The valley Collinsvale sits in was settled from 1870 by German and Danish migrants drawn by cheap land and clean water, proclaimed a town in 1881 under the name Bismarck, and renamed Collinsvale in 1914 when wartime feeling made the old name untenable. The market that runs there now takes over 10 Hall Road on the last Sunday of the month, 10am to 2pm, with more than sixty stalls trading under cover.
What sixty stalls look like in a valley this size
The mix is wider than the population would suggest: boutique distillers alongside fresh fruit and vegetables, makers and bakers alongside plants, artisan work alongside a genuine second-hand corner. Food vans and coffee anchor the middle of it, and there is live music with seating nearby rather than a stage you have to stand in front of. The undercover setup matters more than it sounds. Tasmanian market weather in September or May can turn in twenty minutes, and a roof is the difference between a market that runs and a market that cancels.
Market at a glance
The other thing this market has that most do not is livestock you can meet. A Highland cow, alpacas and miniature goats are part of the site rather than a school-holiday add-on, and there is a dog park on the property, so the market functions as a morning out rather than a shopping errand. That combination is why it draws people up the valley from Hobart and Glenorchy rather than only from the immediate district.
Collinsvale was called Bismarck until 1914. The change came after a letter-writing campaign at the start of the First World War, and a group of residents petitioned against it at length before the new name, honouring Tasmania's first lieutenant-governor David Collins, was adopted.
Before you drive up the valley
Check the calendar before a winter trip: there are no markets in June, July or August, so the season effectively runs September to May. Ten to two is a short window for a market this size, and the drive from Hobart takes longer than the map suggests once you leave the highway, so leaving late costs you real browsing time. Bring cash as well as a card, since stallholders take payment individually. Dress for a valley rather than for the city, because Collinsvale sits higher and colder than the river. Stall bookings and enquiries go through the market's email address rather than a website. This is Muwinina and Palawa country.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the Collinsvale Market on?
- The last Sunday of the month, 10am to 2pm, at 10 Hall Road, Collinsvale. The market takes a winter break through June, July and August.
- Is it undercover?
- Yes. The stalls trade under cover, which is the main reason the market keeps running through Tasmanian shoulder-season weather.
- Can I bring my dog?
- Yes, the market is dog friendly and there is a dog park on the property.