Camberwell Sunday Market

Camberwell Sunday Market began in 1976, founded by Balwyn Rotary as a fundraising market in a suburban car park. The first outing was modest by any measure: 48 stalls, 1,700 visitors, and takings of $531. Fifty years on, it's grown into one of Melbourne's best-known flea markets without ever stopping being a charity fundraiser at heart.

A car park that's raised $16 million

Every visitor is asked for a gold coin donation on entry, and that small, voluntary amount has added up: Balwyn Rotary has raised more than $16 million since the market began, funding causes from Box Hill Hospital to earthquake rebuilding efforts in New Zealand. More than 380 stalls now trade here, selling bric-a-brac, vintage clothing, collectibles, books, records and hardware to around 250,000 visitors a year.

The strong community roots show up in the crowd as much as the cause: reviewers describe a mix of serious treasure hunters and regulars who've been coming since the 1970s, alongside the usual weekend browsers hunting for a bargain.

Good to know before you go

It wraps up by 12:30pm and doesn't run at all on the Sunday roughly ten days before Christmas, so it's worth checking the calendar before a trip that time of year. The gold coin donation goes entirely to Rotary's charitable work, a small ask given the scale of what it's funded over five decades.