Daylesford Sunday Market
A volunteer-run market since 1981, held on the platform of a heritage railway that still operates steam and diesel train rides.
About this market
Daylesford Sunday Market has run since 1981, held every Sunday on the platform of the town's historic railway station. It's operated by the Daylesford Spa Country Railway, staffed entirely by volunteers, as a not-for-profit venture that channels its proceeds back into supporting the town of Daylesford and the wider region.
Shopping on a working heritage railway platform
The market's setting is genuinely distinctive: rather than a car park or showground, stalls line the platform of an operating heritage railway, meaning a Sunday market visit can be paired with an actual train ride on the same historic line. Up to 130 stalls trade here each week, offering free parking and a dog-friendly policy for well-behaved pets, on top of more than four decades of continuous Sunday trading.
Market at a glance
Reviewers consistently describe a genuinely versatile range of stalls, second-hand and new goods, fermented foods, baked treats and smoothies, alongside gin, pastries, bread and preserves, though a few note the coffee options are limited enough that a shaded seating spot for the one available stall would be a welcome addition.
Daylesford Sunday Market trades on the same platform as an operating heritage railway, meaning a market visit can be combined with an actual train ride run by the same volunteers who staff the market itself.
Good to know before you go
Free parking and a dog-friendly policy make it an easy, low-friction visit compared with markets that charge for either. Checking the Daylesford Spa Country Railway's train schedule ahead of time is worth doing if a ride alongside the market shop is part of the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time does Daylesford Sunday Market open?
- Sunday, 8am to 1pm, at Daylesford Railway Station, 18 Raglan Street, Daylesford.
- Who runs the market?
- The Daylesford Spa Country Railway runs the market, staffed by volunteers, as a not-for-profit that supports the town of Daylesford and its surrounds. It's been running since 1981.
- Is it just a market, or something more?
- It's both. Since the market shares its site with the operating heritage railway, visitors can combine market shopping with train rides on the same historic platform, a genuinely unusual pairing for an Australian Sunday market.