Preston Market
Melbourne's north-side multicultural market since 1970, built on an old tannery site and now heritage-protected through a long-running redevelopment fight.
About this market
Preston Market opened on 11 August 1970 with more than 250 stalls, on a site that had been home to the Broadhurst Tannery until its demolition in 1964. It was developed by Leon and Lola Jolson, Polish migrants who'd moved to Melbourne not long before, with Leon's stated aim being a market that felt like "a place of noise and activity" rather than a quiet retail strip.
Built the wrong way round, on purpose
At a time when most new shopping developments were moving into enclosed, air-conditioned malls, Preston Market was deliberately designed as a pedestrianised, open-air site, an unusual choice for 1970 that's part of why it still reads as a real market rather than a food court. It's now one of the few undercover markets left in Melbourne, and the only one in the northern suburbs.
Market at a glance
What's held constant since 1970 is the multicultural character: stallholders from across the world selling food that reflects their own background, with some families now on their second, third or fourth generation running the same stall. It's the second-largest market in Melbourne by weekly visitors, drawing more than 80,000 people through in a typical week.
The market's future has been the subject of a long-running redevelopment dispute. In response, the Victorian government approved planning controls specifically requiring the market to be "substantially retained" in place, with heritage protections now built into any future redevelopment of the surrounding precinct.
Visiting around the redevelopment
None of the ownership and planning changes have closed the market itself. Stallholder leases were extended through the disputes, and it continues to trade its normal four days a week. If you've heard the site is "closing," that's not accurate as things stand; what's changing is the land around it, not the market floor itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Preston Market still open, given the redevelopment news?
- Yes. Stallholder leases were extended for five years from January 2024, and the state government has since approved planning controls requiring the market to be substantially retained. It remains open and operating.
- What days does it trade?
- Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Closed Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Check the live hours panel on this page for anything unusual around public holidays.
- What makes it different from other Melbourne markets?
- It's one of the few remaining undercover markets in Melbourne and the only one in the northern suburbs, and its stallholders reflect decades of migration waves rather than one dominant culture.