Tootgarook Primary School Market
Around 250 stalls in a primary school ground on the fourth Saturday, raising money for the school that hosts it.
Also known as Tootgarook Community Market.
About this market
Two hundred and fifty stalls in a primary school ground is not the ratio you expect. Tootgarook sits at the southern end of the Mornington Peninsula between Rosebud and Rye, and on the fourth Saturday of the month its primary school turns into one of the bigger markets down that way.
Crafts and produce, at scale
The range covers handmade arts and crafts, local and fresh produce, gourmet foods, plants, bric-a-brac and clothing. At this size the bric-a-brac end is a genuine hunt rather than a couple of trestles, and the produce is worth arriving early for. Five hours from half past seven is a proper market morning.
Market at a glance
The fundraising angle is the reason it works. Stall fees go to the school, the school provides the ground, and the peninsula gets a market. It is a straightforward arrangement that a lot of communities used to have and fewer do now.
Half past seven is an unusually early start even by market standards, and it is deliberate. On the southern peninsula in summer, the serious shopping is done before the heat arrives, and a 12.30 finish means the stallholders are packed up before the worst of the afternoon.
Good to know before you go
Come early. A 7.30 start at a 250 stall market means the good bric-a-brac is gone by nine, and the school ground fills with cars well before that. Carmichael Street is a residential street, so park considerately and expect to walk a block or two. Bring cash and bags. Rosebud and Rye are both a few minutes away, and the back beaches are twenty, so a fourth Saturday down here is easy to build a day around.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the Tootgarook market on?
- The fourth Saturday of the month, 7.30am to 12.30pm, in the grounds of Tootgarook Primary School on Carmichael Street.
- How big is it?
- Around 250 stalls, which is a remarkable size for a primary school ground and makes it one of the larger monthly markets on the southern peninsula.
- Where does the money go?
- The market is a fundraiser for Tootgarook Primary School, so the stall fees go back into the school that hosts it.
- What are Tootgarook Primary School Market opening hours?
- The fourth Saturday of the month. The market is at Tootgarook, VIC.
- What days is Tootgarook Primary School Market open?
- Saturday, 7:30am to 12:30pm.
- Is there an entry fee for Tootgarook Primary School Market?
- Free