Darlington Farmers Market

Darlington itself takes its name from Dr Alfred Waylen, who named his hills property Darlington in 1883, with the railway station that gave the wider suburb its identity following in 1889. Darlington Farmers Market sets up twice a month on the grounds of Darlington Hall, one of that same hills community's long-standing venues, on the first and third Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Entry is free.

A hills market built around the hall it trades beside

Stallholders bring fresh, local produce, baked goods, honey and jams alongside handcrafted goods, giving the market the mixed producer-and-maker line-up typical of a Perth Hills farmers market rather than a straight fruit-and-veg affair. That handmade emphasis fits the town's own character: Darlington has long attracted artists and craftspeople seeking distance from the city, a pull that took hold after the First World War and continued through painters like Guy Grey Smith and Robert Juniper settling in the hills after the Second. Live music runs through the morning, and a dedicated program of children's activities, totem tennis, skittles, sensory play and bubbles among them, plus a nearby playground, makes it a genuine family outing rather than just a shopping stop.

The market trades on the Darlington Hall grounds itself rather than a separate showground or park, which keeps everything, stalls, music and the kids' program, within easy walking distance of the hall's own playground and shaded grounds.

Good to know before you go

Because it lands on the first and third Saturday rather than every week, double-check the date before visiting, particularly if you're combining the trip with other Perth Hills stops. The Darlington Hall grounds at 1/3 Owen Road are an easy stopover on a loop through the hills, with parking on site.