Stanthorpe's Market in the Mountains.
Stanthorpe’s Market in the Mountains grew from an idea suggested to local crafters during the 1990 Apple and Grape Harvest Festival. Carole Parkinson took the idea to a series of public meetings to gauge whether the idea of a craft market would be feasible. With the enthusiasm of local crafters and financial help from various groups, Market in the Mountains was born. The first convenors were Lynne Alexander and Terri Welles.
The result was that in 1992, a group of like-minded people got together to find a way to promote and showcase the talents of local crafters. The result was a bi-monthly market held in the car park of the Central Hotel in Stanthorpe. This site was fine in summer but Queensland’s coldest town suffers some cold blustery winds and snow and sleet is not unknown in winter.
A decision was made to move to St. Joseph’s Hall where there was protection from the elements. After a while, the Market outgrew the size of the hall and it was moved to the Stanthorpe Shire Council’s Civic Centre which is in the centre of town. About this time, the Markets became a monthly affair, held on the second Sunday of each month and/or long weekend Sundays.
Due to the Market’s increasing popularity with visitors and more Stallholders applying to take part in such a quality market, a consensus of Stallholders decided it was time to have two Markets each month. From October, 2007, Market in the Mountains is open on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month as well as long weekend Sundays.
Since the inception of the Markets, a committee of stallholders has been responsible for the smooth running of our enterprise as well as our promotion of the Granite Belt and its artisans. In 1998, the committee showed keen foresight in registering the name “Market in the Mountains” as our official market title and we reserve the right to restrict the use of that name to our Market and promotions. We also became the Stanthorpe Crafters & Hobbyists Assn. Inc., a not-for-profit organisation showcasing Market in the Mountains.
© Stanthorpe Crafters and Hobbyists Assn. Inc.
