March of that year saw three marketeers set up their stalls around the CWA Hall, with refreshments served inside. There was a grand total of eight visitors and a turnover of $30. A vastly different picture to what we see today at The Original Eumundi Markets!
Eumundi Markets
The markets quickly gained momentum. After only one year of operation, the Original Eumundi Market had gained a reputation as a source of energy, variety, freshness and friendliness, properties that still characterise it today. But it was the policy of its founders and the markets guiding body, the Eumundi Historical Society (now the Eumundi Historical Association), that made it unique: all goods had to be locally made.
Eumundi markets
By 1985 – just six years after launching - the Original Eumundi Markets had 97 stalls, with an estimated attendance of 143,000 people for the year. Five years later, it had grown to 203 stalls, and around 260,000 visitors for the year.
Eumundi Makrets original
By the year 2000, the market had grown to 350 stalls, and in 2002, the Original Eumundi Markets expanded from just a Saturday market to include a Wednesday market. Today the Original Eumundi Markets run rail, hail or shine twice a week and have an annual visitation of around 1.2 million. This makes it one of the largest craft and artisan markets in Australia.
Eumundi Markets
From the beginning, the markets were popular with locals, but as the market community grew and grew, the market drew interest from tourists visiting the Sunshine Coast.
The Original Eumundi Markets