Melbourne · Markets
Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne
Queen Victoria Market is a historic inner-city marketplace with fresh food, specialty groceries, clothing and locally made goods. Its produce halls and open-air sheds offer a look at a long-running part of Melbourne’s market culture.
What to expect
Queen Victoria Market, often called Queen Vic Market, is a large marketplace on the northern edge of Melbourne’s city centre. Across its produce halls, specialty food areas and open-air sheds, visitors can browse fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood, gourmet foods, clothing, homewares, gifts and other goods from small businesses.
The market officially opened in 1878 and its historic buildings are part of what makes a visit distinct from shopping in a conventional mall. It is also a working market, so the experience centres on browsing stalls and seeing a long-established part of everyday Melbourne life.
A place with a layered history
The market stands on land that includes the site of Melbourne’s first official cemetery, which operated from 1837 to 1854. The Queen Victoria Market is recognised on Australia’s National Heritage List for its links to Melbourne’s early colonial population and as an example of a nineteenth-century metropolitan produce market. The site is also on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation.
Exploring the market
Take time to wander between the produce halls, specialty food areas and open-air sheds. The mix of fresh produce, prepared foods and non-food stalls makes the market suitable for both a casual browse and a stop for food or shopping. Its location is a short walk from central Melbourne; the market is bounded by Peel, Franklin, Victoria and Elizabeth streets.
Trading days and hours can vary by area and occasion. Check the official market website before your visit for current hours, access information and any updates that may affect your plans.
Tips for your visit
- Allow time to explore both the food areas and the open-air sheds; the market covers several connected sections.
- If you have a specific stall or product in mind, check the trader directory and market information before setting out.
- For step-free access or other accessibility details, consult the market’s official visitor information.
- Consider bringing a reusable shopping bag if you plan to buy produce or other goods.