Saumarez Homestead was the venue for Armidale's second farmer's market on Sunday, run by the Armidale Farmer's Market Committee. The market was the first of four trial markets to be held on the homestead's grounds and it was well attended by locals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The market seemed to be off to a flying start and attracted several hundred people. Set down for the second Sunday of each month, it will hopefully also hold the advantage of attracting visitors to the homestead and rose garden.
Chair of the Armidale Farmer's Market Committee Jock Coventry said after losing its lease to Rotary AM at Curtis Park, the committee did not want to disband and lose all of its experience.
"We thought with all of our expertise, we've sort of got a fair idea of how we can run a nice market so we looked for another option, another venue," he said.
RELATED READING:
"This is a trial at this stage and we'll see how it goes, but I think there's enough here to create a slightly different market out here.
"We put a proposal to the Saumarez Trust for a four month trial, so November to February and we'll see how it goes. Hopefully, we can be beneficial to each other."
Jock said the committee hoped to create the markets as a destination event.
Property manager for the Saumarez Homestead National Trust Property Les Davis was pleased at the number of people who had made the trip out from town and was optimistic about the market's future.
"It's only another five minutes from town if you are driving," he said.
"The rose garden is just amazing at the moment and it certainly fits in with our program.
"We have a meeting on the day after the fourth market to consider how things have been going, but if today's any indication I can't see any problems at all."
Have your say. Click this link to send a letter to the editor.