Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market is a major public marketplace built in stages from the 1860s and officially opened in 1878; it covers over seven hectares and is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Much of the nineteenth-century fabric remains, giving the market a distinctive historic streetscape.

The site was developed over the Old Melbourne Cemetery and expanded through the late 19th and early 20th centuries; surviving structures include the 1869 Meat Hall and long retail rows along Elizabeth and Victoria Streets. The market is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and the National Heritage List.

Today the market is a large retail food market and a non-food bazaar, offering fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood, deli goods, clothing, jewellery and craft stalls. It attracts millions of visitors each year and hosts evening ‘night market’ events on selected Wednesdays in summer and winter.

Visiting means wandering a mix of covered halls and open-air rows, sampling gourmet and multicultural food, and appreciating intact Victorian-era architecture alongside modern stallholders; check opening days locally before you go.

• Meat and Fish Hall: The 1869 Meat and Fish Hall retains much of its historic façade and provides a tangible link to the market’s nineteenth-century origins.
• Elizabeth and Victoria Street retail rows: Long rows of 19th-century shopfronts offer a preserved streetscape where you can browse specialty food shops and small retailers.
• Produce sheds and trading rows: Large open-air and covered sheds are where wholesale and retail fruit, vegetable and deli stalls present seasonal produce and specialty ingredients.
• Wednesday night markets: On selected Wednesday evenings in summer and winter the market runs a night market featuring street food, bars and live entertainment - check dates locally.
• Non-food market: A diverse range of clothing, jewellery, crafts and souvenirs fills dedicated aisles and weekend stalls for shoppers seeking unique items.

The market sits in Melbourne’s central business district and is straightforward from anywhere in the city; Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) is the nearest major airport for international and domestic flights.

Southern Cross Station and Melbourne Central/Flagstaff stations are the main rail hubs in the CBD; trams run along Elizabeth and Queen streets so the last stretch is typically on foot, a short tram ride or a taxi from central stations - check current public-transport routes for best connections.

• Arrive early on market days for the freshest produce and fewer crowds, especially at popular stalls.
• Much of the site is open-air or under simple sheds, so bring sun or rain protection depending on the forecast.
• If you plan to experience the night market, check the market’s schedule as evening events run on selected Wednesdays in summer and winter.
• Allow time to explore both the food halls and the separate non-food sections - they are spread across two city blocks.
• Respect heritage areas and signage where access may be restricted during conservation works or events.