Freelance writer specialising in serendipity: the art of finding wonderful things by accident or sagacity. Comments and suggestions always welcome!
Published May 20th 2013
The go-to place for a midweek market fix
A wet autumn Saturday isn't the best time for an outdoor market, so I was pleased to see that many of the traders at Fremantle's Mad Hatter Market braved the weather and set up anyway. The market has an ideal location in Kings Square, just past the Town Hall with the Tourist Information Centre right in the middle, and it's the only Fremantle market that's open midweek as well as weekends.
There were a reduced number of stalls on the day that I visited, due partly to the weather and partly to the fact that many of the regular stall holders had been invited to trade at festivals in Carnarvon and further north. Still there was enough merchandise to warrant some browsing as the weather cleared up.
I liked the selection of crystals and semi-precious stones at Itribal, where they craft your selection into a braided hemp necklace or bracelet. Not for everyone perhaps but unusual and uniquely Fremantle. Just nearby was Bling It On, offering handcrafted silver jewellery. A bit further along there was a Chinese massage stall and several clothing stalls offering everything from animal pyjamas to silk caftans.
image courtesy Mad Hatter website
At the far end of the market are the food stalls, where there's a choice of Turkish, Indian, Vietnamese, Salvadoran and other treats. Coffee and ice cream were available along with a hot donut van. There's entertainment in the nearby Buskers Corner but I was there early and it hadn't started yet. Still it makes a very pleasant spot for lunch or a snack.
