You’ve heard the rumours. It’s true. From Saturday 7 December, the Bangalow Farmers Markets will be operating out of Piccabeen Park, not in the carpark behind the pub.
After months of waiting while the Development Application wended its way through Council corridors, permission was finally granted for the markets to start at Piccabeen Park on a “temporary trial” which ends in October 2026. If the trial is “deemed successful”, then the Farmers Market may be included in Council’s Sustainable Markets operations.
For the last nine years, Kylie McGregor has been the Bangalow Market’s onsite manager, while her husband Tom Carey performs the same duties at the Byron Bay Farmers Market. With a background in journalism and marketing, Kylie manages the market’s admin, marketing, social media and advertising. A committee of members runs an umbrella not-for- profit organisation, Byron Farmers Market Inc, which operates both the Byron Bay and Bangalow markets. Belinda Fortune is its president.
Each Saturday, stalls start setting up between 5.30-6am, for a 7am start and close at 11am. Currently, the Bangalow markets have around 30 stalls, which fluctuates according to the season. “While the majority of our farmers and stallholders are perennial,” Kylie explains, “we have a handful who have shorter seasons, so they only attend when their crops are in season.”
Initially, the move to Piccabeen Park was triggered by a social media post from a main street business on a Bangalow Community Facebook page. It asked the community what it thought of making the move to the park. Most responses were in favour of the move. At the same time, the pub had advised the market operators that renovations would be taking place at some point, which would require them to move offsite. Once the idea of moving to the park was proposed to stallholders, they voted unanimously to relocate permanently.
The market stalls will start at the Deacon Street entrance to Piccabeen Park and run along both sides of the road known unofficially as ‘Wetlands Way’, ending at the amenities block. A distinct advantage to the new location is the fact that there’s carparking conveniently located behind the museum. It has capacity for up to 43 cars (with supervision). No doubt this will be a relief to anyone trying to find a park along the main street on Saturday mornings.
Overhanging trees will provide more shade for the stalls and stallholders, and there’s an adjoining grassed area for customers alongside. “There’s also the opportunity to expand our offering to include breakfast and drink stalls,” adds Kylie.
“We have been incredibly grateful to Tom and Cathryn Mooney for allowing us to run the market in the pub carpark for the past 20 years. When the market was first started all those years ago, there was quite a bit of opposition to it. But it was the Mooneys who supported us and offered the market a venue in which to operate. Their generosity is greatly appreciated. It will be sad to leave, but this is a chance to evolve the market into a new era. While it has been great to call the pub home for so many years, the bitumen is extremely hot over the warmer months. I think everyone is looking forward to having a little respite from the heat as we head into summer. And a new home feels timely.
“We are hoping this new environment will be more enticing for people to not only come to do their weekly grocery shop, but to spend some time – having breakfast, listening to the live music and just hanging out. Plus, there are two playgrounds for the kids, and it’s a dog-friendly zone, so dogs on leads will be welcome. It just feels like a well-rounded offering for our community.”
The Bangalow Historical Society is planning to offer scones, jam and cream on the lawns outside the museum on some Saturday mornings, and is hopeful the presence of the markets, next to the museum and the weekly Library Bus, will create the perfect Saturday morning vibe for the town.
The mood among farmers is optimistic. Anthony Hotson, who has been selling the range of Rainforest Foods he grows and packages since the very first farmers markets in the Byron Shire, confirms the obvious: “Over the years, the markets have become more professional, more diverse, and we now offer a more comprehensive range of produce,” he said. “It is precarious, with the weather, but this is a beautiful market community here. It’s always been good for the farmers. Not as many markets have lasted as long as us. We really appreciate what Tom and Cathryn Mooney have done, giving us the opportunity to be here behind the Bangalow Hotel, but it’s time to move on.”
Heather Armstrong’s stall offering juicy Coopers Shoot Tomatoes, has also been operating at the Bangalow markets from Day One, as has David Trevor-Jones, from Hayters Hill Farm. Georgie Powell, from Mt Chowan Organics, has been coming to the markets since she was a child. Her father, Lance, was one of the original stallholders; now Georgia runs the stall.
The Bangalow Herald asked Kylie McGregor what she buys from the markets to cook herself. “It depends on the season! I always buy the staples, like leafy greens, potatoes, tomatoes, herbs and garlic and then it changes with what’s available. In the warmer months I reach for more salad options with lettuces, rocket, radicchio, red onions, radishes and avos – all topped with olive oil and sprouts. In the colder months I love slow cooking beef and whatever vegies are available – eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, silverbeet, carrots and squash. To me, it’s always about keeping it simple. When the produce is as great as we have, you don’t need to do much to it. At the moment, my go-to lunch or snack is locally-made rice crackers with avo, tomato, cheese and basil – all from our farmers. And when the berries, pawpaw and dragonfruit are in season, I’m in heaven. It’s really just about making the most of and appreciating what’s in season.”
Christobel Munson
Images by Lyn McCarthy Niche Pictures