Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market, one of the largest open air markets in the Southern Hemisphere combines almost 1,000 traders across this 7-hectare site which has been a vital part of the Melbourne community since 1878.

Queen Victoria Market is a diverse collection of souvenirs, niche products and of course a haven for foodies. Delicacies such as goats cheese, whole fresh fish, organic coffee and fine preserves are just a few of the things that are purchased frequently by visitors and many locals.

Market Precincts

The Deli Hall

A must for all your delicatessen and platter needs the deli hall is also host to some hot food favourites. (See “Market Recommendations > Borek, Bratwurst &Gourmet Pizzas”). In and around this hall you will see many people grabbing a bite to eat during their Market trip.

• Cheeses
• Wines
• Dips
• Game meats
• Salamis
• Breads
• Pastries and desserts
• And much more…

Meat Hall

There is no meat you cannot find here and best of all its super high quality and fresh with widely available organic, chemical and hormone free options (see “Market Tips & Recipes”). There are numerous butchers, poultry shops and seafood operators and once you buy market meat, you’ll never want to buy plastic wrapped meat ever again. Sometimes a simple ingredients such as Lamb mince for a shepherds pie can prove elusive at the supermarket. Not at the Queen Victoria Market. Major meat category examples include

• Seafood
• Lamb
• Chicken
• Pork
• Beef
• Veal
• Sausages
• Hamburgers
• And plenty more…

Fruit, Vegetables & Organics

Fruits and Vegetables are found in multiple sheds including the “I shed” which predominately houses organic fruit and Vegetables. Other organic produce can be found in this shed along with fresh eggs and honey.

Remember for the cheapest fruit and vegetables in their prime, aim for those which are in season: http://www.qvm.com.au/qvm/seasonal_produce.aspx

Wine Tasting

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, wineries and boutiques congregate to offer cellar door sales and tasting to the market public. So get some quality wine, fresh fruit and visit the Deli Hall to complete a gourmet menu.

General Merchandise

Not only is the market a place for purchasing products, the products and stalls themselves area a source of entertainment. This is all too true when browsing the market sheds containing a diverse and enormous amount of merchandise. Tourists will love the unique Australian and local products alongside locals browsing for high quality bargain products.

• Souvenirs
• Plants
• Toys
• Clothing
• Paintings
• Soaps
• Massage and pressure point products
• And much more…

Market Tours

The market is a huge and interesting place so a market tour is a great way to become familiar with the market by someone who knows everything there is to know. There are different tours to choose from geared towards

• The market as a whole
• Food tours including sampling
• Catering for large groups such as schools.

For more information and bookings see http://www.qvm.com.au///market_tours.aspx

Market Tips & Recipes

Fresh Seasonal Produce: Delicious and Cheap

If it’s in season, it will be at its best and cheapest!

Here is a clear and simple seasonal guide to some of the seasonal fruits and vegetables that dominate the fresh produce at the Queen Victoria Market.

http://www.qvm.com.au/qvm/seasonal_produce.aspx

Tasty, Fresh and Quick

I like good quality, fresh, tasty food that is quick and easy to prepare. One of the most under rated means of achieving this is through baking. You can bake a few things in the oven all at the same time for family meals or dishes that will last the week. Just place your food in the oven and in half an hour you’re set.

Shop: Thompson Meats

Spicy Mexican Sausages
Quality sausages are best baked! Try these firm plump sausages, which will spread their flavour and pack a punch through whatever dish you choose to use them in.

Easy Baking – Spicy Mexican Sausages

1. Preheat over to 200 degrees Celsius
2. Bake for 20 minutes

Recipe – Spicy Sausage Pasta

• 4 Sausages, baked according to the above instructions
• 1 Large Brown Onion, Chopped into large cubes
• 1 jar of pasta sauce
• 1 pack of large pasta tubes, cooked according to directions
• Extras: parsley, black pepper, salt, cheese to taste

Directions

1. Heat olive oil over medium high heat
2. Lightly fry onion cubes until translucent
3. Add jar of pasta sauce and heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
4. Chop baked sausages and add to sauce, simmer a further 5-10 minutes
5. Combine Sauce with cooked pasta
6. Add Extras as you see fit

Shop: Freedom Farms

Hormone and Chemical Free Chicken breast
There’s a distinct quality about hormone and chemical free chicken breast. Once baked, the flesh almost seems artificial in appearance, which by no means is an indicator of quality, but the proof is in the taste and this chicken delivers a deliciously moist flavour. It’s also a very healthy source of lean protein without all that stuff people find scary about chicken.

The secret behind perfectly baked chicken breast is not over cooking it.

Easy Baking – Hormone and Chemical Free Chicken

1. Preheat Oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil
3. Spread chicken breast onto tray and season if you wish (salt, garlic, pre-marinated etc)
4. Cook for 25 minutes
   a. Make an incision in the thickest part of the breat.
   b. If the breast is white, it is done
   c. If there is a SLIGHT pinkness, sitting for five minutes should do the trick
   d. Otherwise, cook it for longer checking every five minutes

Recipes

• Chicken breast is versatile.
• Slice and eat with rice and vegetables with sauces of your choice
• In a sandwich with fresh bread or in a toasty
• Slice and add to a fried rice
• Slice and add to a stir fry
• Serve whole breasts with a side of mash and vegetables

Market Recommendations

Jam Donuts

The American doughnut kitchen has been servicing the Queen Victoria Market for more then 50 years. It takes the shape of an instantly recognizable van which is generally positioned near the rear of the meat hall. At the resentment of those of us who have enjoyed the donuts since we were children, they’re not as amazingly cheap as they use to be, but they are still excellent value considering inflation and their hot, sugary jam filled goodness. They remain extremely popular and for good reason.

Donut makers can be seen in the van cutting up and cooking the dough. They are still delicious if you take them away for later but we strongly suggest you try at least one while they’re super fresh and hot.

Borek, Bratwurst &Gourmet Pizzas

3 Stalls in the Dairy Produce Hall often result in a bottle neck feeding frenzy. The Borak and Bratwurst’s in particular have gained strong reputations as distinctly fresh, delicious, well valued components of the Queen Victoria Market experience.

Fuel for the frantic market shopper and travelled to by workers and students during lunch breaks, these quality stalls continue to serve crowds of hungry punters.

Mezze Table – Shop 95/96

Borek
Warm tubes of Turkish pastry with fillings:

• Spicy Lamb
• Cheese and Spinach
• Potato and Vegetable
• Leek and vegetable
• Chicken and spicy chick pea

The Bratwurst Shop – Shop 99/100

Bratwurst
These bratwursts are extremely popular and with the high turnover, you can be assured they are deliciously hot, fresh and firm bursting with bratwurst flavours of either spicy, mild or weisswurst. The perfect selection of condiments and sour crout top these off beautifully.

Colour of Earth – Shop 97/98

Gourmet Pizzas
A great range of little gourmet pizzas, each one a perfect snack for one. The best part is, they have many vegetarian friendly options and pride their use of fresh alternative ingredients. Delicious dessert pizzas and pure hot chocolates are a must try.

Chocolate Raspberries
opposite “Colour of Earth”

These are not cheap, but they are extremely tasty and addictive. A great hit if you turn up to a dinner or get together. Soft jelly-like raspberry lollies are coated in a thick layer of chocolate. The chocolate is smooth and soft with a texture that blends beautifully with the raspberry. Taking a generous sniff of a paper bag filled with these gems is a quality chocolate fix in its own right.

Market Entertainment & Events

Buskers

Every market day there are buskers positioned in on the Corner of Vic Market Place and Therry Street (next to “Shed I”)

Weekend Family Fun

On weekends in addition to the markets plethora of stalls and buskers, Market Place is further transformed into a Mecca for families. Things that the family can enjoy will generally include camel rides, kid’s rides and farm animals.

Night market and other scheduled events

http://www.qvm.com.au/snm/snm_home.aspx

Location

Queen Victoria Market is located on the Northern edge of the Central Business district where Queen Street ends, Elizabeth Street continues and William Street becomes Peel Street.

Getting there

http://www.qvm.com.au/market_getting_here.php

• Train: Flagstaff station and Melbourne Central station are both easy walking distance and short tram rides to the market.
  > From Melbourne Central, take the Elizabeth Street exit and walk or take a tram a few blocks North up Elizabeth Street
  > From Flagstaff walk north or take a tram up Williams Street alongside Flagstaff gardens which bend into Peel Street.
• Tram:
  > No. 55 runs via William Street city then Peel Street across from the market sheds
  > No. 57, 59 and 19 run along Elizabeth Street in the city with a Superstop at the front entrance of the market.

See Metlink for bus information and other information regarding trains, trams and buses http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/

• Biking Parking
  > There is plenty of bicycle parking in and around the market including prime positions in “Vic Market Place”
• Car Parking:
  > Queen Victoria Market has a large car park which is $4.00 for the first 2 hours, $3.00 per hour or part thereafter.
  > The maximum daily rate is $25.00.
  > FREE Parking
  + Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Exit the car park before 10am
  + Fridays: Enter after 4pm and exit before 7pm

Opening Hours

• Tuesday: 6am - 2pm
• Thursday: 6am - 2pm
• Friday: 6am - 5pm (General merchandise closes at 4pm)
• Saturday: 6am - 3pm
• Sunday: 9am - 4pm

CLOSED

• Mondays and Wednesdays
• Good Friday
• Anzac Day
• Melbourne Cup Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day
• New Year’s Day

Contact Details

• Website: http://www.qvm.com.au
• Phone: (03) 9320 5822
• Fax: (03) 9328 2710
• Email: http://www.qvm.com.au/contact.aspx
• Address: Corner of Elizabeth and Victoria street, Melbourne