The People’s Market and Flea: The Melbourne market with it all

IT’S the new Melbourne flea market with it all – vintage pre-loved items, fresh seasonal produce, delicious food and great entertainment. Victoria Brown checks it out.

Melbourne’s newest flea market open Saturdays.

If you’re a little tight on cash and searching for quirky vintage items, fresh, good quality food or simply a taste of this city’s artsy culture, the new People’s Market & Flea is one not to be missed.

Snuggled in one corner of the Docklands, the Melbourne Flea hasn’t been open for long, but’s already received roaring reviews from local bargain hunters.

The market is the brainchild of brother and sister team, Niki and Stephen Filipovic of the People’s Market, and came about after the siblings decided to make use of the unused parking lot at the very edge of the Docklands.

But neither Niki nor Stephen were happy to settle for ordinary when they designed their open-air market, choosing to creatively transform old shipping containers into the 500 stalls on offer to eager customers.

“The shipping containers are part design, part functionality. Not only were we able to save on space, but we were able to ensure the aesthetic of the market matched the personal style of our amazing vendors, complementing the pre-loved items or unique and quirky pieces that they’ll be selling,” Niki says.

The People’s Market and Flea is the brainchild of brother and sister team Niki and Stephen Filipovic.

Browse and buy handmade soaps from the flea market.

Each week, the 23,ooo sqm site is transformed into a shopper’s personal dream. You can sift your way through stall upon stall of vintage fashion and furniture, take your pick from the freshest seasonal produce or even stock up on old school chutneys and jams, just like grandma used to make.

And if that’s not enough to tempt you get up early this weekend, the market has also saved space for some of the biggest names in Melbourne food, all of which will be setting up weekly restaurants sure to tantalize your tastebuds.

Grab some tucker and quench your thirst from the myriad of food and drink container-stalls.

All you have to do is pick what you want the most. Will it be an awesome cup of Jo from The League of Honest Coffee or traditionally fresh burritos, tacos and nachos from La Cantina? How about honest-to-goodness sausages and top notch hotdogs from the Phat Brats, delicious Tuscan fare courtesy of Fagazza or one-of-a-kind tornado shaped potato sticks from Twistto? Whatever you’re feeling like, you can get in the specially dedicated food shipping container.

Just don’t forget to wash it all down with a visit to That Little Bar, 100o Pound Bend or the Sangria Shack – just the name of the latter is enough to make any cocktail lover drool with desire.

Forget pictures. Get your portrait painted at the flea market instead.

Graffiti artist at work on the containers at the People’s Market and Flea.

And as the sun sets over the Docklands, you’ll have an excuse to stick around with live bands playing right up until market closing time. Then again, you could just saunter over to COMA or Containers of Modern Art, a weekly pop up exhibition of some of the country’s most talented up-and-coming artists.

“The Melbourne Flea is a hive of creative action, from the flea stalls to the food vendors and even live music. COMA is a natural extension of that and we’re really excited to add yet another cultural aspect to the space,” Niki says.

Sounds like your ideal way of spending a lazy Saturday?

The People’s Market & Flea is open every Saturday from 9am to 9pm and is located at 453-507 Docklands Drive, Docklands.