Mischief-makers incite Illawarra market wars, pitting Foragers against Coledale

Criticism erupted at the weekend when a sign advertising the 14-year-old, once-a-month Coledale Markets was obscured by one for its newer, bigger and more frequent Bulli competitor, Foragers.

A Coledale Markets supporter, Ândy Štaig, posted a picture of the offending sign to Facebook on Sunday morning. 

“So the nasty tactics have started up again,” he said. “Covering up the permanent Coledale school sign. I doubt by accident.”

The post was widely shared by people who decried the sign placement as “unethical”, “unscrupulous” and a “non-community thing to do”. 

But according to Foragers Market founder Kirrily Sinclair, the move is the work of mischief-makers.

Ms Sinclair said about 10 signs went missing from the Foragers’ Bulli Showground home on Saturday evening.

“Every single one of our signs was stolen,” she said. 

“It’s inexplicable that someone would be doing this, particularly playing us off against [Coledale Markets].

“We’ve never engaged in any market competition.

“We think Coledale’s a wonderful market and contributes to the community in the same way we do.” 

Ms Sinclair said she had attempted to contact Coledale Market organisers and “explain the situation”, but hadn’t yet spoken.

One of the missing signs was later found at Bulli Beach, by the daughter of market stall holder Justine Crouchley-Crawford.

A beekeeper, Ms Crouchley-Crawford sold her Beespoke Honey products at Coledale Markets before Foragers, with its undercover spaces, lured her away. She believes the northern suburbs benefits from having two markets and cannot understand the tensions between the two.

“It’s easy to spread vicious rumours,” she said. “But Foragers is a fantastic market that really works. I just think there’s a lot of bored housewives around the area.” 

The missing signs have been reported to Wollongong Police.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to assist the police investigation.