A proposed Trash and Treasure Market at Bulli Showgrounds is hoped to attract thousands of people to the region.
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The new market was a “brain wave” of the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association (GBOTA) and in the vein of the American Pickers television program where rare artifacts and national treasures are uncovered.
GBOTA has submitted a development application for the event, which is currently before Wollongong City Council, detailing capacity for 100 stalls between 7:30am and 1pm every Thursday.
It won’t just be the bloke across the road bringing stuff from his garage, we’d like to attract people from everywhere.
- GBOTA operations manager Darren Hull
GBOTA operations manager Darren Hull said the event would like a Pandora’s box for collectors.
“Not only is a community event – it is something that is going to bring a few people here, I can see economic benefits and tourism benefits,” Mr Hull said.
“It won’t just be the bloke across the road bringing stuff from his garage, we’d like to attract people from everywhere.
“This is a pickers market … you can pull up here, pay a small stall fee and pull your junk out and put it on a table or the boot of your car.”
Bulli Showgrounds already hosts a weekly farmers market and monthly eat street market (both run by Foragers) while greyhound racing and popular festivals are also held at the site throughout the year.
Mr Hull said the Trash and Treasure Market would complement the program of events at the showground while would offer the community something very different to other markets in the region.
“Other markets are all about food and music, farmers produce – whereas this is a completely different concept,” he said.
The market would attract 500 to 1000 people each week, with four food vans and two coffee vans on site so “pickers” won’t go hungry or thirsty.
If Wollongong City Council gives the go ahead, Mr Hull expects the event to kick-off this summer for an indefinite period.
The development application is currently on exhibition until November 14 and can be viewed on council’s website – www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au