Central Business District in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Market Opening - Floor Plaque

— Queen Victoria Market —

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, July 16, 2026

1. Market Opening - Floor Plaque Marker

Inscription. "His worship accordingly declared the market open, and named it Queen Victoria Market. Three cheers were given for the Queen, and three for the Mayor, and business then proceeded ... All appeared to do good trade"
- The Argus
March 1878

Erected by Queen Victoria Market.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 37° 48.372′ S, 144° 57.434′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in the Central Business District. It is at the intersection of Victoria Street (Victoria Route 32) and Cobden Street, on the left when traveling west on Victoria Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 133 Victoria Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Saving the Market (here,

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next to this marker); Bringing home the Shopping (here, next to this marker); Market Football (here, next to this marker); Wholesale to Retail (here, next to this marker); The Market Gates (a few steps from this marker); Tombstone Territory / The People Prevail (within shouting distance of this marker); Queen Victoria Market Timeline (within shouting distance of this marker); Victoria Street Shops / Instant and Delicious (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Also see . . . 1878 Queen Victoria Market opens in Melbourne. Australian Food Timeline

The Queen Victoria Market was built on the site of Melbourne’s first cemetery. It is now the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, with a colourful (and criminal) history, from mafia killings and extortion rackets to piracy crackdowns. As well as stalls for meat, fish, deli goods fruit and vegetables and general goods it has a range of permanent shops and eating places including the famous American Doughnut Kitchen food van.

The Queen Victoria Market was not the first Melbourne market. The first official fruit
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, July 16, 2026

2. Market Opening - Floor Plaque Marker in the Middle of the Laneway
and vegetable market was the Western Market. It was established in 1841, close to the Yarra River in the block bounded by Market, Collins and Williams Streets and Flinders Lane. The location of the Western Market meant goods could easily be unloaded from boats and transported to the market halls. As the railways expanded, the market’s proximity to Flinders Street Station was also an advantage.

Other city markets included the Eastern Market (originally the Hay Market) on the corner of Little Collins and Exhibition Streets, which officially opened in 1847, and the later, splendidly elaborate, Melbourne Fish Market with its clock towers, turrets and copper spires, which opened in 1890.

The opening of the Queen Victoria Market in March 1878 was celebrated with a free breakfast for the market gardeners given by the Mayor of Melbourne. Initially, the market was open every day except Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday. The wholesale market operated in the morning from 6 am to 10 am, while the evening general market ran from 3 pm to 9 pm, or 11 pm on Saturdays.

(Submitted on September 1, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.