FANTASTIC BATHERS BEACH SUNSET MARKETS
What a fantastic new event the Bathers Beach Sunset Food Markets is for Fremantle! Hundreds and hundreds of people turned up in droves with big family groups, lots of people on bikes and of course the dog lovers. I have never seen a better variety of well priced international market food in Fremantle. It was amazing and the crowd just loved it all.
Mayor Brad Pettitt asked himself why it had taken so long for the beach market to happen, while councilors Bill Massie, Andrew Sullivan, Rachel Pemberton and Ingrid Waltham all had big smiles on their faces. I also noticed Labor candidate for Freo Simone McGurk in the crowd and there might have been other VIPs there I did not see.
It was disappointing to see the normally active Kidogo Arthouse closed and not even the outdoor lights on after dark, while Sweetlips embraced the event with a market special of fish, king prawns, squid and chips for only $ 9.95. Also absent were lights on the Old Port Project deck, so the City needs to remedy that before next Saturday.
Former councilor Georgie Adeane needs to be congratulated for the initiative and one has to wonder why council only tentatively allowed for a 4 months trial period instead of fully embracing this lovely family event.
It would be nice to have something for the kids to do, so parents will be enticed to stay longer. A bouncing castle or so on the ‘dustbowl’ part of Bathers Beach would be good. There also need to be more rubbish bins as they were overflowing, and the power problems could maybe be solved by having gaslights in the stalls and to only use electricity for the cooking appliances.
It was the busiest I have seen Bathers Beach since the highly successful Kelp bar at Kidogo, so I hope the markets will prove the skeptics wrong and become and ongoing attraction for visitors and residents and that it will also benefit the Fishing Boat Harbour traders. What a great way of seeing the sun set over the Indian Ocean!
Roel Loopers
P.S. For those who always criticise the Fremantle Society for being negative and against everything, the Society lobbied council strongly to get the approval for the market and I am happy for the organisation to take some credit for it to eventuate.
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Had a great time. Astonishing.
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I only have Council permission to use that area. I will try to arrange the Stalls to be less squishy next week.
Than you very for your feedback
Cheers
Georgie
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Thankyou Bill. Always teething issues with this type of event. Will have them sorted ASAP. Will organise some children’s entertainment next week. Massive job getting it up and running. Now that has happened I can tweak the finer details and it can only get better, and better.
Cheers
Georgie
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Thanks Bob. The idea came up about a year ago after visiting the Hawkers Market in Forrest Chase in Perth.
In all honesty, from memory Cr Ingrid Waltham suggested Bathers Beach, so probably a combination of me having the idea and Ingrid suggesting a spot. Extending the Boardwalk is a magnificent idea and why not stop there and put in that ocean pool that Brad has talked about. It has the potential to be one of WA’s premier locations. It would fit perfectly with the Westend , the Maritime Museum, Fishing Boat Harbour, Roundhouse etc,etc. Thanks for the positive appraisal Bob.
Cheers
Georgie
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Looking forward to seeing you there Cathy. Great first night
Cheers
Georgie
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Well done Georgie & Co. This was very much their idea and I’m glad both the Council and the Freo Society got behind this despite some people arguing we shouldn’t do it or we should put Georgie’s proposal to open tender. It was her idea, her business planning and her commercial risk to make it happen. Freo is full of really creative people with plenty of drive and initiative and we need to give them the space to do what they do best. It’s an idea that is being incubated and I think we will see some more stalls and art there soon as well. I would like to see more tables and chairs for those who need them. These could be on the gravel section so the grass was kept for picnic rugs etc. Perhaps the band could have been on the gravel section as well. BRILLIANT!!!!
Andrew Sullivan
http://www.facebook.com/GreensForFremantle
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I thought perhaps it would be better if some of the stalls were set on the “dust bowl” to take advantage of all of the space and use what shade and shelter there is. It was very hot and squishy in there.
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A couple of minor teething issues that can be overcome. A grog free event and that is how it should be with so many children around. Well done Georgie and happy to share details, I wish you the best of business luck.
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Congratulations to all involved. It was a huge success with amazing variety of foods from around the world at very affordable prices.
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I totally agree Bob. the extension of the board walk to J Shed to link the Fishing Boat Harbour to Victoria Quay would make it a unique tourist destination.
Roel
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A very successful family event that had such good energy. I never saw one instance of bad behaviour at all – just a very positive community response to a “why not?” initiative. The temporary Kelp Bar had already shown what a popular and somewhat unique spot this is for Fremantle. Predominantly my feeling was a true community gathering and secondarily a commercial venture. Nice balance. Well done.
I am not sure who came up with the idea first but I know the Fremantle Society has raised this often and my thanks to the FS and the Council.
Now if only the boardwalk was extended to J-Shed/Fleet Street – as a priority – that would really make this area a must visit attraction. Linking the harbour, museum, college, J-Shed and the South Mole right through to the Bathers Beach and the Fishing Boat Harbour, the boardwalk and the weekend food markets would be a great place any time.
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Just back from o/e, so looking forward to next Sat at these new freo foodie markets:)
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