THE DROP BEAR DIARIES - CHAPTER 6 "SALAMANCA MARKET - I JUST MAKE THE BLOODY HANDLES"

Jacko noticed our Whistler logo jackets - we told him
a good portion of his countrymen would be in Whistler
for ski season very soon.

Salamanca Place is a precinct of Hobart that abounds with rows of sandstone buildings formerly serving as warehouse space.  

Now converted into restaurants, galleries and offices the area provides a pleasant backdrop for Salamanca’s s Saturday community market.

Since its inception in 1972, the market has grown from 12 to 300 stalls becoming Tasmania’s most visited tourist venue.

The food and produce offerings are impressive, as well as the wine tasting opportunities.  

Vendors of every sort are stationed to take your cash and we enjoyed chatting to the stall owners, particularly Jacko, a retired wood turner who now spends his time crafting beautiful Tasmanian wood products.  

Accomplished young musicians had a healthy audience

His cheese knives were particularly fine and we asked him what all the different blades were intended for.  In true Aussie style he didn’t skip a beat “They give me the blades, I just make the bloody handles”.  We bought two.

Street musicians were positioned throughout the market - we particularly enjoyed the quintet of young boys with violins, cello and guitar who gave a fabulous rendition of “When I ruled the world”. 

Sausages with that?

One of the many tastings on offer

Onlookers showed their appreciation enthusiastically by dropping coins in the open violin case on the cobblestones.

It’s a shame that Drop Bears haven’t learned to appreciate the joys of shopping, the aroma of barbequed sausage and the strains of street music.  

Wise to keep them away from the cheese knives though.

Stay safe in the tree baby.