Adelaide Central Market

The Adelaide Central Market is a major fresh produce market in Adelaide, South Australia. As one of the oldest markets in Australia, Adelaide Central Market has a large range of fresh food, including fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheeses, baked goods, small goods, and health foods, along with several cafés and eateries. Currently, approximately one million kilograms of fresh produce are delivered to the market and sold every month. It is a popular tourist attraction in the city, with more than 8.5 million visitors every year. It is also referred to simply as the Central Market. A $400 million redevelopment of the adjacent Central Market Arcade was approved in January 2021, which will include a mixed-use 35-storey building comprising offices, residential apartments and a hotel.

In January 1869 some traders moved from the East End Markets, between Rundle Street and North Terrace, to a new market site known as the City Market. They traded on open land for some time. Two large sheds were built in Grote Street that year, completed by June.

The City Market was officially opened by Mayor Judah Solomon on 23 January 1870. Later that year, three acres of land were bought for £2,600 in the present-day location.

At its commencement, it opened on Tuesdays and Saturdays with 50–100 produce carts selling vegetables, fruit, hay, fish, and game. Shops were built along the perimeter of the market and facing the streets. In the early 1880s, fish supplies were scarce in Adelaide and had to be brought from Port Augusta and Port Pirie by rail.

On 8 February 1900, a foundation stone was laid by Mayoress Rosa Ware, in the presence of the Mayor of Adelaide, Arthur Ware. Shops were added as well as a refrigeration plant for fruit and fish. Electricity was added in 1902 to replace the gas lighting. Arcade shops were added in 1915 on the eastern side. At that stage, amusements were provided such as darts, billatelle (a variation of billiards), shooting galleries, ball bowling, hoop-la and cheap jacks. The addition of other businesses, such as the Hampshire Hotel in 1911, the Moore's Department stores in 1914, and Her Majesty's Theatre also attracted customers. The Market opened for trading on Tuesday, commencing April 1920.

In December 1922, the fish quarters of the Market were demolished and further arcades of 32 shops were added.

On 27 December 1925, the northeastern quarters of the Market were partly damaged by a fire. In 1929, butchers' licenses for the Market were not renewed because of sanitary concerns.

Prior to August 1965, the Market was known as the "City Market," and after that, it was known as the "Central Market". Redevelopment of the market commenced on 18 January 1965 with the demolition of the east end facade on Grote Street and the addition of a car park. The new market was opened on 17 June 1966 by Lord Mayor James Irwin.