THE community markets shut down without warning after 55 years have found a new home, and a new name.
Cassegrain Wines has offered to host the stallholders who were locked out of Hamilton Green on 12 October by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Planning is already underway for the first market to be held at the winery sometime before Christmas.
The welcome lifeline follows a meeting of around 50 concerned vendors and community members at Panthers last Sunday, 26 October, which led to the formation of a new markets committee.
“The markets… are now entering an exciting new stage,” Treasurer Debra Brereton told News Of The Area.
“This partnership marks an important step forward as we continue to grow and support our vibrant local community.”
The committee also chose a new name, “Maureen’s Markets”, in honour of founder Maureen Cooke.
“Plans are underway to have the markets up and running for the Christmas season, featuring a fantastic mix of our much-loved regular stallholders and welcoming new stallholders to join the experience.”
Mrs Cooke, who recently died at the age of 95, was instrumental in securing Hamilton Green for public use and also founded the Port Macquarie Art Society and Endeavour House.
She was also “Nan” to Kobi Cooke, who will serve as the committee’s Vice President.
The sudden loss of the markets from Hastings River Drive not only caused distress and community anger but also exposed deep divisions between users of Hamilton Green.
NSW Crown Lands owns the site, Council manages it, and the Port Macquarie Art Society was licensed to use the buildings and hold the markets.
However, the licence and development approval for the markets had lapsed, which was only made public following Mrs Cooke’s death.
After discussions with Council, the Art Society stopped operations “effective immediately” to focus on its regulatory obligations.
In addition to long-time stallholders being left with nowhere to go, artists lost access to their workrooms.
Judy Jelsma previously told News Of The Area that she was locked out of The Manor House and could not access her supplies.
Since then, she has been escorted onto the site and allowed to retrieve some of her items.
“There are still lots of my possessions in there that I was unable to get out,” she said.
“I only had enough time to get my coffee cups and one box. I don’t know how I’m going to get the rest of my things.”
Art Society Vice President Julie Richardson told NOTA that insurance and the state of the two buildings in their care was an issue.
“We are trying to move forward. The priority is to get in there and try and clean up the buildings.”
Council told NOTA that those wanting to retrieve property should contact the Arts Society.
“Council has been working with the Port Macquarie Arts Society (PMAS), who hold the licence for the buildings,” Director Community, Planning and Environment Melissa Watkins said.
“PMAS is now managing access arrangements for legitimate artists and users to safely retrieve materials and return to regular use of the space.”
However, contact details for the Arts Society are not publicly available, prompting artists like Judy Jelsma to do direct to Council.
By Sue STEPHENSON
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