To kick off the week we started brainstorming some preliminary ideas and emotions we associate with our neighbourhoods. When I think of the suburb I live in, Preston, two things come to mind: multiculturalism and diversity. It is a place that celebrates arts and culture – each weekend you can expect to find some kind of lively activity in place. The regular hosting of events such as cooking classes run by refugees or the Darebin Brass Band concert encourages community engagement for people of any age and ethnicity.
If you were to ask any residents of Preston what the suburb’s most iconic feature is, I would expect the consensus to be the Preston Market. For me, the market represents more than just a landmark. The sentimental and nostalgic value I associate with it comes from my childhood where I would accompany my parents every weekend to the market to do the grocery shopping and each week we would sit down at Lucchini’s (a café situated in the market that’s run by a local Italian family) and have a drink and a bite to eat. There is something very humble about the market; it’s far from fancy and is often littered with squashed cabbage leaves all over the ground and to be honest, has quite a smell about it but it serves its purpose in providing quality produce for the community. Most stalls within it are locally owned businesses, often run by families who have lived in the area for years and are more than familiar with their customers.
Recently the market has been a source of heated debate due to a proposal from developers to turn parts of it into apartment blocks. This would mean the forcible eviction of many stall holders who would have to relocate, yet fear their businesses would struggle to flourish elsewhere. Local residents have lobbied against the proposal, while the local council remain adamant in opposing the redevelopment. Despite the predicament, what’s endearing is seeing the community come together in support of one another to defend what would be considered the heart of Preston’s character – around the area you will see red ribbon tied to the front of people’s fences – a move that signifies their support for keeping the market as it is. For these reasons and many more, I think there is a story to be told in the Preston Market and it is one that I am keen to explore throughout the semester in my work.
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