One of Melbourne’s best-loved weekend traditions is celebrating a major milestone, with the Camberwell Sunday Market marking its 50th anniversary on Sunday, 30 August 2026.
Established by Balwyn Rotary in 1976, the volunteer-run market has grown from a local Sunday gathering into one of Victoria’s most successful community enterprises. While it remains a favourite destination for bargain hunters, collectors and lovers of pre-loved treasures, every purchase and every volunteer shift also helps fund projects that make a difference across Melbourne, Australia and beyond.
Each week, the market welcomes between 5,000 and 7,000 visitors, with up to 370 stalls selling everything from handmade goods and vintage finds to collectables, books, clothing and bric-a-brac.
Over the past five decades, proceeds from the market have helped fund a wide range of community initiatives. Nearly $8 million has supported more than 1,800 organisations across Boroondara, while close to $6 million has gone towards food relief, emergency assistance, environmental projects and disaster recovery efforts.
Millions more have funded youth leadership programs, scholarships, medical research, mental health initiatives, polio eradication and humanitarian projects in countries including Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Nepal and Türkiye.
The market has also helped organisations such as Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network (RIMERN), with proceeds funding half of the truck used to collect donated furniture, appliances and household goods for people rebuilding their lives.
Melbourne writer Leah Annetta, author of Sunday Service: The Balwyn Rotary Camberwell Sunday Market, describes the market as an irresistible treasure hunt where missing a Sunday could mean missing the perfect find.
The 50th anniversary celebrations will feature live entertainment, children’s activities, special guests and community celebrations, bringing together stallholders, volunteers, shoppers and local partners to honour five decades of community spirit. For more information visit https://camberwellsundaymarket.org/
