One Tree Hill Country Market: 5 Things I Love

We have been attending the One Tree Hill Country Market since September 2020, and it is always a wonderful way to start a month of markets. The One Tree Hill Country Market is held on the first Saturday of every month (8:30am-1pm), with often a second Christmas Market in December.

You can find this cozy market held at the One Tree Hill Institute, along Black Top Road. The market organisers, John and Heather, are very friendly and dedicated to the market community. If you have a free Saturday, here are five reasons why you should drop past the One Tree Hill Country Market!

1.      Cozy Country Vibes! The first thing I love about the One Tree Hill Country Market is the cozy country atmosphere. Just a short drive away from the chaos that is suburbia, and you find this peaceful market within the hills.

You find the rustic One Tree Hill Institute and friendly stallholders scattered inside and out. The sun is shining and you can find plenty of shade beneath the trees as you wander amidst the stalls – you might even see a koala hidden amongst the leaves! There is a playground and places to sit around the event while enjoying lunch or just having a break.

With the exception of the occasional cluster of motorcycles, a travelling truck or an emergency services vehicle, it is a very quiet and relaxing place to spend the day. It’s rare to be bombarded by honking horns and the like, so if you are looking for a local getaway, One Tree Hill is the place to go!

2.      The Local General Store. Just across from the hall is the One Tree Hill General Store and Diner, currently owned by Matt and Rachel. We get to the markets pretty early, and on those chilly winter mornings, the best part of the day is a hot chocolate or coffee!

Matt always comes around to collect stallholder’s orders and have a chat. The General Store has a great selection of food. From sandwiches, burgers and fish and chips to pastries, muffins and other bakery items, there is plenty to choose from when coming for a visit to the market!

Supporting local is more important than ever – so why not support the local general store?

3.      Stallholder diversity! Stallholder diversity will always be an important part of a thriving market, and the One Tree Hill Country Market gets it right!

There is a bit of everything here. Plants, sewn creations, honey and jams, nuts and other delicious treats, paintings, candles, dog accessories, custom-made shirts, fishing tackle, bric-a-brac, jewellery, crochet and so much more!

There are always market regulars – and others regularly apply as well. It’s not uncommon to find someone new at the market, so you truly never know what you might find!

4.      The Community. The market community Is always so welcoming and supportive. There are many regulars who come past to chat and support small.

During September’s market, there was a missing dog who arrived at the market during the market’s set-up. He was put into the nearby playground area to keep him safe, as the market is held alongside a reasonably busy road, and I saw the community rally together to try and find the owner.

Thankfully, he was reunited with his owner after just a few hours of asking around. We were very lucky that someone had recognised him as their neighbour’s dog – who had snuck out while his owner went for a jog, and got a bit lost!

5.      The Communication. Communication is extremely important when running any event. Any time something has changed, Heather has been easy to communicate with and has made sure we know any changes well in advance, with a reason behind everything.

Nobody likes to be blindsided – so it comes as a relief that none of the changes happen as a surprise on the day. This may seem like a no brainer, but you would be surprised of the markets that do in fact change the price of a market on the day, which is pretty disgraceful. And it’s safe to say, the market (if I can even call it such a thing) that I know did such a thing quite regularly is no longer active due to operating without council approval. Yikes!

I am very thankful to not have that experience with the One Tree Hill Country Market. Heather and John both act professionally, and any time a problem has arisen, it has been dealt with quickly and fairly – as any true market organiser would. The market has an established presence in the market community, and the One Tree Hill community as well.

It goes without saying that the One Tree Hill Country Market is the place to be. We never miss an opportunity to join them for their monthly and Christmas markets. Whether it’s getting a treat from the local deli or browsing the wonderful stalls that attend, it is bound to be a wonderful day.

Rain or shine, you’ll always find us there on the first Saturday of every month, and we hope to see you there too!

Kimberley (they/them)

Accessories by Antoinette