Preston Market

Preston Market has been the fresh food and multicultural heart of Melbourne's north since its official opening in 1970 - making it one of the city's longest continuously trading markets. Founded by Polish migrants Leon and Lola Jolson and built on the former site of an 1888 tannery, the market reflects the rich wave of post-war migration that shaped Preston itself: Greek, Macedonian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Chinese, Sri Lankan and Somali communities have all left their mark on the stall mix and atmosphere. Today it operates as a sizeable indoor and covered retail precinct spanning multiple trading blocks, with a dedicated fruit and vegetable hall, deli, bakery, seafood, meat and poultry counters, nursery and flowers, specialty grocery, and a growing eat-and-drink lane alongside fashion, hair and homewares. In 2026 an exciting South Block renewal will bring new traders and fresh energy to the precinct, which has been trading for 55 years. The market is privately owned (currently by Medich Corporation, managed by Allard Shelton) - a rarity among Australian markets of this scale.