About Us

The Mill Markets originated in 1985 steered by Mr Ian Ballis, under the banner Pioneer Cottage Antiques, showcasing fifteen antique and collectable stallholders.

Development stages saw the organization outgrow venues ranging from 200sqm in Pakington Street, Geelong West to 3000sqm in Spring Street, Geelong West. The business soon learnt that to become a successful draw card, a cultural precinct needed to develop around the venues.

In 2002, an opportunity arose to expand to the former Federal Woollen Mills site, North Geelong, consisting of over 14 acres of heritage listed buildings.

The Mill Markets Art Precinct was launched with over 70 stallholders, offering a unique collection of antiques, collectables and vintage clothing. Resident artists enjoyed vast studio space with the support of the Mill Markets as a visitor draw card.

Sites followed shortly afterwards at Daylesford, East Geelong (Newcomb), the Fletcher Jones Gardens in Warnambool, Ballarat Woolshed and the Geelong Waterfront.

Each Mill Markets centre is divided into 100 plus, 16 square metere stalls with stallholder's rent including performing a 4 hour duty per week to maintain the centre. The stallholder's 4 hours are rostered around the week allowing the centres to be adequately staffed. All sales are processed at the front counter with stallholder's numbers written on their price tags, allowing clear and concise sales activity. At the end of the month, stallholder's receive a cheque from the centre for their month's sales. Stallholder's are only required to be at the centre for their 4 hour shift per week, however their stall effectively runs from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week.

The Mill Markets business model brings together a large group of micro businesses, creating a cultural icon for the local community and tourist destination for visitors to the area.

The centres at Newcomb, Geelong Waterfront, Warnambool, Daylesford and Ballarat are major draw cards for travelers to the regiions collectively experiencing visitor levels in excess of 1 million per annum.

The Mill Markets has plans to expand to the Melbourne CBD, various destination points within a 10km radius of the Melbourne CBD, the Morning Peninsula and Byron Bay.