User:Toddy.wright/Old bus depot markets

The Old Bus Depot Markets is a weekly hand made markets held in the former ACT bus depot building located on within the Kingston foreshore precinct on wentworth Avenue in canberra, ACT. The markets provides a quality markets experience and was acknowledged with induction into the Australian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2005.

The concept
The idea was originally formed by two local canberra business women on 1992 and the market first commenced in September 1994. The markets were oficially openened by ACT Chief Minister of the time, Rosemary Follet. The markets has run continuously every sunday from 10am-4pm in their current location and now also trade on saturday's in december until christmas day.

The premises and the ACT Heritage Register Listing
The markets moved from its first location in the Canberra Powerhouse Building, now known as the canberra glassworks, into the bus depot building in 1998.

The ACT Heritage Council decided on 15 July 2010 to provisionally register the former Bus Depot Building to the ACT Heritage Register. The Council noted ‘that the engineering and construction of the 1940-41 fully welded rigid portal frame exhibits a high degree of technical achievement and design quality, demonstrating new invention and application in Australia at the time. The design of the fully welded rigid portal frame is of exceptional interest as the earliest notable example of a steel fully welded rigid portal frame in Australia’. The Council also noted ‘the orientation of the building in relation to the former railway siding and Wentworth Avenue’.

The ACT Land Development Agency (LDA) supported the decision for the provisional registration of the features identified in the Statement of Heritage Significance. In its response to the ACT Heritage Council, the LDA noted the significance of the 1940-41 fully welded portal frames and their relationship with and orientation to the former railway siding. In conjunction with development opportunities in proximity to the building, adaptive reuse options are being considered. A Conservation Management Plan, to be prepared by consultants engaged by the LDA, will provide greater clarity as to the elements of greatest value for retention and enhancement.