Caribbean Gardens

Caribbean Gardens
The widest western portion of Caribbean Lake, with Caribbean Market on the left and the Dandenong Ranges in the far background
The islets in the central portion of Caribbean Lake, where boat tours of the Caribbean Gardens were held

Caribbean Gardens was a 100-acre (40 ha) market, gardens and amusement park located in the outer eastern suburb of Scoresby in Melbourne, Australia, on the north/west side of Caribbean Lake, a large 1.2 km (0.75 mi)-long artificial lake along the northern (right) bank of Corhanwarrabul Creek, a major tributary of Dandenong Creek.

Caribbean Gardens and Market operated from 1965 when it started with water ski shows and a handful of traders selling wares from their car boots. What once was "a handful of traders" grew into a bustling undercover market with over 1000 stall sites. It was known as one of the largest markets in Victoria, occupying a 10,500 m2 (2.6-acre) pavilion.

On the 1 July 2020, it was announced that the park would close permanently, after COVID-19 lockdowns forced a temporary closure which greatly affected the park financially. Despite the closure, Caribbean Market supporters called for the "institution" to be saved.[1] After the official announcement, the Caribbean Market Facebook page attracted over 5000 comments in support.[2]

The Spooner family subsequently announced plans to expand and transform the mostly defunct market into a business park that would "become the largest office precinct outside of the CBD". The comprehensive masterplan of the new "Caribbean Park" involved new office buildings, expansive lakeside parklands, integrated landscaping, new retail areas, lifestyle facilities, and a Hyatt Place hotel, with the aim of adding a minimum of 10,000 new trees within the parklands every year.[3]

  1. ^ Armitage, Laura (4 July 2020). "Caribbean Market: Scoresby icon closure upsets Knox community and traders". Herald Sun. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. ^ Sakkal, Paul (1 July 2020). "'Sad time': Much-loved Melbourne market closes after 55 years". The Age.
  3. ^ "Our Future Vision – A Micro City". Retrieved 26 June 2022.