If you have ever made the drive to Preston only to find roller doors down and empty aisles staring back at you, this guide is for you. Preston Market does not trade every day of the week — and knowing its schedule before you leave home is the difference between a full trolley and a wasted trip. Below you will find every trading day, every opening and closing time, and the kind of honest local advice that helps you make the most of each visit.
Preston Market at a Glance
Before getting into the detail, here is a quick-reference snapshot of everything worth knowing about the market.
| Address | 30A The Centreway, Preston VIC 3072 |
| Phone | +61 3 9478 3130 |
| Open Days | Wednesday to Sunday |
| Standard Hours | 8:00 am to 3:00 pm |
| Friday Hours | 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (extended) |
| Weekly Visitors | Over 80,000 |
| Market Ranking | Second-largest market in Melbourne |
| Pet Policy | Pet-free venue |
| Google Rating | 4.4 stars from 10,400+ reviews |
Preston Market Opening Hours
The market trades five days a week, from Wednesday through to Sunday. Monday and Tuesday are the two days you will never find the doors open, regardless of what time you turn up.
| Day | Trading Hours | Status |
| Monday | Closed | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | Closed | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | OPEN |
| Thursday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | OPEN |
| Friday | 8:00 am – 6:00 pm | OPEN |
| Saturday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | OPEN |
| Sunday | 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | OPEN |
Friday is the best day of the week. It’s the only day the market is open later than 6:00 pm, catering to people who can only hit up the market after standard shift hours. The rest of the week, the market closes at 3:00 pm. Make sure you come by 2:00 pm at the latest, if you don’t want to be rushed by the vendors packing up.
Hours of Operation for Preston Market on Public Holidays
Hours for public holidays are set apart from the normal weekly schedule and may not always be available. In Victoria, there are public holidays that may occur on normal trading days. In such cases, management will set adjustments to the normal trading hours.
To be safe, dial +61 3 9478 3130, on every Victorian public holiday before heading out. Additionally, there may be announcements on holiday trading hours on the market’s official social media pages. Never rely on Google hours during public holidays; trading hours may appear standard and may not show actual hours of operation.
Best Time to Visit Preston Market
Knowing the Preston Market hours is helpful for scheduling purposes. However, the Preston Market is frequented at various times for a reason. Knowing which hours to spend at the market can eliminate an inconvenience.
Wednesday and Thursday: Quieter Days, Fresher Feel
The market comes to life mid week. If you visit between 9:00 am and 10:30 am on a Wednesday or Thursday, you can expect to find an abundant variety of fresh goods and a lot less of a crowd. Frequent Restocks, Natural Conversations and Plenty of Parking await you mid week. If you can afford to take time off from work, those are the days to do it.
Friday: Extended Hours for Working Melburnians
On Friday, the market stays open until 6:00 pm, which is primarily why a different crowd comes in. For people who work Monday to Friday, this is the day they do their weekly grocery shopping. The market is most crowded between 4:30 and 6:00 pm. However, Friday discounts can mean added benefits for those who work the market. If you arrive Friday around 3:00 pm, you can beat the after work rush and buy a lot of fresh, new stock that restockers have arrived.
Saturday: Full Market Energy, Arrive Early
Saturday is the day when the market is the most alive. The car parks fill early in the day, and every stall, busy and ready for customers, fills every main aisle. You’ll want to come early for a bustling market atmosphere on Saturday, with a market off of lower weekday activities, and of course the scents. The best time to come for your parking spot, fresh baked goods, and fresh produce is before 9:00 am.
Sunday: Neighbourhood Rhythm
In between the activities of Monday-Wednesday and Saturday is where you’ll find Sunday. Long-time Preston shoppers love the settled, neighborhood feeling given to the market by local families doing their shopping for the week. There is enough participation for the market to feel like a community, but not enough to make participation a burden. If you want to avoid the packed market experience on Saturday, but still want to experience everything that Preston market has to offer, come on a Sunday.
About Preston Market
Welcoming the North since the early 1970s, Preston Market became the second largest market in Melbourne, which is no small feat for the city that champions all its markets.
Preston Market is located at 30A The Centreway, Preston, around ten kilometers north of the Melbourne CBD. The market has more than 80 shops and stalls in an indoor structure and offers a diverse selection. Options include fresh fruits and vegetables, butcher shops, fishmongers, and plenty of grocery shops. There is also a clothing and homewares store, as well as bakeries, hot food stalls, and cafes.
Preston Market is not your everyday shopping mall food hall. It is a fully functioning working market. Each week, more than 80,000 people visit Preston Market as part of their daily routine. Many of the vendors have been there for decades and the products have not been over curated for the gram. Since all stallholders provide real competition for business, the prices are very reasonable.
What You Can Buy at Preston Market
The range inside the market covers most of what a household needs from week to week, alongside a handful of specialty finds worth knowing about.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables from multiple competing produce stalls
- Meat including specialty cuts, marinated meats, bulk packs, and smallgoods
- Seafood and poultry
- Bread, pastries, and baked goods from dedicated bakeries
- Deli items including olives, cheeses, antipasto, and continental goods
- Groceries from Asian, Middle Eastern, and European specialty stores
- Ready-to-eat hot food including roast meats, BBQ, pizza, and more
- Coffee from multiple cafes throughout the market
- Flowers, plants, clothing, accessories, and homewares
For roast duck and BBQ specialists in particular, the stalls along the walkthrough from the car park toward High Street are worth tracking down. If buying meat in volume, it pays to compare prices across the butchers — competition between stallholders is real, and buying in larger quantities typically yields genuine savings.
Getting to Preston Market
By Car
The market is located at 30A The Centreway in Preston. On particular days, Saturday mornings being one, on site parking can get filled up quickly. Street parking is available around the area, but there can be competition to find an available one. The best way to make sure you park as close as possible is to arrive by 9:00 am on the weekends.
By Public Transport
Tram 86 has tram stops along High Street with stops close to the market. If you take the Mernda and Hurstbridge trains, you have to get off at Preston Station, and from there it is a short walk to the Market. Getting here from the Melbourne CBD and the subarbs surrounding it is easy without a vehicle.
By Bike
If you live around the Preston area, cycling is a good option to get to the market. There is bike parking on the premises, and the area is relatively flat. It makes it easy to bike to from a lot of the area surrounding Melbourne.
Your Guide to Visiting Preston Market
- Use a trolley: You will find that bags for carrying your purchases are not available at most of the stalls.
- Bring cash: Even though most stalls will take your card, cash is preferred by many of the smaller stalls.
- No pets: Preston Market is a pet free zone, and we appreciate your understanding.
- Quality control: Before you buy bulk, make sure you check the quality of what you are buying, because it will be different at multiple stalls.
- Empty stomach: You are going to find many options available to you for food, including coffee, pizza, BBQ and much more.
- Best produce: Arriving on Saturday before 9 will get you the best parking and produce.
- Check first: Before making a trip on a holiday to Preston Market, call the number provided to confirm the market is open.
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What are the Preston Market opening hours?
Preston Market trades from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Friday the market stays open until 6:00 pm. The market is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Is Preston Market open on Sundays?
Yes, Preston Market opens every Sunday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Sunday is one of the more relaxed trading days and draws a strong crowd of local families doing their weekly shopping.
Is Preston Market open on Saturdays?
Yes, Saturday is open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and is typically the busiest trading day of the week. Arriving before 9:00 am is strongly recommended if you want to find parking and get the pick of fresh produce.
Is Preston Market open on public holidays?
Public holiday trading is not guaranteed and hours can differ from the standard weekly schedule. Always call the market directly on +61 3 9478 3130 before visiting on any Victorian public holiday.
What days is Preston Market closed?
The market is closed every Monday and Tuesday. These are the only two days of the week when the market does not trade.
Is Preston Market open on Friday evenings?
Yes. Friday is the one day of the week where trading extends to 6:00 pm. It is the best option for shoppers who work during standard daytime hours and cannot visit earlier in the week.
At OzKiwilife, Debashrita Majhi contributes fresh perspectives on lifestyle, technology, entertainment, and online culture. His writing style combines clarity, creativity, and real-world insights to connect with readers from different backgrounds. He is passionate about digital media, content marketing, and building valuable online resources that help people stay informed in a fast-changing world.
