Saturday 17 January 2009

Buskers: Paddy's Markets

Paddy's Markets is in the Haymarket area of downtown Sydney, adjacent to Chinatown. Although the name is borrowed from the markets in Liverpool in England which were staffed by the emigrant Irish, Sydney's Paddy's appears to be staffed overwhelmingly by members of the Chinese community: both the produce and the flea-market. The site was first used as a hay and grain market in 1834. In the late '40s, my father would load up his Bedford truck at 3am every Wednesday and Friday morning before selling fruit and vegetables door to door on the Upper North Shore area of Sydney.

This gentleman is playing an erhu.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

This is a very cool portrait, Julie!

Jilly said...

I remember Rusty's Market in Cairns. So many of the stallholders were Chinese and the produce was fabulous - I can't begin to remember how many different vegetables and salads were available.

This is such a nice portrait and a fsacinating instrument. Thanks for the link, which I needed.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Until a year or so ago we owned an apartment in the complex above Haymarket. I loved living there. There is always so much action, great eating, cheap fruit and flowers, and a magnificant view of Darling Harbour. Living in Kent Street towards the end of last year was a totally different experience -- again good views but oh so dull down that way, even though it is near The Rocks.

Bob Crowe said...

I remember once taking some pictures of an old busker playing the violin on the street in Dublin. He didn't need a parasol (not in Ireland!) and he shyly avoided the eyes of passers-by, unlike this guy. They were probably equally entertaining and I hope they both made some money.

Stefan Jansson said...

Nice steet portrait. Never heard about that instrument before, thanks for the link.

Sally said...

I often see this fellow (or his twin brother!) up around Central