Battunga Country Growers Market: In the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia

The first inhabitants called it Battunga - land of tall trees and rolling hills and, every Sunday, Macclesfield is the beating heart of Battunga Country.

It’s nestled amongst the Adelaide hills just south of Euchunga and though the township is small the sense of community here is anything but…

There's a real festive feel here, it's really a medieval town market that happens every week here in the middle of Macclesfield, this is an autumn gathering but they'll be here again next week and the smells and the sights and the sounds are all delicious. It's the Battunga Country Growers Market.

Run by the stallholders themselves, the market started about a year ago and the enthusiasm of people like Andrew Dykstra was what propelled an idea into a reality.

And I’ll leave it up to Andrew to define the Macclesfield difference…

“I think the Macclesfield difference is that we combine local produce with craft and music and entertainment every week as part of the market and strengthening community is the most important part of what we do here.”

Go back as far as you like - the town market was the place where people came together to sell their wares, buy the local produce, enjoy the jugglers and jesters and perhaps, most importantly,......... catch-up on the latest news! And by the number of people just passing the time of day with each other you’d have to say that times haven't changed that much in Macclesfield.

And you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled into a mini United Nations Fair….

There's Ploy, from Thailand, selling mouth-watering Hungarian Langos - sweet or savory and a German Baker selling........Portuguese custard tarts ! He reckons they’re his specialty and says, “They’re wicked!”

And wicked is the word for the startling taste sensations of Simone's speciality truffles. I asked Simone what she would recommend and ,although all of them sell well, she thought I should try the chilli truffles. And it’s not a taste you’d forget, first the chocolate melts in your mouth and then, bang, the chilli comes roaring through! Wickedly delicious.

There’s music and entertainment all day long to please every age. And it’s not just about being a spectator, if you know how to bang a drum or play a didgeridoo - join in! One stallholder says it’s like Womadelaide, but on a smaller scale, and just like that famous Adelaide festival, the arts and crafts are an integral part of the unique Battunga Country Market experience.

From warm felt hats to homemade clay buttons; all the colours of the rainbow are reflected through the handcrafts, especially the leadlight and glassware, and all the colours of the sea come to the hills in handmade jewelry.

I asked local jeweler, Karla, about her unusual materials,…

“These are Paua shells from NZ, so popular and abundant in NZ - said to bring prosperity and good luck - and the other pieces are crystal pieces and bones and glass. I use a lot of recycled pieces.”

Instrument maker Adrian makes an art of recycling, he fashions flutes and whistles from Australian Eucalypt wood that’s upto 400 years old! And again, don’t be shy to add to the myriad of market sounds, Adrian is more than happy to have you try out the instruments. The colour and music and gastronomic delights are all relaxing but if you need a break masseuse John Day is always on hand. Just pop into his tent and all your cares and woes will be massaged away.

The Battunga Country Market is an eclectic mix, there’s a dash of flower power and something for every taste. Francis mixes traditional apple and pear varieties with the freshest of pastry and if you leave it too late in the day to visit her stall you'll be very sorry. I made it in the nick of time and managed to buy the last pie of this very popular stall.

The sun doesn't always shine on the Battunga market in winter but of course that's no deterrent to the stall holders who relocate to the warmth of the Macclesfield Institute just up the road.

So rain, wind or shine you’ll enjoy the market of Macclesfield any Sunday. It’s just 45 kilometres south of the city off the freeway via Mt Barker so you're apple pie might still be warm when you get home.

Well we've seen everything here from new age organics to age old orchardists fruits, the funk band is still grooving away - most of the stall holders come from this part of the Adelaide Hills and it has a really distinctive feel, the Battunga Country Growers Market, any more laid back and I reckon we'd slip off the planet.

Battunga Country Growers Market
Every Sunday 10am - 3pm

For more info please email info@postcards-sa.com.au