Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Wondai markets

The kids and I regularly make the trek to Wondai, a small town in the South Burnett.
I went back recently, sans kids, for a Kingaroy State High School reunion, which I blogged about here.
(Wondai school only went to year 10, so I, along with a few others, caught the bus to Kingaroy school for years 11 and 12.)
It was, to be honest, a fairly boring town to grow up in.
Everyone knew each other, so there was no getting up to mischief without Mum and Dad finding out about it! And whenever we needed to see doctors or other specialists, we had to travel to Brisbane or Toowoomba. Same with tertiary education. Or with attending stuff like the Brisbane Ekka, or going to the beach.
As a child who regularly got travel sickness, I grew up dreading long car journeys.
And yet, part of the isolation was also Wondai's charm.
I spent a good deal of my formative years riding my pushbike up and down roughly-hewn tracks in the bush, walking my dog to visit my grandmother, yabbying at waterholes, and swimming at the local pool.
I regret that my kids can't enjoy the same freedom.
There have been great changes in the South Burnett since I lived there, with award-winning wineries, cheese-making, artists, fast food outlets, and even traffic lights making appearances.
But Wondai has retained a rural charm.
On Saturdays, Wondai has a true country market, where locals gather to buy and sell their wares.
Something for everyone

Beautiful hand-made goodies by local artist Sue Warry who has an online store here.

All you need is LOVE ... more of Sue's creations
I couldn't resist buying this because it reminded me of our kitteh, Hannah

Feeling clucky?


Don't pay exhorbitant city prices for jewellery! Come to Wondai Markets where you will pick up beautiful items for a steal.

Wild Soapnuts
I hadn't seen them before but they are small berry-like nuts which contain a soap-like substance. They are a natural, environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical-based detergents and washing power, or even as personal cleansers and bath gels.

Farm-fresh goodness at country prices

More pumpkins than you can roll down a hill...
(Nearby Goomeri holds an annual pumpkin festival, which includes a pumpkin rolling race down the main street of the town).

These are actually brown onions, but look white because of their freshness. The farmer told me he plucked them from the earth the previous afternoon.


Looking for a new outfit? I love the Abba-style top on the left

A girl can never have too many cute clothes hangers ....

So readers, do you get back to your home towns often? 
Photobucket

31 comments:

Ms_MotorbikeNut said...

It's high on my list to get to a country market just like that before Christmas.

Everytime I read a blog of yours about a country market I want to rush out & go to one this weekend, but our next two weekends are taken up already.

(((( Hugs ))))

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

That looks utterly charming! And I didn't realise that brown onions turned more brown the older they got-interesting! :o

So Now What? said...

You make me want to drop everything and just bloody go there. I love markets/boot stalls etc.

Do you know, with everything there is to do here on the Gold Coast, on Wednesday, with the three of them, I couldn't think of one thing I wanted to do.

Keep the gorgeous pics coming. x

Marita said...

I'm visiting my hometown at the moment. Flown up from wet and chilly Melbourne to the Gold Coast to see my parents. Not so much of the country charm here but the weather is warmer, there is the beach, sun, sand and water just outside their front door. Bliss.

Tenille said...

I love trawling through the local markets; Kingston markets is one of the things I miss most about living in Canberra. These look gorgeous.

Kylez..aka...Mrs.P! said...

I love markets! There are markets every Sunday in Windsor and there is nothing better than grabbing some brunch, then a coffee and wandering around looking at all the lovely things!

Just stopping by from Lori's blog hop. Hope you have a great weekend!

Being Me said...

This looks like my kind of market! I don't get back to my home town too often. Sometimes I drive through. But it's so built-up now it makes me want to cry.

Kamarine said...

That's such a beautiful market. I have an urge to trawl through a local one now.

Unknown said...

I love a good market- this one looks awesome!!

life in a pink fibro said...

Oh yeah, I'm here. Back in my home town. Is kind of nice, I have to say.

Unknown said...

Thanks everyone. There is something soothing about going home, even though many things have changed since I last lived there. And maybe because of that! xo

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