Paddington Markets is Sydney's oldest community market and are on every Saturday. Born in 1973 during the 'hippie' era, a time of social change, creativity and independence, the markets evolved from a handful of artists and designers meeting to mingle and hang out at the Village Church Community Centre, located in the grounds of the now Paddington Uniting Church. The Markets' birth coincided with the opening of the Sydney Opera House, ending of the Vietnam War, the election of Gough Whitlam's Labor Government, the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin on the north coast of NSW and the Sunbury Festival in Melbourne, Victoria. They gathered every week to sell their wares, listen to music of the day, play sitars, debate the Vietnam War, politics and free expression.

Its long history has produced a market that reflects both its bohemian roots and its survival as Sydney's best art, craft and fashion market.

Paddington is known for: its exciting and quirky atmosphere; its eccentric and colourful traders; its eclectic products and contemporary design; the high quality of its art, craft, design, and fashion; and for innovation in both products and market operation.

Paddington is renowned as a major launch pad for the Australian Fashion Industry. Some of the high profile labels which began at Paddington Markets include: Third Millennium, Bracewell, Von Troska, Pablo Nevada, Lisa Ho, Black Vanity, Sarah Jane and Studibaker Hawk.

The Markets are located in historical Paddington, one of the last remaining pockets of Victorian terrace houses in Sydney.

Under the mantle of Paddington Uniting Church the market has flourished and continues to provide income to enable the church to operate community and welfare programs and activities for people living in the inner city area.

http://www.paddingtonmarkets.com.au/index.aspx

Australia now has a National Bilby Day. Beginning on Sunday 11 September 2005, National Bilby Day will be celebrated on the second Sunday of every September. http://members.optusnet.com.au/bilbies/

• The Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a member of the bandicoot family, Bilbies are also known as Rabbit-Eared Bandicoots.
• They are marsupials. The pouch opens backwards so as not to be filled with dirt while digging.
• The word Bilby is from Yuwaalaraay, an Aboriginal language (source: The Australian National University).
• The Greater Bilby, usually referred to as the Bilby, is the largest of the bandicoots, measuring up to 55cm in length (body only) with a tail up to 29cm long. Adult males weigh up to 2.5 kg and females about half that.
• Bilby fur is very soft. It is mainly blue-grey, with some fawn. The belly is white and the tail is black with a white crest at the end and a naked spur-like tip.
• The large ears of the Bilby are almost hairless. As well as providing great hearing, they are believed to help keep the Bilby cool.
• The long snout, which is pink and hairless at the tip, gives the Bilby an excellent sense of smell.
• Bilbies have poor eyesight, so it is just as well their hearing and smelling senses are so good.
• The Bilby's strong forelimbs with their long claws make them brilliant burrowers.
• Bilbies live in spiraling burrows which they dig up to 2 metres deep. A Bilby may have up to a dozen burrows.
• The Bilby is truly nocturnal. They don't emerge from their burrows until at least an hour after dusk, and retreat at least an hour before dawn. A full moon, strong wind or heavy rain can keep Bilbies in their burrows all night.
• Bilbies are omnivorous. Some of the things they eat include: seeds, spiders, insects and their larvae, bulbs, fruit, fungi and small animals.
• The Bilby (like the koala) doesn't drink water, it gets all it needs from its food.
• Bilbies breed all year round. Their gestation period is only 12 to14 days and young, between one and three in a litter, remain in the pouch for 75 to 80 days, and are independent about 2 weeks later.
• The Greater Bilby is on the endangered list, the Lesser Bilby is believed to be extinct.
• The Bilby was chosen by the Commonwealth of Australia Endangered Species Program as a mascot representing all endangered species.
• To raise public awareness of endangered Australian species a campaign has been launched to replace the Easter bunny with the Bilby, hence we now have the Easter Bilby and Chocolate Bilbies!

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Some Bilby Trivia

A soft toy Bilby has been to the Top of the World!! In May 1997, Tashi Tenzing - grandson of Tenzing Norgay - reached the summit of Mount Everest. The following extract is from "Tenzing and the Sherpas of Everest" written by Tashi and his wife Judy, who live in Sydney. "At 9:30pm we roused and began to pack for the summit. The most important item of all to be placed in my pack was the small Buddha my mother had given me years before to place on the summit. In all the years of Everest climbing this had never been done and it was important to me that this symbol of the deeply held beliefs of all Sherpas and Tibetans be placed atop the highest point on earth, the abode of the gods. On the very top of my pack I had attached a small, fluffy toy bilby, which is a highly endangered Australian marsupial. My son had asked me to carry it and it also symbolised my heartfelt wish to conserve the wild places and creatures of this amazing planet." Tenzing and the Sherpas of Everest, by Judy and Tashi Tenzing
ISBN 0 7322 67250
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Pty Limited 2001

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Bilby Fact Sheet

View the Austrailian Bilby Appreciation Society Bilby Fact Sheet.

12 September 2009 - 18 July 2010 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Doors Open 10:00 AM)

In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, From Earth to the Universe will take you on the ultimate photographic trip through space.

Featuring a collection of extraordinary images that showcase the beauty and mystery of our galaxy and beyond, the exhibition reveals how the telescope has expanded our knowledge and vision since Galileo first observed the skies four hundred years ago.

Accompanying the photographs are a selection of astronomy-related objects from the Museum's collection including an 19th century Orrery (model of the solar system), a model of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and a beautifully hand-crafted replica of one of only two existing telescopes attributed to Galileo.

Celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, From Earth to the Universe takes you on the ultimate photographic trip through space. Featuring a collection of extraordinary images that showcase the beauty and mystery of our Universe and reveal how the telescope has expanded our knowledge and vision since Galileo's observations four hundred years ago.

Venue

Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris Street
Ultimo
Phone: 02 9217 0111
URL: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/
Notes: If you want to visit with a group of friends, as special interest group or a club, we have a range of services available and offer a discount on entry price. Phone 02 9217 0222 or fax 02 9217 0441 for information and bookings. Nearest Public Transport: Haymarket Monorail & Light Rail Station, Sydney Explorer Bus Stop 17
Opening Hours: Every day except Christmas Day 10:00am - 5:00pm
Facilities: air conditioned, disabled access, food outlet, public toilets

Prices

$10 Adult
$5 Children
$6 Concession
$6 Seniors
Free Members
$25 Family of 4

Contact Details

General Enquiries

Customer Service
Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris St
Ultimo 1238
Phone: 02 9217 0111
info@phm.gov.au

Related Websites

Official Website
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com