Following the significant impact of the 2019/2020 Kangaroo Island bushfires and COVID-19 shutting down the Kingscote Farmers & Artisan Market, the KFAM Committee devised a concept to help the Market, local businesses  and community bounce back, but also grow and thrive by creating a semi-permanent base in the Kingscote Wharf area.

 

The concept of “The Backyard Project” was born by the committee, with the vision of activating and invigorating a section of Kingscote Wharf area which had long been vacant and unused and make it a usable 'Backyard' where the community and visitors can work, play, gather, an where all can feel at home. But ultimately a place where ideas are born and dreams are grown. 

 

Countering the impact of the Island's Coastal winds with shipping containers to create a sheltered Market Square for local businesses to operate from on market days, as well as between them, the Committee was successful in securing two grants to see the Market Square concept develop into a reality.

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The Backyard will be a pop-up space created using modified 40ft shipping containers (in keeping with an industrial wharf surrounds), the containers will provide a semi-permanent home for KFAM, as well as our Market's family of small businesses. With four 2.9m x 2.9m stall holder spaces within the containers available for businesses to lease, as well as a Market bar and storage in one, the containers will not only provide a semi-permanent market place for those micro businesses needing a shop-front, but cannot yet afford to move into a commercial premise, but create a protected space in which markets and other outdoor events can be held, day and night.

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With the modified containers due to arrive in 2023, the Kingscote Farmers and Artisan Markets are now seeking expressions of interest from businesses to take up residence within the containers.

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The Kingscote Farmers & Artisan Markets would like to thank the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and Biz Rebuild for funding 'The Backyard Project' and helping this community asset become a reality. The Bickfords Group for allowing KFAM and all of our stallholders to use their Kingscote wharf lawns and asphalt to revitalise the area. The Kangaroo Island Council for your support and advice for the project. The talented Sarah Kemp of Smart Future Creative, for all of your hard work in developing the vision and plan for the 'Backyard Project' and getting the grants to see this all happen. The amazing Sue Arlidge from Regional Development Australia, for your tireless encouragement, enthusiasm, advice and endless support for the 'Backyard Project' in helping us see this concept finally become a reality for the Kangaroo Island businesses and community as a whole. A big thankyou to G.A.A.S in assisting in the container modifications and sponsoring of the Bar and Storage container to help this community project come in on budget, and to Sarah Strong-Law, for filling our buckets and helping develop branding for KFAM and the Backyard Project. And a final big thank you to everyone else who's given support, consulted and been involved in anyway, shape or form, before and during this project, we truly can't wait to see you all at the 'Backyard Project's' Market Square.