Canberra's Old Bus Depot Markets have moved as the ACT government prepares for its $2 million facelift of the Kingston site.
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The markets will resume on Sunday, with stallholders from the upper deck relocated to the historic Fitters' Workshop and the northern annexe. The upper deck will be closed for nearly four months while asbestos roofing from the upper hall of the heritage-listed former transport depot is removed.
The lower deck of the markets will remain open for trade.
The works, announced last year, are part of a revamp that will cement the site as part of the developing Kingston Arts Precinct.
Preparation work began on Monday. Removal of the asbestos will begin in the middle of January and take five weeks. The replacement of the roof sheeting is due to be completed in late April.
Sunday marks the first day of trade in the markets' 20th anniversary year. Director Diane Hinds said the refurbishments would bring a fresh look.
''We are thrilled that the ACT government is repairing the roof and it will open up some new and exciting areas for visitors to explore at the markets,'' she said. ''We are happy that the government is allowing the markets to trade whilst the works are going ahead.''
Ms Hinds said the addition of the Fitters Workshop and Lakeside Gallery would give the markets a ''fresh appeal'' and hopefully ''reacquaint our visitors with some stalls they may have previously overlooked … plus new and exciting stallholders join us all the time so things are always changing, offering a different visitor experience each time''.
The ACT government said on Thursday the removal of the asbestos would be completely contained. The work area will be closed to the public.
The area will also be completely sealed off from the Wentworth Avenue offices and the lower hall of the bus depot, where market stallholders will continue to trade.
Acting Chief Minister Andrew Barr said removing the asbestos was ''the best way to ensure ongoing public safety''.
Mr Barr said the work would secure the building's future as a significant structure in the Kingston Arts Precinct.
''As a relatively young city, Canberra doesn't have a great deal of historic built form, so it is great to have the opportunity of keeping the Old Bus Depot not only for the use of the markets but also as an important part of the Kingston Arts Precinct,'' he said.
He said the facelift would add another dimension to the thriving development at the Kingston Foreshore, where several new bars and cafes are opening.