Canberra's Old Bus Depot Markets celebrate 20 life-changing years

Song Kongmalavong, whose Laotian food stall is one of just six that continues from that first Sunday in September 1994, said the markets has changed his life.

"It's the only income I have had in the last 20 years," the former refugee said.

"My boys were one year old and one month old when it began ... it helped me send them to private school."

It is a sentiment shared by fellow inaugural stallholder Fekerte Tesfaye, whose success with Ethiopian food led to the opening of the critically acclaimed Fekerte's in Dickson. Ms Tesfaye decided to close the popular restaurant last year but the stall is continuing to feed happy passers-by.

"People come for the same dish for 20 years, so I can't change, I had to add," she said.

For founders Morna Whiting and Diane Hinds, the unprecedented success of the Kingston markets has taken what started as a 36-stall gathering into the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame, and to number 10 on last year's centenary list of what Canberrans like about the capital.

The co-directors – who took on the full-time job as young mothers – said the market's impressive patronage and rich friendships between stallholders was the biggest joy.

"This is what really gives us the most pleasure, just to see people [stallholders] thrive, and the sense of community that thrives. It's very humbling for us," Ms Hinds said.

With a loyal crowd that they estimate at an average 8000 people enjoying the indoor market's handicrafts each Sunday, and up to 12,000 at some pre-Christmas openings, the pair said the enduring market now includes some products – from iPad covers to digital photography, and a breadth of organic products – that could not have been imagined when it began.

The pair said they expect a bright future for the market, which opens 53 days a year, as the Kingston foreshore becomes an even larger arts hub.

The 20-year milestone will be marked on Sunday, September 14, with all invited.