Eyre St Market — Local services in District of Canberra Central

It goes a little something like this. It's a dreary, rainy, Friday night in Canberra. Cold, miserable, and unforgiving. A long week, book ended nicely by the thought of a nice dinner in the Kingston locale.

A large, glorious sign adorned with 'Free Parking' in the newest precinct, as parking your car is the last order of business before you finally unwind. So - you approach the gate, and it's one of those license reader style car parks.

Of course, the parking isn't free (the first hour is), and that's okay, because you're about to have a nice dinner, and paying for parking is a thought that's hardly going to get in the way of a fine feed. Not tonight, because you're feeling good. You scan the prices, and whatever, it's not Sydney, and you don't really care if it's $2 or $20. Chat away with your friend, find a nice inconspicuous but easy to remember spot, and make your way up the bowels of the building... and off to enjoy your Friday.

It's a nice night out. Kingston, what a wonderfully revitalised neighbourhood it is in 2021! If you'd like to talk about the great places to visit, happy to give you suggestions - but, unfortunately, it's not what's on my mind at the moment, as, well here's a little story that must be told.

Friday night comes to a close - lifts home are offered, as you make your way through through the ridesharing-waiting masses of the modern age, safe and warmed by the fact that, as designated driver for the evening, you have the warm confines of your own vehicle safely tucked away in the Eyre St Market Car Park.

It's shy of midnight, and it's a cold night indeed.

You approach the doors of the main building, and find it's locked. That's okay, that happens - we'll just make our way to the pedestrian car park entrance. After a couple of bumbling seconds, just off to the left of the entrance, you see the sign that says 'After hours car park access', and you laugh at yourself, because, silly me, it's a little obvious now.

You try the after hours door, and it's locked.

You read the sign again, and it actually says 'This car park is closed between 11pm and 6am. For after hours access, please call xxxx xxx xxx'. Amazing, at least there's a number to call.

'A $65 call out fee applies'.

A little in denial, you walk to the entrance of the car park (where you drove through, mere hours before), and see that roller gates have come down. Sure enough, access to the car park is indeed denied. Secure parking indeed.

On a random wall, about halfway between the 30 odd metres between the entry to the car park to the license plate scanning point, below hip height along the driveway underground entry to the car park, sits a text heavy piece of signage explaining the terms and conditions of entering the car park. It's conveniently placed on the passenger's side of the car, mind you.

There is no visible signage at all indicating the car park will close at any time.

As you do so, you stumble across a growing crowd of people, who serendipitously discover themselves in the same position - with one of them having tried to call the provided contact # no less than FIFTY times over the last 40 minutes, having arrived just minutes after the supposed car park closing time of 11pm.

Apparently the call was never answered - and they were a nice, super civil bunch of people, but the look of irritation and the feeling of bewilderment was undeniably strong.

None of us recalled seeing anything upon entry into the car park, or as pedestrians exiting in respects to a closure at 11pm. Nothing certainly as glaring as the now seemingly comically large 'Free Parking' sign outside.

Suffice to say, it's not a great nightcap at all to a challenging week.

I now have to spend my Saturday morning trudging back to Kingston to retrieve a vehicle. And probably have to spend more time arguing with a machine with a button as to why I don't want to pay what is probably likely an enormous 'all day / overnight fee'. Oh, and writing this review, because, hey, why not.

It's not how I want to spend my Saturday morning.

Because that's...

I have parked my car underground of Supabarn since it opened. It’s very close to my work place with good parking payment. It’s $6/d for Early birds. I will appreciate if you improve the payment system. It happens quite frequently when I pay, it just asks $15 instead of $6. It will take some minutes to call the instructor to fix this problem. But on every Thursday, the lady in charge is so rude. On the 12th of July, at around 6:15 pm. I made a call then she cut it on me three times and I was there nearly 15 minutes. Finally, the manager came over and asked again then he had to wait at the gate so that I could get out. With the problem of the payment machine, we need the people who are nice, responsible and helpful because after a working day, we are so tired to spend time on waiting, paying parking and getting the yell from the lady. In my opinion, she is not patient enough to work on the service at all. Sorry for my bad...

Between the fabulous supabarn, wildflour, and easy takeaway options, the market is a great stop in on the way home or first thing in the morning. With plenty of (currently) free parking this makes a great option to stop in without the crowds of the larger...