ONE of Australia’s biggest antique fairs has been cancelled indefinitely due to fears about bushfire safety.
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The trustees of the Fryerstown Antique Fair – held annually in the small town just south of Castlemaine – decided to cancel next year’s event, and events in future years, after failing to agree on a new venue.
The event has been held for 43 years, usually during the Australia Day long weekend.
Event assistant Ross Hampson said the CFA and police would no longer support the event at its current location.
“They showed us computer modelling of how a bushfire with a north westerly wind would flame through the area, and said we wouldn’t be able to get people and stalls out in time,” he said.
“There could be implications with insurance if we’re not supported by emergency services.
“The trustees don’t want to get sued.
“Another issue is the possibility of trees coming down during a fire.”
Emergency services had raised concerns for several years about the venue in the heart of the small town with a population of 200.
The event attracts thousands of people each year over several days.
In the past it has hosted at least 20,000 people over the long weekend with about 200 stalls selling every type of antique ware imaginable.
Mount Alexander Shire found an alternative venue outside of Fryerstown, but the antique fair committee voted against relocating.
Mr Hampson would not disclose their reasoning, but said they were open to discussions about holding the event again in the future.
“They kept putting more and more pressure on us in recent years,” he said.
“It’s one of the biggest antique fairs in Australia so it will have flow-on effects for the local area.”
Mr Hampson said the Labour Day long weekend would clash with the antique fair in Ballarat, while the fire risk was likely to be just as high.
The post on the fair’s website promises stallholders will be reimbursed if they have already paid for a stall.
The post states the cancellation is due to a “lack of support from emergency services and possible public liability insurance implications”.
The Fryerstown Antique Fair was the major fundraiser for the year for a number of small community groups, including the Fryerstown School.
The school was recently refurbished to allow for educational events focused on the surrounding natural environment.
The fair could not be held in days of Code Red or Extreme fire danger.