Tasmanian Craft Fair marks 39th year

The volunteer-run Tasmanian Craft Fair started with just 17 stalls in one building in 1980 and has grown to 260 stall holders across five venues in the town.

Fair director Lesley Dare said it was first held after an influx of ''hippies'' who were into craft and arts moved to the farming area.

"They were so different from the farmers that the Rotary Club said we should do something to meld them all together into the town, so they had the first craft fair," she said.

Ms Dare said lots of people who started off at the fair had gone on to do really well for themselves in the art world, including some internationally recognised artists.

"It happens quite a bit where people start here and sort of get their legs and they go you know 'we're quite good, people like our work' and it gets picked up by galleries and it just continues on," she said.

Deloraine painter and internationally recognised artist Tony Smibert, who is a visiting artist researcher at Tate Britain, started off showing his minimalist and abstract watercolour paintings at the fair.

McLachlan Studio's Hugh and Mary McLachlan also showcased their jewellery at the fair before opening their studio about nine kilometres out of town.

The November 1 to 4 fair attracts about 20,000 visitors each year browsing the stalls filled with gin makers, beer brewers, musicians, artworks, jewellery and clothing.

The event is run by Deloraine Rotary Club in partnership with other organisations and volunteers.