Verity would have approved: fresh new tastes for historic laneway location

Hewitt opened one of Canberra's first bookstores upstairs in the Sydney Building in 1938 and it became a social gathering spot of book-lovers as well as politicians and academics. Over the years Hewitt was an active member of the peace movement, a champion of this new city. She taught a young Gough Whitlam at Telopea Park High and for a while was on an ASIO watchlist as a suspected Communist sympathiser. It would be a lucky customer who sidled up next to her and could listen to some of her stories. The Verity Lane Market will see some of Canberra's best young up and coming chefs cooking in this iconic location. The interiors have been gutted, a new section built backing on to the laneway, but much of the history remains.

There's open brickwork in the front section facing Northbourne Avenue, if you look up the ceiling is the original floorboards that half of Canberra once danced on in the heady Private Bin days of the 1980s and 90s. There'd be some stories to tell there as well, perhaps better left untold.

The market is the brainchild of Phillip Keir, who's passionate about the amalgamation of the old and new. He talks about former tenants, sports stores and butchers and Leo's Continental Cafe.

"This building has had this amazing list of users over the years," he says, "but there have also been tenants such as the Department of Defence and the South African High Commission was here too."

The ACT Government has identified the city's laneways for transformation, with the City Renewal Authority investing $400,000 for projects including practical measures such as "architecturally designed" waste enclosures as well as festivals and events.

Verity Lane Market opens for business on October 22 with three kitchens running.

Enoki Project is driven by Gerald Ong of Chairman and Yip fame, and features a menu inspired by favourite modern Asian flavours. Ong was one of five finalists for the 2020 Josephine Pignolet Young Chef Award.

Ramen Daddy, the venture of locals Eddy Tsai and John Leverink, has found a home, with their popular bowls of French and Japanese fusion.

Silvio Miceli's will head up Pizza Artigiana, serving up traditional Italian pizza like it's an art form, making any Nonna proud. Benito Drovandi will look after Verity Bar, which takes its cues from early 20^th century design. The market has been designed by Mather Architecture, recently known for its prize-winning re-design of Monaro Mall.

Keir, who was once the Australian publisher of Rolling Stone magazine, said he hopes the market adds to the already vibrant Canberra hospitality scene.

"We have a number of exciting vendors ready to move into our remaining three kitchens and have planned for a some exciting pop-ups to open before the end of the year," he said.