Cedar Mill Group acquires design marketplace ‘The Finders Keepers’

Major event consultants and venue developer, Cedar Mill Group, has today announced the acquisition of one of Australia’s leading design marketplaces, The Finders Keepers.

This acquisition reflects Cedar Mill Group’s ambition to play a significant role in fostering the creative, live music, events and tourism sectors by developing cultural and environmental spaces and opportunities.

In November 2023, the group also acquired The Olive Tree Market, Newcastle’s premier art, creator and design market, as part of its overarching mission to invest in projects and businesses that encourage tourism and deliver economic boosts for the region.

The Finders Keepers will extend this commitment, offering creatives commercial and growth opportunities beyond regional markets. The deal will also provide the wider community with expanded designer, artist and stallholder offerings and experiences, as well as further investment in their regions.

Ewen Craig, Head of Cedar Mill Group notes “this acquisition is the perfect fit for Cedar Mill Group and provides a pathway from The Olive Tree to The Finders Keepers in keeping with our strategic vision to grow our amazing arts and music creative community. It also allows for the natural integration of these markets into our venues as they develop and evolve.”

Established in 2008 by Sarah Thornton and Brooke Johnston, The Finders Keepers has grown from a humble side passion to a multi-market hub for design innovation and creativity. Driven by a vision for an event that didn't exist at that time, The Finders Keepers was created as a place where communities could come together under one roof to shop, explore and discover the finest offerings from designers, makers and entrepreneurs.

Thornton and Johnston shared “It is incredibly important to us that we leave the legacy of The Finders Keepers brand in the best hands for its future growth and evolution. Cedar Mill Group has a strong structure and team, underpinned by community values that align with The Finders Keepers’ core mission.

“We are proud of what we’ve built and are excited to see two long-standing and like-minded markets, The Olive Tree Market and The Finders Keepers, join forces under the new Cedar Mill Markets organisation.”

Over the past 16 years, The Finders Keepers has evolved and innovated, starting from its modest beginnings in Sydney and expanding to Brisbane in 2009 and Melbourne 2010 respectively. In 2018 Thornton and Johnson introduced an Indigenous Program to elevate First Nations designers and makers. A bespoke Online Marketplace e-commerce platform was launched in 2019, and in 2022 The Finders Keepers Summit was created to empower small creative business owners.

Katie Smith, Manager of Cedar Mill Markets added “the integration of The Finders Keepers market into Cedar Mill Group provides a growth opportunity for stallholders and a pathway for creatives to showcase their talent in a localised setting at The Olive Tree Market, as well as a potential opportunity to continue that creative journey into multiple regions through The Finders Keepers markets.

“We are also beyond excited about utilising the wealth of knowledge and experience of The Finders Keepers team and the opportunities this will provide to curate new events.” 

Founded by Paul Lambess, Cedar Mill Group was established by Newcastle-based Winarch Group in 2020 to lead its ambitious growth plans into the tourism and events sector. Cedar Mill has a vision to create an internationally significant network of purpose-built indoor venues and outdoor amphitheatre and entertainment precincts in Australia, that enhance each of their region’s tourism potential. In November 2023, Cedar Mill Group acquired the iconic The Olive Tree Market, with ambitious plans for the market’s future.

Image. Finders Keepers Melbourne Credit: Samee Lapham