Sydney Fish Market Grand Opening: Explore the New $836M Blackwattle Bay Hub

Key posts Pinned post from 6.49am New fish market opens its doors Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of the grand opening of the new Sydney Fish Market at Blackwattle Bay. I’m Cindy Yin, here with you as crowds of seafood lovers and tourists prepare to flock into the new site right across from the old Pyrmont location. Here’s what you need to know: The $836 million shiny new fish market at Blackwattle Bay has been touted as the “Opera House for fish”, and is expected to be a major drawcard for tourists and Sydneysiders. The new site is expected to attract 6 million visitors each year – double that of the old site. There will be the same 400 parking spaces, with light rail stops and bus services nearby for commuters. The NSW government in November 2018 unveiled the final design for the fish market. At the time, it had an opening date of 2023 and an estimated $250 million price tag. The market was designed by Danish architects 3XN, and is twice the size of the existing site and as big as three Queen Victoria Buildings side-by-side. It’s going to be an exciting day. Let’s get started! Latest posts Latest posts 8.24am Sydney Fish Market eyes export market for the first time By Megan Gorrey The Sydney Fish Market boss says the $836 million new building will enable the company to export seafood for the first time, as it looks to boost its market share across Asia and the United States. Market chief executive Daniel Jarosch said staff hoped to leverage the increased capacity and profile of the new complex to eventually export seafood to Singapore, Hong Kong, China and the United States. “We don’t currently export as Sydney Fish Market [company]. Some of our suppliers do export quite significantly. We have export accredited facilities here. We’re not going to be activating it day one. But that’s the opportunity. “We think there’s the opportunity to grow our market share by about 50 per cent, just with the capacity that we’ve got here, the opportunity to leverage our brand. “But it’s working on the logistics so you can get a far-flung lobster from a wonderful location onto your plate, not only in Sydney, but also potentially foreign countries as well.” 8.16am New fish market ‘brings together industry and community’, boss says By Megan Gorrey Sydney Fish Market chief executive Daniel Jarosch says the new complex leverages the role seafood has, and is an “essential part of our Australian life”. “From backyard barbecues to fine dining, from Christmas lunches to fish and chips on the beach, seafood is woven into the Australian story. “This market exists because of the people who work tirelessly so the Australians can enjoy the best seafood the world has to offer, the fishers who brave the elements and for the catch of the day, the tradie and the trade buyers and fishmongers who start before dawn. “This building is for you, supporting the livelihoods and securing the future of the industry that you sustain. Importantly, this market also belongs to the community. “It’s a place to shop, dine, learn and gather, a place where locals and visitors connect over quality produce and the people behind it, right here on Sydney Harbour.” 8.08am And we’re off! Shoppers and foodies flock to new retail floor By Megan Gorrey The first enthusiastic shoppers have poured through the glass doors and are crowding retailers peddling fish, prawns, lobsters, oysters and sushi. Among them is Glebe resident Jan Wilson, who was a member of the fish market project’s community consultative committee. “I think people will come, there’s a lot to attract them here. There’s something for everyone to eat, whether you want 5-star dining or fish and chips outside,” Wilson said. She worried dozens of new retailers would take business away from smaller retailers in Glebe and Pyrmont. Wilson said residents were continuing to push for a separated cycleway along Bridge Road, where the influx of traffic expected at the new building has raised concerns about clashes with commuter cyclists. Advertisement 7.56am Fish Market to ‘have something for everybody’: Minns The unveiling of the new $836 million fish market marked a “big step” and a “long time coming” for Sydney, and would become a major drawcard even for non-seafood fans and those not working in the industry, NSW Premier Chris Minns says. “This is a huge moment for Sydney and a wonderful achievement for the seafood industry in the most beautiful harbour in the most beautiful city on earth … It’s a natural but important progression,” Minns said at a ceremony this morning. While foodies will travel far and wide, I think it’s really important that this market will still cater for local families who just want to come down with the kids to have some fish and chips on a hot summer afternoon. Whether you’re coming here for caviar, or crab sticks, or some kind of exotic platter, this place will have something for everybody. Underneath all the incredible design, the beating heart of this building will be a working fish market. 7.46am We want to hear from you If you’re one of the many keen-eyed fish lovers already at the new fish markets, we’d love to hear what you think of the new space. Feel free to drop us a line below! 7.34am 1400 homes, 35-storey towers: New market paves way for thousands of homes on old site By Megan Gorrey The relocation of the Sydney Fish Market to the new building will open up the Blackwattle Bay foreshore and clear the path for thousands of more homes in towers up to 35 storeys on the old site, Premier Chris Minns said. About 1400 apartments, including student housing, are planned for the old 3.6-hectare fish market site, with thousands more planned at surrounding sites around Wentworth Park, Pyrmont and The Bays precinct. “That means that thousands of new families will be able to call this beautiful, beautiful part of Sydney home and enjoy the stunning fish market on a regular basis,” Minns said. NSW taxpayers are footing the bill for the $836 million facility, designed by world-renowned Danish architects 3XN, in collaboration with BVN Architecture and Aspect Studios. Its distinctive rook is designed to resemble fish scales. “It’s a daunting prospect to bring a major new building like this in what is already the most beautiful city on earth, but I think you’ll all agree they’ve achieved it, and it’s a wonderful addition to the city’s landscape,” Minns said. Advertisement 7.22am Watch: How the roof of the new fish market was built The 20,000 square metre solar-lined roof of the new fish market is the size of four football fields, and can light up at night like the scales of a rainbow fish. Its wave shaped, scale patterned roof is designed to capture the rain, provide ventilation, bring daylight into the building, and provide shade inside and out. The market is open to the elements in some spots, with its roof hovering 15 metres above the retail area, and 25 metres from the ground in other spots. 7.13am ‘Biggest and best fish market in the world’ opens By Megan Gorrey NSW Premier Chris Minns says Sydney now has the “biggest and best fish market in the world” as he speaks at a ceremony to open the $836 million complex. “And not only that, with all of the state of the art refrigeration on site at this location, I’m proud to report to all of you this morning, it will be the best smelling fish market in the world,” Minns said. “This is a huge moment for Sydney and a wonderful achievement for the seafood industry in the most beautiful harbour in the most beautiful city on earth.” Minns said the working fish market would be the “beating heart” of the Glebe complex, but he hoped it would remain a spot families could visit to grab fish and chips. Dozens of people are at the new building for the opening, which started with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. Department of Housing, Planning and Infrastructure secretary Kiersten Fishburn said the event signalled the “historic and much-anticipated” opening of “Sydney’s newest icon”. 7.00am Seafood buyers pack first Dutch auction on market’s new trading floor By Megan Gorrey Dozens of registered buyers have packed the first seafood auction on the trading floor at the new Sydney Fish Market. The silent auction is not open to the public but can be viewed through the glass walls of the new building. Since 1989, the market has used a Dutch clock auction, which works in reverse of a usual auction: the auctioneer starts with a high price that drops until a buyer presses a button, freezing the price and winning the lot. About 160 registered buyers will inspect the products on the trading floor early each weekday morning before the crab auction starts at 4am, followed by fish at 4.30am. The auctions have been brought forward by an hour at the new building to ensure trading is finished by 10am. An estimated 20 tonnes of fresh seafood will be sold at the new market each hour, or an average of 50 to 55 tonnes per day. About 60 tonnes of produce is expected to be sold today. Sydney Fish Market chief executive Daniel Jarosch last week said: “The trick is to get the live auction over and done as quickly as possible. On an average day, we do about 3000 crates [of seafood]. At peak, about 30 days of the year, that goes to 7000 crates. “The challenge is then getting the product out of this facility because it has to get into the stores for customers to buy at lunchtime.” Advertisement 6.55am How to get to the new Sydney Fish Market While the new site is expected to attract 6 million visitors each year – double that of the old site – it provides the same 400 parking spaces, requiring many visitors to catch buses or light rail services while lugging their seafood home. The old Fish Market light rail stop has been renamed Bank Street, as Wentworth Park light rail stop, about 400m away, is now closer to the market’s entrance. Due to the additional demand, there will be 150 extra weekly services for the L1 Dulwich Hill light rail line, to run on evenings, weekends and public holidays. Existing bus routes 389 and 501 serving Pyrmont and Ultimo will continue to provide access to the new Sydney Fish Market. These services operate along Harris Street and bus stops are about 400 metres from the new Sydney Fish Market. A $30 million ferry wharf for services from Barangaroo, announced in last year’s budget, will not be ready until at least 2027, as plans for a pontoon wharf on the market’s eastern side are still in the design stage. Most Viewed in National Loading