Sydney, Australia opened a new AUD 800 million (USD 538 million, EUR 459 million), 26,000-square-meter fish market on 19 January in what it called a “major milestone” for the country’s seafood industry.
The new market, located on Sydney Harbour, was designed by 3XN GXN Architects and the New South Wales (NSW), Australia government called the new building “the world’s best fish market” in a release. NSW said it is now the third major landmark on the harbor’s waterfront, located alongside the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
“The new Sydney Fish Market is set to become one of Australia’s must-visit destinations, ready to welcome up to six million visitors a year and deliver a major boost to Sydney’s tourism economy and jobs sector,” NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said. “As the state's newest landmark and a striking new icon to Sydney Harbour, it is set to achieve global recognition on par with the Sydney Opera House.”
The new building is about 20 percent larger than the previous Sydney Fish Market, which was built in 1966 and is located at Blackwattle Bay. The new structure is currently home to 42 retailers and 19 seafood wholesalers. The local government said they expect the new building will attract more than six million local and international visitors each year, with a “fully operational wholesale fish market, retail, dining, and educational and public gathering spaces,” double the 3 million visitors the former space saw annually.
“From watching live auctions, oyster shucking at Sydney Seafood School, to tasting your way through its multitude of cuisines, the market delivers a multi-layered destination that locals and visitors will want to return to time and again,” Sydney Fish Market CEO Daniel Jarosch said. “Beyond food and beverage, the market also features a selection of specialty retailers, adding to its dynamic and diverse atmosphere. The new Sydney Fish Market is a proud masthead for the Australian seafood industry, showcasing spectacular produce to the world.”
The new building includes a “floating” rooftop design that spans nearly 200 meters and holds 400 solar panel-lined cassettes, which the developers said were inspired by fish scales. The panels help generate 5 percent of the building’s daily energy consumption. There’s also modernized ice-making facilities (capable of producing 50,000 kilograms of ice daily), live crustacean tanks, and an auction room.
The Minns Labor Government partnered with Australian-based commercial property developer Mirvac to turn former market space into 2.6 hectares of public space, 1,400 newly built homes, and a promenade with a 15-kilometer foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Wooloomooloo.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said in a company release that the upgraded market will “support the more than 1,000 mostly small family businesses” that uphold NSW’s commercial seafood industry.
“Whether you’re a foodie, fisher, or architecture enthusiast Sydney Fish Market has something for everyone, from fresh seafood to take-away fish and chips, fine dining overlooking the Western Harbour, and opens up fantastic new public spaces for the community to relax and enjoy,” Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said.
Construction for the new waterfront market initially began in July 2020, and the opening date was delayed with construction setbacks.
