The new Sydney Fish Market
Date: Aug 07, 2025
Category: Project updates
The iconic new Sydney Fish Market has been designed by architects 3XN, BVN Architecture and ASPECT Studios. It will create a cultural legacy through design excellence, offering a considered balance of throughfares, green spaces, public furniture, and waterfront heritage installations.
Key design points
Waterfront promenade
- The project will connect the existing Glebe foreshore promenade to Pyrmont.
- It will deliver over 6,000 square metres of new public open space.
- It will form part of a planned 15km continuous foreshore walk from Woolloomooloo to Rozelle Bay, creating one of the world’s longest and scenic waterfront walks.
Sunset views / native planting and sleek recycled timber benches
An authentic fish market
- New wharves will be built to allow berthing of commercial fishing vessels to unload their catch.
- The amphitheatre staircases and the foreshore promenade wrap over the operational wharf, allowing the public to see into the operations of the fish market whilst being provided safe access.
Public market hall
- The new Sydney Fish Market will be the biggest in the Southern hemisphere.
- It will include a variety of fish traders, restaurants, cafes, bars, and food retailers in a market hall setting.
Eastern Plaza promenade - curbed lounge bench
Sustainability design
5 Star Green Star rating
The new Sydney Fish Market is targeting a 5 Star Green Star rated building under the Green Building Council Australia’s rating tool. It marks a significant step in achieving the NSW Government’s net zero commitment by 2050.
The project achieves a pollutants reduction of approx. 6,000kg/yr that would have been discharge directly to Sydney Harbour through, site wide integrated water management, and Water Sensitive Urban Design treatment.
The new Sydney Fish Market is targeting a 5 Star Green Star rated building under the Green Building Council Australia’s rating tool. It marks a significant step in achieving the NSW Government’s net zero commitment by 2050.
The project achieves a pollutants reduction of approx. 6,000kg/yr that would have been discharge directly to Sydney Harbour through, site wide integrated water management, and Water Sensitive Urban Design treatment.
Other outcomes:
⦁ Rainwater capture - Reduce potable water by 45%
⦁ Rainwater re-use - Irrigation and maintenance
⦁ Cleaning Blackwattle Bay - 5 seabins installed that filter water and capture floating debris
⦁ Improving marine habitat - Living seawalls
Materials
⦁ Minimise waste - Recycled timber furniture
⦁ Low carbon - 50% reduction Portland cement-low carbon high performance concrete
Biodiversity and habitat
⦁ 87 trees
⦁ 13,415 plants
⦁ 65 species
⦁ 100% native pallet
⦁ Mostly Sydney Coastal region natives
⦁ Salt-tolerant
⦁ Rainwater capture - Reduce potable water by 45%
⦁ Rainwater re-use - Irrigation and maintenance
⦁ Cleaning Blackwattle Bay - 5 seabins installed that filter water and capture floating debris
⦁ Improving marine habitat - Living seawalls
Materials
⦁ Minimise waste - Recycled timber furniture
⦁ Low carbon - 50% reduction Portland cement-low carbon high performance concrete
Biodiversity and habitat
⦁ 87 trees
⦁ 13,415 plants
⦁ 65 species
⦁ 100% native pallet
⦁ Mostly Sydney Coastal region natives
⦁ Salt-tolerant
Eastern Plaza bespoke bench suite (foreground) Public artwork "Coal Loader" by Mike Hewson
Project delivery:
- One of Australia’s leading tourist destinations
- A waterfront promenade, a ferry wharf and more than 6,000 square metres of new public open space
- A variety of fishmongers, restaurants, cafes, bars and specialty food retailers in a market hall setting
- A new destination for art and culture in Sydney
- Easy access to public transport
- A place for the whole community and visitors to enjoy daily
- Improved accessibility with a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists
Eastern Plaza landscape works underway
The new Sydney Fish Market is part of a renewed Blackwattle Bay Precinct that will offer:
- New parks and public spaces
- High quality waterfront promenade
- New homes and commercial spaces
- Cafes, restaurants, and retail
Construction of the new Sydney Fish Market will be complete in late 2025 and handed over to the Sydney Fish Market Pvt Ltd.
