Sydney Fish Market opens as major new civic landmark on Blackwattle Bay

The new Sydney Fish Market has officially opened its doors, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of an underutilised harbour area at Blackwattle Bay into a vibrant public destination.

Claiming to be the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, the project is positioned as both a fully operational commercial facility and a major new civic landmark for Sydney.

GALLERY  

Designed by Danish architecture studio 3XN GXN in association with BVN Architecture and landscape architects Aspect Studios, the market features a striking 20,000 square metre roof canopy that defines its presence on the waterfront. According to 3XN, a central ambition of the project was to balance the intense operational demands of a working fish market with public accessibility and engagement.

“The new Sydney Fish Market is transforming an underutilised harbour area into a vibrant public realm filled with programs that attract both locals and visitors,” said Audun Opdal, senior partner at 3XN. He added that the project blends a fully functioning commercial operation with high-quality public space, creating an authentic market experience grounded in its waterfront context.

Spanning four levels, the building includes an underwater basement, a wholesale market at ground level and retail, dining and office spaces above. Twenty-six lifts connect the different levels, supporting the movement of goods, workers and visitors. The publicly accessible wholesale market has doubled in size compared to the previous facility, now covering 12,200 square metres and housing fishmongers, restaurants, cafes and speciality food vendors.

Adjacent to the wholesale floor is an auction hall, separated by glazed walls to allow visitors to observe daily seafood auctions without disrupting operations. Full-height glazed facades throughout the building connect interior spaces to harbour views, while amphitheatre-style steps lead visitors from a new public plaza into the market.

The most distinctive architectural feature is the 200 metre long undulating roof canopy, comprised of 594 timber beams and 407 aluminium cassettes weighing a total of 2,500 tonnes. The pyramidal cassettes are angled to maximise daylight penetration while providing shade. Integrated solar panels, passive ventilation, rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment systems contribute to reduced energy and water consumption.

Catherine Skinner, principal of BVN, described the project as a highly technical building that never loses sight of its civic role. The Sydney Fish Market forms a key part of the broader renewal of Blackwattle Bay, linking Sydney’s harbour foreshore with a new public destination designed to welcome millions of visitors each year.

Images by Rasmus Hijortshoj via Dezeen

The new Sydney Fish Market has officially opened its doors, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of ...