Sydney's long-awaited, state-of-the-art fish market has finally opened its doors, only to be inundated by crowds that forced it to reach capacity by mid-morning on its very first day. The monumental project, which endured years of delays and a budget that ballooned to over $836 million, welcomed an estimated 40,000 visitors on Monday, showcasing an insatiable public appetite for the new waterfront destination.
A Grand Opening Met With Immediate Demand
The scale of public interest became apparent early. Some dedicated seafood buyers arrived as early as 4am for a silent auction in the new glass-walled auction room, where 60 tonnes of fish and crabs were available. When the retail floors opened at 7am, crowds began to build steadily, peaking at lunchtime. By mid-morning, the facility had reached its maximum safe capacity of 5,000 customers at any one time.
Queues stretching up to 100 metres formed outside, with wait times hitting 30 minutes by 12.45pm. Many hopeful visitors were turned away and advised to return later. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who officially opened the market, boasted it was 'the biggest and best fish market in the world', designed to cater to both local families and international tourists.
An Architectural Marvel With a Checkered History
Spanning 26,000 square metres on Blackwattle Bay, the new market is a stone's throw from the old site. Planning Minister Paul Scully hailed it as an 'architectural marvel', its most striking feature being a 200-metre-long roof with a floating canopy. This structure is fitted with 400 light fixtures designed to illuminate the Sydney skyline in a pattern resembling fish scales.
The project's journey has been fraught with challenges. Initially announced in 2016 by then-Premier Mike Baird with a budget of $250 million, the cost was revised to $750 million in 2019 under Premier Gladys Berejiklian, with an opening date set for 2024. Further delays pushed the final cost beyond $836 million. The building contractor, Sharvain, completed the project but subsequently entered administration.
Designed for Spectacle and Sustainability
The market's design philosophy, explained by building designer Fred Holt of 3XN, was to turn the seafood industry 'inside out'. Public areas now showcase live crustacean tanks and the new auction room, making the 'theatrics and intense choreography of seafood trading' part of the visitor experience. Premier Minns also joked that modern, state-of-the-art refrigeration systems would ensure the new market is far less pungent than its predecessor.
Market chief executive Daniel Jarosch emphasised the facility's role in supporting a critical industry, stating seafood is central to Australian life and coastal traditions. The market is expected to attract up to six million visitors annually. While the current NSW government celebrated the opening, the opposition was quick to claim credit, with leader Kellie Sloane noting the project was commissioned by the former Liberal-Nationals government in 2017.
