A Spectacle in Timber and Light

At its heart is a 200‑metre floating canopy, the largest timber roof structure in the Southern Hemisphere: made of 594 glulam beams and hundreds of cassettes, some stretching a remarkable 32 metres. Together they form a fluid, fish‑scale pattern that glistens like a sunlit surf, weighing in at a monumental 2,500 tonnes. It’s a roof that doesn’t merely protect—it performs, channeling breezes to ventilate, shading spaces from glare, harvesting rainwater and powering the precinct via integrated solar panels.

As structural engineers and design aficionados alike have noted, this roof is not just awe‑inspiring—it’s cutting‑edge, blending parametric modelling with sustainable ambition, capturing over 1,000 tonnes of carbon and hosting over 10,000 m² of solar panels for a 5‑Star Green Star rated building.

Bridging Functions and the Public Realm

Designed by Denmark’s 3XN alongside local architects BVN and Aspect Studio, the new Fish Market rests on a 3.6‑hectare canvas at the head of Blackwattle Bay. It embodies an elegant synthesis: an authentic working seafood auction and distribution hub at ground level, overlaid with vibrant retail, dining, and community spaces above .

Instead of the usual chaos of mixing public traffic with wholesale operations, the project strategically separates wholesale logistics from public retail areas—while maintaining clear visual access to the behind‑the‑scenes action. Staircases double as seating terraces overlooking the water, seamlessly linking market spaces with public plazas, cafés, and waterfront promenades.

A Magnet for Locals, Tourists and Traditions

Anchored into the NSW Government’s $750 million (now $836 million) investment, the new facility is expected to attract over six million visitors annually—doubling foot traffic and revitalising Sydney’s seafood tourism economy. Alongside market halls, it boasts a seafood cooking school, restaurants, cafés, bars, specialty food stores, and open plazas that gently nudge the Harbour’s boundaries toward public enjoyment.

Importantly, it integrates into the broader Bays Precinct vision—unlocking over 6,000 m² of public space and linking to a 15 km stretch of continuous waterfront path from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo.

Roots, Nostalgia, and a Generational Shift

The current Pyrmont site, operating since 1966, has become a beloved yet overcrowded institution—often closing temporarily under Christmas season and Lunar New Year crowds and carrying a beloved undercurrent of nostalgia. Patrons and long‑time vendors recounted bittersweet farewells: a cherished “smelly,” chaotic hall soon to close, and a hopeful future brimming with modern amenities.

Even as some express concern over operational costs or the intimidating scale of the new building, all agree on one thing: it’s a once‑in‑a‑generation transformation, and “business as usual” continues through the transition.

The Final Milestones: We’re Almost There

The market’s crowning achievement—the canopy—is now fully installed (roof work wrapped December 2024), and the construction has entered the final finishing phase. As of early July 2025, the focus has shifted to waterproofing, interior fit‑outs, commissioning of services and opening preparations.

Meanwhile, transport upgrades are underway: $30 million has been allocated to a commuter ferry wharf, and $40 million to upgrade the nearby light rail stop, ensuring the new market is as accessible as it is iconic.

Why It Earns Its Title

When the NSW government formally dubbed this building “Sydney’s most significant harbourside structure since the Opera House,” it wasn’t boastful—it was insight. This bold comparison reflects not just scale, but ambition: a public treasure designed to elevate industry, culture, sustainability, community, and tourism in unison.

In Summary

The new Sydney Fish Market is more than conventional architecture—its theatre, assembly, market, and monument. It harmonises the raw, visceral energy of fresh seafood trade with the polish of thoughtful design, sustainable innovation, and civic connection. It primes Sydney’s waterfront for a new era—yet retains the soul of salt, sea air and tradition. Opening later in 2025, it’s poised to be not just another jewel in Sydney’s crown—but the next one visitors will talk about for generations.