Anticipation for the new and improved Sydney Fish Market has been building up ever since the site’s multi-million-dollar makeover was green-lit in 2020, and while it has not all been smooth sailing, the mission to transform it into the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere is forging on full speed ahead. However, the development is not only looking towards the future, but also paying tribute to the past.
A series of art installations have been commissioned for the new precinct, which will honour Blackwattle Bay’s First Nations and maritime histories. Visitors to the new Sydney Fish Market will be able to learn about the history of the area through five permanent installations that celebrate the site as a community gathering place.
The first three sculptures were revealed today, each created by Aboriginal Australian artists who have designed works which pay respect to the continued presence of local Aboriginal people, and reference traditional cultural practices of the First Nations communities connected to the new Sydney Fish Market site.
Grouped under the title Saltwater People Stories, the three installations include ‘The Nawi’, a depiction of a traditional nawi (fishing canoe) by Bidjigal elder Uncle Steven Russell; ‘Birrang Narrami (Star Net)’, a traditional woven fishing net by Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal multi-disciplinary artist and master weaver Nadeena Dixon; and ‘The Call of Ngura (Country)’, with eel-like forms representing the Dreamtime journey of the great Creator Gurangady, by Buruberong and Wumali (Dharug) creative Leanne Tobin.
The sculptures, cast in bronze at the North Head Foundry in Manly, will be installed on the eastern and western promenades of the new Sydney Fish Market later this year. Two further installations will sit on the eastern promenade – an interactive water play area for families, and an installation paying homage to the site’s industrial history as a working harbour.
Placemaking NSW will also host a curated arts and cultural program featuring dance and music. This will take place in the public domain throughout 2026, featuring local artists.
First Nations Contemporary Artist, Leanne Tobin said: “As a First Nations artist, I’m excited to see our culture represented and visibly acknowledged as part of the new Sydney Fish Market. This project is more than a world-class building and fish market. It is an opportunity for us to educate and inform visitors here by weaving our stories and culture into the precinct.
“These installations allow us a way to share our cultural stories and highlight our deep and ancient connection to this land while also creating a shared experience that reflects our heritage for all to enjoy.”
Sydney Fish Market is due to house 38 tenants (you’ll find a few of the big name venues revealed here), with more than 26,000 square meters of retail, dining and community space across three levels.
The new Sydney Fish Market site is slated to open sometime in 2025, the exact date is yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, the current Sydney Fish Market site will continue to remain fully operational.
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