Sky’s the limit for secret feature of new $836m Sydney Fish Market

A secret test of Sydney Fish Market’s dramatic new roof lighting feature has stunned onlookers, with 400 embedded lights creating a glowing spectacle above the harbour. WATCH THE VIDEO.

An illuminated shark swims across the new Sydney Fish Market roof. Picture: NSW Government

Sydney’s night skyline is about to change, when the $836m Sydney Fish Market turns on its secret feature – 400 individual lights embedded in its floating roof.

Passengers flying overhead or those walking or driving by the site this week may have seen a glimpse of the feature when it was quietly tested for the first time late on Wednesday.

Footage of the test obtained by The Sunday Telegraph depicts an illuminated blue shark “swimming” across the roof, patterns of multi-coloured lights and the words “Sydney Fish Market” scrolling across.

The Minns government hopes the feature will bolster the site’s appeal to tourists, with the roof expected to feature in Vivid and World Cup events as well as New Year’s Eve.

While the Sydney Opera House has often been used as the backdrop for animations, lights must be projected on to the sails.

Sydney Fish Market has a secret feature - a roof that can be lit up from the inside Picture: NSW Government

In the case of the market, the illumination is possible via individual light fixtures embedded in the 200m long roof powered by more than 4km of cabling.

The individual cassettes enable the roof to be lit up as a static or a moving display.

The government hopes the lights will further attract visitors to the site, which will also include retail and dining offerings and a fresh seafood market and seafood school.

The light tests signal the final stages of the long-awaited but controversial overhaul of the site.

The former Coalition government initially estimated the upgrade to cost $256 million – less than a third of its final cost.

The upgrade of the Sydney Fish Market features a roof that can be lit up Picture: NSW Government

Sydney Fish Market CEO Daniel Jarosch said he was confident the site would be a world-class destination “blending fresh seafood, vibrant retail, diverse dining, and unforgettable entertainment all under one iconic roof”.

“We’re proud to bring this bold vision to life, celebrating the heart of NSW’s seafood industry and invigorating our tourism future.”

Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said the lighting feature was just a “taste” of what was to come when the fish market was completed by the end of this year.

“The roof, with its magnificent wave-like form and fish-scale design, is a sight to behold during the day, and even more spectacular at night when it is lit up,” he said.

“We are now well and truly on the home stretch and we look forward to the new Sydney Fish Market being completed by the end of the year.”