Four hundred roof ‘scales’: A glimpse at the new $836m Sydney Fish Market

The completion of the gleaming white roof resembling fish scales has brought the sprawling $836 million Sydney Fish Market building one step closer to opening, despite the waterfront project being snagged by construction delays, cost blowouts and financial uncertainty.

Five years after construction began, the final panel on the 200-metre-long roof canopy has been installed on the taxpayer-funded building at the head of Blackwattle Bay.

The roof comprises 400 panels arranged to resemble fish scales.Credit: Multiplex

The government touted it as a significant milestone, saying Sydney’s skyline was “set to change forever with this new architectural marvel, just as the Opera House did when it was built in 1973”.

Premier Chris Minns said: “The revamped market will be truly spectacular, offering world-class, authentic seafood for an expected 6 million annual local and international visitors, ensuring it remains one of the most popular tourist destinations on offer in our harbour city.”

The beleaguered project was due to open next to the existing fish market at Pyrmont last year, but is now forecast to open in November – weeks before the Christmas seafood rush that draws thousands.

The 2500-tonne roof canopy features 400 panels made from glued laminated timber, or “glulam”, and roof cassettes. Its supporting structure comprises 594 timber roof beams stretching to 32 metres in length.

Once completed, the market building will house about 40 tenants and feature the wholesale fish market, a seafood school, shops and eateries. The wholesale floor will include the market’s Dutch clock auction, a live mud crab room, and three large crustacean tanks for lobsters.

The building was designed by Danish architects 3XN/GXN, with Sydney firms BVN and Aspect Studios. The project is being delivered by Infrastructure NSW and developer Multiplex.

Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper described the “magnificent wave-like form” of the 20,000-square-metre roof as a testament to world-class engineering and design.

“We’re on the home stretch now and getting closer to being able to set foot in the new Sydney Fish Market, which will be an icon for Sydney and a destination for all.”

Committee for Sydney chief executive Eamon Waterford said the complex would be “transformational for the western edge of the CBD”.

“This project will turn our gaze westward,” he said.

The state government is forging ahead with plans to transform the waterfront around Blackwattle Bay, with plans for offices and 1100 apartments in towers on the 3.6-hectare old fish market site.

A waterfront promenade will form part of a 15-kilometre route from Woolloomooloo to Rozelle Bay.

Lendlease, Mirvac and Stockland have been shortlisted to redevelop the existing fish market site.

The new building is expected to open weeks before the Christmas seafood rush.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Last week, the Herald revealed the Sydney Fish Market company was on the brink of insolvency as auditors were refusing to sign off on its accounts three months after the mandatory reporting deadline. Its financial statements were yet to be published, but company sources not authorised to speak publicly said it would post an $8 million loss in 2023-24 and had retained insolvency experts.

The company has denied trading while insolvent and said it remained viable.

“We have no reason to believe this will change in the foreseeable future,” a company statement said.

“It is taking longer than anticipated to finalise our financial results due to extenuating circumstances related to the once-in-a-generation transition to the new Sydney Fish Market.

“We are finalising the accounts with the appropriate level of due diligence, and these will be lodged this quarter.”

The then-Berejiklian government in 2019 revealed the cost to redevelop the fish market had ballooned from $250 million to $750 million.

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