SYDNEY FISH MARKET
Part marketplace, part civic living room, the new Sydney Fish Market is the city’s next great place to gather. Set on the edge of Blackwattle Bay, the building reshapes the waterfront experience with a wave-like roof that references Sydney’s fishing heritage. Now the biggest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere, the building retains its gritty spirit while stepping confidently into global company.
Designed by 3XN with BVN and Aspect Studios, the project hands back inaccessible foreshore –more than 6,000 square metres of it – to the city. With enhanced auction facilities, new wharves and a lively market hall, it elevates a beloved institution into a world-class cultural and culinary hub. Backed by a A$750 million NSW Government investment, the Sydney Fish Market’s estimated annual economic and social impact exceeds A$300 million. Spanning more than 64,000 square metres of gross floor area, the development brings together a state-of-the-art fish auction hall, retail and dining experiences, a fish cooking school, restaurant facilities and integrated car parking within a single landmark waterfront destination.
At a glance
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ClientInfrastructure NSW
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ServicesCost Management & Quantity Surveying
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sectorMixed Use
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LocationSydney, Australia
Beauty above water, discipline below the surface
RLB supported the NSW Government’s vision by bringing disciplined cost management to one of the state’s most complex social infrastructure projects. With its challenging marine environment, distinctive roof geometry and significant public-realm ambition, the Sydney Fish Market required rigorous cost planning to balance design excellence with long-term value. Our approach enabled the project team to retain the authentic market experience while introducing modern functionality.
We’re proud to contribute to a project that safeguards a Sydney icon while creating a vibrant new civic space. This is progress you can stand on: public realm, community benefit and cultural legacy brought to life with integrity.Stephen Mee, Director, RLB
With a 5 Star Green Star rating achieved through low-carbon materials, fewer construction emissions and long-term energy and water efficiency, the Sydney Fish Market embodies RLB’s commitment to sustainability today and tomorrow.
A market shaped by sea, story and community
A sweeping wave-shaped roof, patterned like fish scales, celebrates the site’s maritime identity while defining one of Sydney’s most distinctive contemporary silhouettes.
Designed to perform, the 5 Star Green Star-rated building reuses ventilation, daylighting and water collection to define its architectural identity.
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6,000m2
new public open space
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35%
reduction in operational energy demand
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5Star
Green Star sustainability rating
Saltwater heritage at the heart
The new market honours the living stories of the Gadigal and neighbouring saltwater clans, with five permanent public art installations celebrating traditional fishing practices, industrial heritage and contemporary cultural expression. By connecting people with place, history and each other, the project strengthens community bonds and reinforces RLB’s belief in building with Truth, Trust, Together and Tomorrow. The project also acts as a catalyst for the renewal of Blackwattle Bay, expanding long-term public access to Sydney’s waterfront.
Building a landmark from the water up
Delivered on a complex harbour site, the project required careful marine works, wharf planning, and significant piling and concrete execution to establish the 100m x 200m structure. RLB’s cost insights ensured operational resilience, future flexibility and long-term value, while maintaining live market operations at the existing Pyrmont site throughout delivery.
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