Looks like you’ll have something in common with the fish being sold at the new Sydney Fish Market – you most likely both arrived by boat. This week, the NSW Government announced their latest budget for 2025-26, and part of this year’s reserves will be spent on constructing a new commuter ferry wharf at the brand new market, which is set to open later in 2025.
Anticipating that around six million visitors per year will head to the shiny new Sydney Fish Market (up from the 4.5 million who visit the current version), the new wharf and ferry route – there’ll be a ferry service from Barangaroo connecting to Sydney Fish Market – are set to cost around $30 million for planning and construction. In a statement announcing the news, NSW Minister for Transport John Graham noted that it’s “perhaps the most scenic way to arrive at any fish market anywhere in the world – [with] a trip on Sydney Harbour”
The wharf and ferry route are part of a $70 million dollar kitty provided by the current government to upgrade the transport options to the market, which also includes a $40 million upgrade to the nearest light rail stop, Wentworth Park, in order to make it fully accessible to all visitors. Some mooted upgrades include the addition of lifts, ramps, and signage upgrades.
The overall cost of the new market is estimated at north of $830 million, and has been dubbed the most important waterside building constructed in Sydney since something called the Sydney Opera House was built. The old Sydney Fish Market can claim to be the third-largest fish market in the world, and in its new guise, it’ll contribute around $750 million per year to Australia’s seafood industry. Part of the upgrade includes a focus on turning the market into a dining destination, with new food vendors announced including Luke Nguyen, who will run a southeast Asian-influenced diner.
Even if you’re not keen on fish, the market is likely to prove a huge draw – and the addition of new public spaces, and a continuous waterfront path (a small part of the 91km walkway from the Opera House to Parramatta) will make it a pleasant space to check out. Especially with a windswept ferry ride across Blackwattle Bay to look forward to!