It is official: New South Wales’ Sydney Fish Market will be moving.
The Australian seafood market will continue operations in its original venue until its new home next door is completed in 2020. It has been in its current location at Blackwattle Bay for half a century and is Southern Hemisphere’s biggest fish market; every year, a whopping 13,500 tonnes of seafood is traded here.
The iconic Sydney Fish Market was never intended to become a popular tourist attraction. However, a study undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics has revealed interesting insights – a fifth of its annual three millions visitors are tourists! The new market will be two times bigger and it is hoped that the new facilities will double the annual number of visitors to six million.
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Construction at the new location—which by the way, is located just beside the current market—is set to commence in 2018. The new Sydney Fish Market is expected to open in 2020. In the meantime, you can still visit the Sydney Fish Market.
There are currently no designs in mind, but NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has announced that the government is on the lookout for creative proposals from design and engineering firms. Restaurants, outdoor dining accommodating up to 3,000 patrons and a public walkway—linking the foreshore from Balmain to Woolloomooloo—are in the pipeline.
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NSW Premier Mike Baird has described the seafood market’s facilities as “tired and run down”. The new A$250-million upgrade will improve the fish market’s conditions drastically and we are looking forward to the new complex!
New features will include a wholesale market with live auctions. The existing site will be sold away to provide funding to the new market’s development.
About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves travelling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all-time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.