Sydney's new fish market opens with glitz and fewer smells

The $836 million Sydney Fish Market opened on Monday with about 40 vendors and large crowds; visitors praised its cleanliness and variety while noting higher prices and limited transport access.

The new Sydney Fish Market opened to the public on Monday after more than a year of delays and a reported construction cost of $836 million. The facility includes roughly 40 vendors, mixing traditional fishmongers with new food and retail stalls such as bánh mì, pizza and artisan cheese. Many long-running retailers from the former 1966 market signed new leases only recently, and hundreds of visitors attended the opening. Early visitors noted the site felt cleaner than the old market, and local seabirds were not present at the new building. Opening day details: - The NSW government has spent $836 million on the project and said it will spend another $70 million on transport upgrades, including a $30 million commuter ferry wharf and $40 million for light rail accessibility work. - The market is designed to host about 40 vendors, including both seafood sellers and non-seafood outlets. - Officials expect up to six million visitors a year; the site reached capacity by lunchtime on opening day and visitors were asked to return later. - Most retailers from the former market have moved into the new facility after lease negotiations that delayed the opening beyond the original late-2024 schedule. - Reactions from visitors ranged from admiration for the scale and cleanliness to concerns about higher prices and limited public transport access. Summary: The opening represents a major upgrade to Sydney's waterfront market offer and a significant public investment. Authorities have signalled further transport spending to improve access, and how the new venue's atmosphere settles compared with the old market will become clearer over time.