Overview
When the new Sydney Fish Market opens its doors on the Blackwattle Bay foreshore later this year, it'll do more than just serve up fresh seafood. The $836-million development will also honour the site's deep and layered past, from its role as a gathering and fishing place for First Nations peoples to its more recent industrial history as a working harbour.
A series of five permanent public artworks has just been announced for the site, each celebrating the cultural and historical significance of the area. The first three — collectively named Saltwater People Stories — pay tribute to local Aboriginal fishing traditions and the enduring presence of First Nations people in and around Blackwattle Bay.
The trio includes The Nawi: a sculptural homage to traditional Aboriginal fishing canoes by Bidjigal elder Uncle Steven Russell. It'll be joined by Birrang Narrami (Star Net): a woven net sculpture by renowned Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal artist and master weaver Nadeena Dixon that pays homage to ancestral fishing practices. Buruberong and Wumali (Dharug) creative Leanne Tobin is the mind behind The Call of Ngura (Country), which evokes the Dreamtime journey of the great Creator Gurangady in a series of eel-like forms. Each piece has been cast in bronze at Manly's North Head Foundry, and will be installed onsite later this year.
"As a First Nations artist, I'm excited to see our culture represented and visibly acknowledged as part of the new Sydney Fish Market," says Tobin. "These installations allow us a way to share our cultural stories and highlight our deep and ancient connection to this land while also creating a shared experience that reflects our heritage for all to enjoy."
There'll be two more installations along the eastern promenade that add a playful and contemporary layer to the precinct's cultural program. Coal Loader Palm Grove by Mike Hewson, a New Zealand–born artist known for site-specific interventions, celebrates the site's more recent industrial history via a contemporary reimagining of the Blackwattle Bay coal loader, built back in 1926. It will sit among a grove of endemic palms — known as Daranggara to the local Dharug and Gadigal peoples — which once lined the inner shores of Sydney Harbour. Later this year, an interactive water play area for families will also be unveiled on the Market's eastern promenade.
While the installations will be permanent fixtures, there's also a wider arts and cultural program in the works, curated by Placemaking NSW. It's expected to kick off from 2026, when the public domain around the market will come alive with performances by local musicians and dancers — perfect for those who prefer their fish and chips with a side of entertainment.
For more information on the new Sydney Fish Market, head to the venue's website.