Earlier fish markets in Sydney The original Fish Market was established, in 1871, at
Woolloomooloo, It expanded over time to occupy the block bounded by Bourke, Plunkett, Forbes and Wilson Streets, Woolloomooloo. Unhygienic conditions at the Woolloomooloo market and the extension of railways to the coastal areas to the north of Sydney led to the formation, in 1891, of a second, more modern, privately owned fish market—known as the 'Southern Fish Market'—located at Redfern Street,
Redfern. In 1892, the Woolloomooloo market was expanded for the last time, then becoming known as the 'Eastern Market'. jeopardising the railway-based business model of the Redfern market and its ability to directly market fish from
Botany. In 1897, the 'Southern Market' buildings were for sale at auction but the market operations continued, opening a new building in 1903. which was further expanded in 1910 after being incorporated as Commonwealth Cooperative Fish Exchange Limited in 1908. it was also known as the 'City Fish Market'. It was a part of the produce market complex that the Sydney City Council had constructed in the Haymarket. The original market at Woolloomooloo continued to operate, but in a greatly diminished form. For a time, Sydney had three separate 'fish markets'; the privately owned market at Redfern was in open conflict with the
City Council, owner of the 'City' and old Woolloomooloo markets. The Council had the backing of the N.S.W. State Government, which passed an
Act—The Sydney Corporation (Fish Markets) Act, 1922 (Act No. 39, 1922)—that empowered the City Council to acquire the assets of Commonwealth Cooperative Fish Exchange Limited and to centralise fish marketing operations in Sydney at the Municipal Market. The end of the 'Southern Market' came in early 1923. The
Colonial Secretary of NSW,
Charles Oakes, had refused to renew licences of fish agents who operated at the Redfern market and the Fisherman's Union agreed to only supply fish to the 'City Fish Market', which subsequently became a profitable monopoly; that forced the Redfern agents to move to Haymarket and the City Council purchased the disused Redfern market building. The Redfern market building became a hostel for the unemployed during the
Great Depression. The dormant 'Eastern Market' site at Woolloomooloo was sold to
John Wren in 1926. The Fish Market remained in Haymarket, until it's relocation to
Blackwattle Bay in 1966. Between 1997 and 1999, fish marketing was deregulated in stages and the Sydney Fish Market lost its monopoly in Sydney. On 17 June 2020, the New South Wales Government approved the final plans for the new markets. The redevelopment forms part of the New South Wales Government's
Bays Precinct urban renewal program. During construction, in September 2023, a crane crashed into the future building. One person was injured. Completion was scheduled for 2025. However on 11 October 2025, it was confirmed that the New Sydney Fish Market will open to the public on 19 January 2026. NSW Premier
Chris Minns formally opened the new Sydney Fish market on 19 January 2026. File:View from northern entrance of Sydney Fish Market.jpg|View from Sydney Fish Market 2026 File:Sydney Fish Market north.jpg|Sydney Fish Market 2026 == Mural ==