As the new Sydney Fish Market has been unveiled by the NSW Government, the world-class seafood destination has emerged as a powerful cultural landmark through the Saltwater People Stories – a collection of public artworks celebrating the enduring cultural practices of the Gadigal and Wangal People.

The state-significant transformation reimagines the former fish market as a vibrant new precinct where food, culture and community come together. Woven throughout the foreshore, the artworks create moments of connection, reflection and learning, positioning public art as a central part of the market experience.

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Proudly curated by Cultural Capital with Tess Allas, the Saltwater People Stories respond directly to place, at Blackwattle Bay, renowned as a rich fishing ground and a vital transport route for local clans. The narratives embedded in the works draw on Dreaming stories shaped by water, fishing and seasonal rhythms.

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“Seeing these artworks take their place within Sydney’s newest architectural landmark has been deeply rewarding for Cultural Capital,” said Amanda Jelicich-Kane, Managing Director, Cultural Capital. “The journey – shared with the artists, communities, Tess Allas and Tilt – has been as meaningful as the finished works themselves.”

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The artworks include The Call of Ngura (Country) by Dharug artist Leanne Tobin, where bronze eels trace seasonal migration; Birrang Narrami (Star Net) by Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal artist Nadeena Dixon, showcasing the intergenerational transfer of weaving knowledge; and The Nawi by Bidjigal Elder and artist, Uncle Steven Russell, a bronze canoe preserving an ancient bark boat-building practice.

“Supporting the artists and creating space for them to lead the storytelling and share that process with their communities has shaped something far more lasting than the artworks themselves,” said Tim Phillips, CEO, Tilt Industrial Design. “These stories now live in the public realm, continuing to educate, connect, and resonate long into the future.”

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Additional public artworks featured at the fish market foreshore include the Land of the Giant Pippies by Dharawal and Yuin artist Alison Page, an interactive water-play installation inviting connection with Country, and Coal Loader Palm Cove by Mike Hewson, reflecting on the site’s industrial past.

Together, the artworks transform the Sydney Fish Market into a living cultural landscape.

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Public art moves beyond object-making to become a vehicle for cultural preservation, education and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Through deep collaboration, mentorship, and respect for the process, Saltwater People Stories ensures that Country and its people remain visible, understood, and celebrated in one of Sydney’s most significant public spaces.

The new Sydney Fish Market is part of the wider Blackwattle Bay urban renewal project, revitalising the precinct and foreshore, to create over 6,000sqm of open public space and connecting with the 15km foreshore walk from Rozelle to Woolloomooloo.

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Project details

Project: New Sydney Fish Market – Saltwater People Stories

Location: Blackwattle Bay, NSW | Gadigal Country

Client: Infrastructure NSW

Artists: Leanne Tobin, Nadeena Dixon, Uncle Steven Russell

Curators: Cultural Capital, Tess Allas

Design & Delivery: Tilt Industrial Design

Completed: 2025

Photography: Courtesy of Infrastructure NSW

Architecture & Design Team

Tilt Industrial Design

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