Melbourne’s Fish Market Moved West (1892)
Melbourne’s Fish Market Moved West (1892)
Melbourne’s fish trade moved to Flinders and Spencer streets in 1892. Its new market put the railway, refrigeration and the river close to the day’s catch.
The story behind the scene
An earlier market had operated near Swanston Street. As the railway expanded, the fish trade moved west to a larger building with direct rail access.
The new premises included facilities for cooling and freezing produce. Fish arriving by train could be handled close to the market, reducing the distance between delivery and sale.
In 1959, wholesale trading moved again, this time to Footscray Road in West Melbourne. The Flinders Street market was demolished.
What you’re seeing
The aerial photograph shows the market precinct beside the railway and river around 1927 to 1928. It places the market within a busy transport area, rather than showing it as an isolated public building.
Why this photo matters
The market’s location was part of how it worked. This view records the transport links and storage buildings needed to bring perishable food into a growing city.
Sources: State Library Victoria; Encyclopedia of Melbourne; City of Melbourne collection.