An ‘Underwater Forest’

Situated in the heart of the Walsh Bay creative precinct, Pier One Sydney Harbour sits atop historic beams that stretch down to the harbour floor, with depths of over 30 metres. Beneath the pier, an underwater forest thrives.

The original Walsh Bay wharves were supported on wood piles up to 40 metres long, driven through the layers of silt and mud beneath the harbour floor into the bedrock. Native turpentine (Syncarpia laurifolia) trees were used for their strength and natural resistance to seawater and decay. However, straight trees of these lengths were rare, so piles were fabricated from two or three large trees spliced, butted and ‘fished’ together using hoops of heavy galvanized iron.

In all, over 4,000 piles were used in the construction of the original Walsh Bay wharves, creating a forest of trees below.

Paying homage to its position on the beams of Pier One and perched above an underwater forest, PIER dining offers a fresh, seafood-focused menu featuring dishes such as freshly shucked Sydney Rock oysters and King George whiting ‘parmi’. Hints of the surrounding seaweed varieties appear in garnishes and decor, celebrating Sydney’s local living ecosystems.

More recently, seaweed has been introduced with a sustainability element having emerged as an experimental material beyond just a food source. Through collaborations with Sydney-based companies, Defy Designs and Dinosaur Designs, PIER dining now offers environmentally friendly coasters and seaweed salt jars.