Rooty Hill isn’t exactly known for its ocean views. But, that hasn’t stopped West HQ from turning it into one of Sydney’s biggest seafood destinations this August.
Enter the expanded Western Sydney Oyster & Seafood Festival, running Sunday 2 August through Monday 31 August at West HQ. What started back in 2023 as chef Sean Connolly’s slightly ambitious idea to make oysters more accessible has, three years on, turned into a full month-long seafood takeover. This year, they’re not being shy about their goals: more than 300,000 oysters served since it began, another 100,000 expected this year alone. That’s not a festival, that’s a full-blown shellebration.
The pitch is simple: you shouldn’t have to drive to Narooma, fly to Mandurah or road-trip to Tunarama to get a serious seafood fix. West HQ reckons Western Sydney can hold its own against Australia’s established coastal seafood festivals, and the numbers back them up – guest traffic from more than 25km away jumped 18.8% in 2024, then another 15.1% in 2025. Turns out people will travel far and wide for a good bivalve.
“Sydneysiders should not have to travel to the coast or interstate to enjoy a serious seafood festival,” says West HQ Commercial and Communications Chief Robert Squillacioti. “It is clear from the interest we have had as the event has evolved over the years that Sydneysiders have an appetite for oysters and other seafood.”
For Connolly, the festival’s growth has been a long time coming, with the timing proving especially fitting. “August is peak oyster-growing season and the month of World Oyster Day, making it the perfect time to celebrate oysters and other outstanding Australian seafood in the heart of Western Sydney,” he says. “We look forward to realising our ambition to build one of Australia’s leading seafood festivals here in Western Sydney – one that is approachable, affordable and distinctly our own.”
Across the month, expect celebrated chefs, Australian oyster growers and seafood producers all setting up shop, alongside cooking demonstrations, seafood dishes built for sharing, and family entertainment designed to keep everyone – bivalve enthusiasts and seafood-curious kids alike – entertained.
Consider this your official invitation to go west for once, rather than east. Bring your appetite, bring the family, and prepare to shell out for seconds.
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