Western Australia is making a bold play for the global production market with the completion of Perth Film Studios, a sprawling, purpose-built facility officials hope will position the region as a major international production hub.
Located on roughly 40 acres on the northeastern edge of Perth near Whiteman Park, the new studio complex has quietly reached practical completion as it prepares for its first major production. The site, bordered by undeveloped bushland, houses four large soundstages, two annex buildings and what is being billed as the largest backlot in the Southern Hemisphere, alongside hair, makeup and costume departments, construction workshops and production offices.
To date, the Western Australian government has invested approximately $150 million USD in construction alone, with an additional $37 million USD committed to ongoing management and operations. A further $21 million USD has been earmarked for direct production incentives aimed at luring international film and television projects to one of the world’s most geographically isolated capital cities.
“Global demand for screen content — across theatrical, television and streaming — continues to grow, and it’s not going anywhere,” said Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk at the studio’s unveiling. “This facility ensures Western Australia is in a position to compete for that demand.”
While the studio has yet to announce its first confirmed production, CEO Tom Avison said discussions with prospective clients are progressing as expected. “Where we are in conversations right now gives me tremendous confidence,” he said, adding that interest is coming from both domestic and international producers navigating a worldwide shortage of available stage space.
The project originated as part of a broader strategy to diversify Western Australia’s economy beyond mining. An earlier plan to build a smaller studio at Fremantle’s Victoria Quay was shelved amid rising construction costs and logistical concerns, but officials emphasized that the Whiteman Park facility was delivered on time and within its revised budget.
Beyond attracting international productions, the long-term goal is workforce development. While early projects may require experienced crew from interstate or overseas, the state hopes the studio will help repatriate Australian talent and grow a sustainable local labor pool over time.
Screenwest CEO Rikki Lea-Bestall pointed to favorable exchange rates and infrastructure constraints elsewhere as key advantages. “Other Australian studios are often fully booked, and globally there’s a real shortage of available facilities,” she said. “We’re speaking to producers planning projects eight months out who simply can’t find space anywhere else.”
Industry observers see opportunity, but also risk. Revelation Perth International Film Festival director Richard Sowada praised the scale of ambition while cautioning that major productions should not come at the expense of independent filmmaking. “There’s a lot riding on a facility like this,” he said. “The challenge is making sure the grassroots sector grows alongside it.”
State leaders remain optimistic. With nearly $200 million USD in total public investment now in place, the studio represents one of the largest screen infrastructure bets in Australia’s history — and a clear signal that Western Australia intends to be part of the next phase of global film and television production.
