Almost three years after the Western Australian government committed to building a studio complex in the state, construction is underway at the selected site in the Malaga Metronet station precinct in Perth’s north-east.

The facility will include four purpose-built sound stages and other on-site screen production facilities such as production offices, an art department and wardrobe, workshops, a backlot, parking and set storage.

Home Fire will build the facility, with doors expected to open to host the first production in 2026.

The state government will invest $233.5 million towards the construction, which is expected to create 600 direct and indirect jobs.

“This investment will grow Western Australia’s screen industry, increasing our ability to attract more national and international productions and benefit from the billions of dollars spent on productions in Australia each year,” said WA Premier Roger Cook.

Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman added the facility will be “a cornerstone” of hte government’s long-term strategy to expand the state’s creative industry, and allow greater national and international production attraction opportunities.

“We have an exceptionally talented sector who are well-regarded globally but have historically had to venture elsewhere to work and this facility will ensure that we keep this talent here,” he said.

“The government’s vision for the future of the industry will be outlined in the WA Screen Industry Strategy which will be released in the coming months.

“This strategy provides a road map that will grow the film and TV production sector over the coming decade and help achieve the government’s objective to diversify the WA economy.”

Building a studio complex was an election promise of the McGowan Government in 2021. Originally, the plan was to build a $100 million studio and sound stage complex in Fremantle’s Victoria Quay. However, the waterfront site selected had several problems the government said were not initially identified during the selection process, and the plan was put on ice. The Malaga Metronet station precinct was then identified in late 2022, and chosen for proximity to the Perth CBD and airport, access to future public transport, scale of the available land, and its direct access to major roads for travel to regional areas of the state.