The stage will soon be set for Western Australia’s answer to Hollywood and officials say a “simplistic” name for the state’s first dedicated screen production facility is a logical choice that will put the capital on the map.

Formally announced by the state government as Perth Film Studios in June, the $233.5 million construction in Malaga, in the city’s northeast, will be open for productions in April 2026.

Home Fire, a consortium that includes prominent WA developer Adrian Fini, will build and operate the facility, with a group of officials touring the site on Tuesday.

“When we’re taking this amazing facility to the world, parts of the world which probably don’t know this area pretty well, we’re selling Perth, we’re selling Western Australia,” he said.

“Producers and people who are going to be making the decisions to come here, they want to know about the city, its amenities, its location and closeness to the airport, closeness to the city — which this ticks a lot of boxes.

“It’s a really logical and appropriate name for the studios.”

The studios will feature four sound stages, production offices, an art department, set storage, parking and a backlot larger than the Optus Stadium playing field for further external filming.

Western Australia Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the complex will “rival the best in Australia” and help attract major productions from around the world.

Marketing of Perth Film Studios internationally, nationally and locally will begin later this year, and it is hoped the first productions will be locked in by the middle of 2025.

They are likely to be independent films, large-scale feature films or drama series “that could be one big production taking over the whole site or multiple productions”, according to Cearns.

“We’re getting the phone calls wanting to know what we’re building, what’s available and when it’s going to be ready. In terms of concrete bookings, no, that will come later,” he said.

“Something like a Thor or Marvel movie — a tentpole production — this would not be right for (the Perth studio) right now. With further expansion, yes, but certainly large-scale movies of $50 million to $80 million budget, yes, this can handle that.”

The studios will support hundreds of jobs when “action” is called and Arts Minister David Templeman said the government was working to ensure a pipeline of staff will be ready.

He said the government will explore incentives — “be they tax incentives, be they subsidy incentives” — to help attract filmmakers to WA.