The sun-kissed streets of Perth are about to become a hotspot for Hollywood A-listers, with the city's brand-new £150m film studio throwing open its doors to international productions on a scale never seen before. At the helm is none other than Tom Avison, a British screen veteran who helped launch Sky Studios Elstree near London – home to blockbusters like Wicked, Jurassic World, and Bridget Jones. His next move? Shaping not just a studio, but an entire industry in Western Australia.
The transformation of this 16-hectare site from rural paddock to world-class production facility is nothing short of remarkable. In just three years, the studio has taken shape, boasting four massive sound stages, swanky production offices, workshops galore, and a backlot that dwarfs Perth's Optus Stadium playing field. The £122m price tag for construction was just the beginning – an additional £30m (AUD $57 million) is being sunk into supporting operations over the next decade by state taxpayers.
As it stands, Western Australia's share of scripted screen production lags behind at a mere 1% – but Avison and his team are gunning for a 10% slice of the global pie within the next ten years. And with good reason: Australia is currently riding a high tide of international productions, with drama spend soaring to an estimated £1.4bn (AUD $2.7 billion) in 2024-25 – up by 43% from last year.
Avison's strategy is simple yet effective: position Perth alongside established hubs in Melbourne, Sydney, and Queensland, highlighting both financial incentives and the unbridled geographical diversity of Western Australia. Think south-west forests, Kimberley landscapes, and the distinctive red dirt hues – it's a production paradise waiting to happen.
And we're already seeing the first shoots of this new era take root: Two Birds, a six-part mystery-thriller co-produced by Stan and ITV, is currently filming its inaugural week. With British actress Sheridan Smith leading the cast alongside Judy Davis and Stephen Peacocke, this series is expected to inject over £9 million (AUD $17 million) into Western Australia's economy – and employ more than 100 local cast and crew in the process.
This fledgling production might not be a Hollywood blockbuster just yet, but Avison sees it as a crucial step towards building credibility and sustainable growth. And if Two Birds is any indication of what's to come, Perth is on the cusp of something truly special – one that could bring in the big-name productions and put Western Australia firmly on the global screen map.
Meanwhile, Netflix's Breakers – touted as WA's largest production to date – is currently filming along Busselton's stunning south-west coast. The momentum is building, and with Avison at the helm, Perth Film Studios looks set to become the new go-to destination for filmmakers from around the world.