Docklands Studios Melbourne

The push for a major studio in Melbourne arose in the late 1990s. At the time, industry leaders expressed concern that the city was "losing some of its media city position to arch-rival Sydney and to the Gold Coast".^[2] Establishing a state-of-the-art facility was viewed as a strategic necessity to reflect Melbourne's global ambitions, develop production capacity, and support the needs of the local film and television industry.^[2] At the time, Melbourne had a number of smaller facilities with sound stages, but did not have a large state-of-the-art complex.^[2]

Construction began in 2003 on government-provided land as a partnership between the Victorian Government and a private consortium.^[2] The complex opened in April 2004 under the name Melbourne Central City Studios with the Australian feature film production, Hating Alison Ashley as its first major production.^[3]

In 2005, the facility hosted its first major international project, Ghost Rider. With a budget of around A$120 million, it was the biggest feature film ever made in Victoria.^[4]

In 2008, following the withdrawal of the private consortium, the Victorian Government took control of the facility and it was officially renamed Docklands Studios Melbourne.^[5]

In October 2019, the Victorian Government announced a $46 million investment to construct a 3,700-square-metre (40,000 sq ft) super stage.^[6]

Officially opened on 26 March 2022, Stage 6 immediately housed the production of Better Man,^[7] a biopic about Robbie Williams released in late 2024.^[8]

In 2024 and 2025, the studio experienced a period of high activity, hosting several major productions including Netflix’s The Survivors^[9] and War Machine,^[10] Sony Pictures’ Untitled Tommy Wirkola film^[11] and Insidious: Out of the Further,^[12] and Peacock's All Her Fault.^[13] Smaller productions filmed at the studio in 2024 and 2025 include Together,^[14] Saccharine,^[15] and Wilderness.^[16]

Antony Tulloch, a film industry veteran, has served as CEO since 2022.^[17]

The studio complex consists of six sound stages with a total area of close to 10,000 m² (110,000 sq ft), various production offices, a workshop divided into bays of different sizes and parking for more than 650 vehicles.^[18] The sound stages vary in size from 743 to 3,700 m² (8,000 to 39,830 sq ft) and two stages have water pits. They are hired for production of feature films, drama series and audience-based television programs as well as television commercials, music videos and corporate events.