Docklands Studios Melbourne

Facilities

The studio complex consists of five sound stages with a total area of 6,318 m² (68,000 square feet), various production offices, a workshop divided into bays of different sizes and parking for 800 vehicles. The sound stages vary in size from 2,323 m² (25,000 square feet) to 743 m² (8,000 square feet). 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.

Studio history

The push for Melbourne to build a major studio complex arose in the late 1990s amid concern that it was "losing some of its media city position to arch rival Sydney and to the Gold Coast". The strategic objectives were that construction of a major studio complex would represent Melbourne's maturity and global ambitions, develop production capacity to its next stage, and service the needs of the local film and television industry. At the time, Melbourne had a number of smaller facilities with sound stages, but did not have a large state-of-the-art complex.

Early years

Construction began in 2003 on a parcel of land provided by the Victorian government in the Docklands precinct. The studios were a partnership between the Victorian government and a private consortium, Central City Studio Holdings. The complex opened in April 2004 under the name Melbourne Central City Studios and that year hosted the Australian feature film production, Hating Alison Ashley. In 2005, the American-backed Ghost Rider became the first international production at the studios and, with a budget of around $120 million, was the biggest feature film ever to be made in Victoria. However, the number of international productions in the first few years of operation did not live up to expectations, partly because of the fluctuating Australian dollar. In 2008 the private consortium withdrew and the Victorian government took control of the facility. In 2009 the Victorian government and the studios commissioned the 'Future Directions' study, which reaffirmed the government's commitment to retaining ownership of the facility and led to a $10 million infrastructure upgrade. In October 2010 the complex changed its name to Docklands Studios Melbourne, formally adopting the name by which the studios were commonly known. In the same year, the Nine Network announced plans to relocate its television production to Docklands Studios, following the closure of its outmoded facility in Bendigo Street, Richmond.

Recent history

Docklands Studios Melbourne is widely used by domestic and international productions. In 2015 the Nine Network renewed its five-year agreement to produce programs at the studios, including The Footy Show and Millionaire Hot Seat. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Network Seven also use the sound stages, while a number of Australian films, including The Dressmaker, Oddball and The Legend of Ben Hall have shot scenes at the complex. The lower Australian dollar has helped attract international productions such as HBO's The Leftovers, while in early 2017 the studios were booked for two feature films, Stem and Winchester. It's estimated that since opening in 2004, Docklands Studios Melbourne has brought more than $800 million into the Victorian economy. There are long-term expansion plans for the studios, including construction of a sixth sound stage and new workshops.

Feature films and TV dramas, by year of release

Audience based TV productions, by year of broadcast