western australia

ALMG’s Western Australian State Representatives

Claire Burton 0416 121 619

burton.claire@hotmail.com

Rachael Hawkins 0477 103 958

rachaelhhawkins@gmail.com

Locations Overview

Capital City: Perth
Population (Greater Perth): approx. 2.3 million

Western Australia offers some of the most visually diverse and distinctive filming locations in Australia, with environments that can double for remote Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and a wide range of arid, coastal, and frontier landscapes. Perth combines a modern cityscape with access to beaches, industrial zones, heritage precincts, and regional locations within practical reach.

The state’s screen reputation is built on highly skilled crews, expansive and often untouched locations, a growing studio and post-production ecosystem, and a production environment that supports both large-scale international projects and locally driven screen content. Western Australia also offers competitive state incentives that can be combined with federal offsets, making it an increasingly attractive destination for inbound and domestic production.

Western Australia’s locations range from metropolitan Perth to regional centres, mining and industrial zones, vast desert landscapes, rugged coastlines, forests, and remote communities. The state has supported feature films, television drama, international productions, documentaries, and commercials across a wide geographic footprint.

Practical Considerations When Filming in Western Australia

While Western Australia offers exceptional scale and location diversity, productions must plan carefully for distance, remoteness, and logistics.

Western Australia is geographically vast, and travel times between locations can be significant. Filming outside the Perth metropolitan area often requires additional planning around transport, accommodation, access to services, crew fatigue, and contingency planning.

Perth’s population density is lower than eastern capitals, but filming in the CBD and inner suburbs still requires careful coordination around:

Limited street parking in some precincts
Major events and seasonal tourism impacts
Traffic management and public access
Beach and coastal access restrictions

Regional and remote filming introduces additional considerations, including weather variability, access to medical services, limited infrastructure, and longer approval timeframes.

Western Australia has a mix of metropolitan councils, regional shires, and state agencies involved in filming approvals. Location Professionals must allow time for layered approvals, particularly when filming on Crown land, in National Parks, or in remote areas.

Working with Councils & Agencies in WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Early engagement is critical when filming in Western Australia, particularly for regional or remote projects.

For larger productions or projects involving complex locations:

Engage councils, land managers, and agencies early
Allow sufficient time for regional approvals and site access
Increase locations and production resources where required
Work closely with Screenwest for guidance on approvals, incentives, and production support

Screenwest plays an important role in supporting productions navigating state and local government processes, particularly for high-impact or regionally based shoots.

Agencies to Allow Extra Time For

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA)

Manages National Parks, marine parks, and conservation areas
Permit timelines vary depending on location and environmental sensitivity
Drone approvals and environmentally sensitive locations require additional lead time

Local Government Authorities (Regional Shires)

Regional councils often have limited staff capacity
Approval processes may take longer than metropolitan councils
Early communication is essential

Marine & Coastal Authorities

Filming involving coastal waters, marine parks, or offshore activity may require multiple approvals
Tidal conditions and seasonal weather must be factored into planning

Councils Known for Supportive Filming Approaches

Filming support and turnaround times vary across Western Australia and can change depending on staffing and resourcing. Many regional shires are supportive of filming but require:

Clear communication
Realistic timeframes
Well-prepared applications

Location Professionals with existing relationships and regional experience are key to navigating these processes efficiently.

Studios

Perth Film Studios (opening 2026)
ABC Studios Perth

State Screen Authority - SCREENWEST

Screenwest is Western Australia’s not-for-profit screen funding and industry development organisation, supporting the development and production of film, television, and digital game projects in Western Australia.

First Nations & Cultural Heritage Considerations — Western Australia

Location Professionals working in Western Australia must consider First Nations engagement, cultural heritage obligations, and Country-specific protocols as a core part of the location process.

Western Australia is home to a large number of Aboriginal Nations, each with distinct cultural, linguistic, and custodial responsibilities across an exceptionally vast geographic area. Requirements vary significantly depending on location, land tenure, local government, state agency, and the relevant Traditional Owner group.

Filming on Crown land, National Parks, marine and coastal areas, waterways, reserves, regional and remote land, or sites of cultural significance may trigger consultation requirements, cultural heritage assessments, or formal approvals under Western Australian legislation.

Early and respectful engagement is essential. Location teams should allow adequate time for consultation processes, ensure the correct Traditional Owner groups or representative bodies are identified and engaged, and follow any guidance provided regarding access conditions, activity restrictions, or culturally sensitive areas.

Understanding when First Nations consultation is required — and who to engage with — is a fundamental responsibility of Location Professionals working in Western Australia, particularly on projects involving regional, remote, environmental, or high-impact locations.