Old council Miami depot to be transformed into new Hollywood production centre
An old council depot site is to be transformed into a Creative Industries Precinct on the back of the Gold Coast’s film production boom, giving an $80 million plus boost to the economy.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An old council depot site is to be transformed into a Creative Industries Precinct on the back of the Gold Coast’s film production boom, delivering an $80 million plus boost to the economy.
Gold Coast City Council released details of the proposed precinct on Thursday, aiming to attract more pre and post-production along with visual effects companies.
The initiative was based on advice from legendary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann’s production company Bazmark.
His company will be the first major tenant, and Mayor Tom Tate with film producer Schuyler Weiss from the company inspected the area where work has begun on transforming the site.
Mayor Tom Tate said a creative industries precinct would be another boost for the city’s thriving screen industry which generates more than $571 million a year for the local economy.
“We recognise there are constraints with a lack of production infrastructure on the Gold Coast … and further growth to expand studio space and supporting infrastructure and capability for the screen industry is crucial,” Mr Tate said.
“The Miami depot site is well-placed to provide opportunities for the community as our local screen industry continues to flourish.
“With one of Australia’s greatest filmmakers and his Bazmark production company located on the Gold Coast advising the City, this is a great opportunity to attract further investment in the creative industries sector and continue to create more jobs within the industry.”
Bazmark relocated its global head office to the Gold Coast and has a pipeline of major productions planned, tipped to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy.
Mr Luhrmann said his Bazmark team were excited to be on the ground floor to lend their expertise to the development and construction of the Miami precinct.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the Gold Coast is the perfect environment to further develop a filmmaking culture that stimulates local business and involves the whole community in the process,” he said.
“Our goal is not only to continue to make our own productions here, but to create world-class facilities for film post-production, visual effects, game design and other tech that Bazmark can enthusiastically promote around the globe.”
Mr Weiss said Elvis was shot entirely on the Coast but production had to be done elsewhere.
“Our experience with making Elvis on the Gold Coast, we had the most phenomenal production you can imagine shooting that movie. We shot every frame of that film in the this city,” he said.
“We wanted to stay on, and we wanted to edit and finish the movie here and we had to create those facilities from scratch. We don’t want to reinvent the wheel every time. We want to create a precinct where movies from start to finish can benefit this city.”
The 35,000sq m site contains several medium to large sheds where parks, administration and city cleaners have been based.
The City in July announced the Gold Coast was becoming the “Hollywood of the South Pacific” after council signed a huge studio deal for a giant block of northern land.
It had identified Shadowbox Studios as the preferred supplier in a tender process for the council-owned land at 396 Stanmore Road, Yatala.
Officers in their latest report warned there was a “notable market gap and opportunity, as there is a lack of purpose-built film facilities on the Gold Coast”.
“Developing a dedicated Creative Industries Precinct could attract private investment and diversify the local economy while promoting innovation, supporting start-ups, driving demand for tech solutions, and attracting investment more broadly in high-value industries,” officers said.
Commercial space potential in a redevelopment of the site could support between 500 to 1000 employees adding between $40 million and $81 million value add to the local economy per annum.
“Despite current market challenges, high-end residential, affordable housing, and commercial office spaces are considered feasible for the site,” officers said.
“The recommended development mix includes creative industries, innovation, retail, and residential uses. Extensive market sounding and community engagement will be required to refine the site’s vision and development mix.
“This will include the development of an implementation paper including draft plan and engagement strategy,” officers said.
The proposal has been part of closed door discussions since late 2023.
Councillors agreed then to a plan for old council offices and poorly used depots to be closed as the city’s second biggest workforce underwent its biggest accommodation overhaul.
In October this year, councillors went into another closed session to discuss a report where they gave ‘in principle support’ for the establishment of a creative industries precinct within the city.
A report revealed the Miami Depot site had been identified as surplus to existing needs and a strategic assessment of the site by Invest Gold Coast initially recommended various potential uses, including creative industries, sports, events, entertainment, leisure, and residential.
Officers said the Miami Depot site was currently under-utilised by the City in a transitioning area of city soon to host light rail.
The Screen Sector supports almost 4832 jobs and contributed $571.6 million value added to the Coast Economy in year ending June 2023.
More Coverage
Originally published as Old council Miami depot to be transformed into new Hollywood production centre
‘Blood everywhere’: Mum’s fury as teen son cleaned up in alleged hit-run
A Gold Coast mum is on a desperate hunt for information regarding a hit-and-run driver who allegedly cleaned up her teen son while he was riding his bicycle home from a friend’s place.
‘Battled addiction’: How young, jailed coke fiend got in way too deep
A young Gold Coast father-of-one will remain behind bars after being found with a significant haul of cocaine inside a Coles shopping bag and elsewhere. Here’s when he might see freedom.