Central Coast Studios Is Australia’s Take On Hollywood: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

The Central Coast is officially stepping onto the global screen stage, with Central Coast Studios set to become one of the most advanced production precincts in the Southern Hemisphere.

Designed as a world-class hub for film, television, gaming, music and digital media, the massive new development will deliver ten high-spec sound stages, Australia’s largest exterior water tank, cutting-edge virtual production technology and a lifestyle precinct built around the creative industry.

Think Hollywood-scale infrastructure — with a distinctly NSW backdrop.

And while construction is still underway, the vision for CCS is already positioning the Central Coast as Australia’s next major production destination.

Know what you want? Skip to:

• Opening Timeline
• What To Expect
• The Location
• Sustainability & Smart Design
• Jobs & Education

Opening Timeline

While it might feel like another big creative precinct in the “coming soon” category, Central Coast Studios is well into its development phase — with planning centred on building a fully future-proofed production facility from the ground up.

The precinct is set to rise in Calga, just north of Sydney, with construction rolling out in stages to deliver major sound stages, production infrastructure, education facilities and the surrounding lifestyle campus together.

Rather than retrofitting old industrial spaces (like many major studios overseas), CCS is being purpose-built to international standards — allowing it to host multiple large-scale productions simultaneously once operational.

In short: this one’s being built properly from day one.

What To Expect

Central Coast Studios is shaping up as a full-scale production ecosystem — not just a handful of sound stages with a car park.

Here’s what’s in the pipeline:

• Ten state-of-the-art sound stages for film, TV, streaming and digital production
• Australia’s largest exterior water tank (and the only one in NSW) for large-scale action and ocean scenes
• Virtual LED production stages for immersive location builds
• On-site workshops, suppliers and production offices
• Extensive logistics space designed for smooth crew flow and large productions

Essentially, everything international productions need — without the current space shortages limiting Australia’s screen industry.

The Location

Set just north of Sydney in New South Wales, the Central Coast offers one of the most diverse filming backdrops in the country — all within minutes of each other.

We’re talking:

• Golden beaches and rugged clifftops
• Lakes, rivers and wetlands
• Open plains and rolling farmland
• National parks and bushland
• Coastal towns and urban streetscapes

For productions, that means capturing multiple “worlds” in one region — cutting travel costs while delivering cinematic variety.

Add fast transport links, expanding accommodation options and upcoming gigabit internet connectivity, and it’s easy to see why global studios are paying attention.

Sustainability & Smart Design

Central Coast Studios is also setting a new benchmark as Australia’s first purpose-built smart, green studio.

The precinct is being designed with:

• Solar power generation and battery storage
• Cogeneration energy systems
• Ultra-fast digital infrastructure
• Lower-emissions production workflows

This means major productions can meet international sustainability targets while reducing operating costs — something global studios and streaming platforms are increasingly prioritising.

Jobs & Education

Beyond the screens, CCS is expected to become a major economic driver for the Central Coast.

Forecasts suggest the studio operating at just half capacity could inject over $1 billion into the local economy within two years, driven by major productions employing hundreds — often thousands — of crew, contractors, suppliers and local businesses at a time.

On top of that, Central Coast Studios will house a dedicated education precinct, partnering with training providers to create hands-on pathways into film, television, digital media and gaming careers for local students.

The long-term vision is to build a thriving creative workforce right here on the Coast — while attracting the world’s biggest productions to our backyard.

From Hollywood-scale sound stages to sustainable design and lifestyle-led creative spaces, Central Coast Studios is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious screen projects Australia has ever seen.

And if this is the future of filmmaking in NSW — we’re very ready for our close-up.

Image credit: Central Coast Studios | Website