Transforming a Former Bunnings Warehouse into a State-of-the-Art Film Studio
Renowned for its lush tropical rainforests, white sandy beaches, and remote island oases, Far North Queensland now boasts a state-of-the-art film and television studio complex in the Cairns suburb of Portsmith. Screen Queensland Studios Cairns is open to productions, complementing Screen Queensland Studios Brisbane, and other facilities on the Gold Coast.
The project involved fitting out a former Bunnings Warehouse, which has a long-term lease with the Queensland Government. Previously, the building served as a temporary basketball facility while the Cairns Convention Centre was being refurbished, a project also completed by COX with CA Architects.
Studio Features
This project aimed to support film production in Far North Queensland. The warehouse has been transformed to support various production needs:
- Sound Stage: A 1000m² footprint approximately 20m x 50m x 11m high. Designed with a box inside a box strategy to control light and sound within the relatively thin existing building shell, meeting complex performance requirements, including fire safety.
- Production Offices
- Editing Suites
- Sound Recording Studio
- Construction Spaces
The sound stage can also serve as an event space, enhancing its flexibility and utility. The project had a modest budget focused on delivering versatile spaces where productions can adopt a plug-and-play approach.
Additional Facilities
Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns, also offers:
- Wardrobe Facilities
- 88 Car Spaces
- Event Space
- Tenant Suites
These features further cement the facility as part of the region’s dynamic creative community.
Arts Minister, Leeanne Enoch
For nurturing the growth of Queensland’s national and international reputation as an emerging screen powerhouse, the potential of the new state-of-the-art Cairns screen hub is enormous.
Motivated by high demand from both Australian and international productions, Screen Queensland Studios, Cairns, is poised to become a central hub for the film industry in Far North Queensland, transforming a dormant warehouse into a vibrant creative space that leverages the region’s natural beauty and robust infrastructure.