Gold Coast officials say the city’s proposed new arts depot backed by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and designer Catherine Martin as anchor tenants is a powerful signal of the region’s rising cultural and economic influence.
Invest Gold Coast chairman Will Hodgman said projects like the depot were keeping the city at the forefront of “what’s happening in Australia’s economy,” adding that securing Luhrmann and Martin reflected the Gold Coast’s growing creative strength. “It’s a sign, a demonstration of the confidence that people have in the Gold Coast,” he said.
Luhrmann said the depot’s state‑of‑the‑art post‑production studios would fill a gap in the region’s film industry, offering capabilities previously unavailable on the Coast. Newly released artist renders show open‑air spaces, multi‑storey buildings, fountains and landscaped green areas.
When asked how much influence Luhrmann would have over the final design, Mayor Tom Tate stressed that the city retained full control. “We get the final decision,” he said. “It’s wonderful to have other creative people giving us input but the final approval is the city’s.”
Tate also rejected claims from Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens that council was attempting to “sneak in” multiple 30‑storey towers within the precinct. “We only want to build what the surrounding community want to cherish,” the mayor said.
The project continues to generate strong interest as the Gold Coast positions itself as a national hub for film, arts and creative industries.
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