With strong ties to the Australian Defence Force, availability of suitably zoned land for development, and a wonderful work/life balance on offer in a beautiful coastal city, Rockingham is the ideal location for businesses looking to become part of a modern and innovative Defence administrative centre in Western Australia.
Located just 45 minutes south of the Perth CBD, Rockingham is a thriving strategic centre that is home to more than 143,000 people. With 37 km of pristine coastline, including the stunning Cape Peron and Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, the City offers an abundance of opportunities for families seeking a healthy work/life balance.
Just a few kilometres across the sparkling waters of Cockburn Sound lies HMAS Stirling on Garden Island, the Royal Australian Navy’s largest base. At present, 12 fleet units, including Anzac-class frigates and Collins-class submarines, are stationed there, along with an additional 70 units, including the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, Submarine Escape Training Facility (one of only six in the world), Clearance Diving Team Four, and the Defence Communications Station Perth.
Under the planned Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub-Program, HMAS Stirling will become homeport to additional Hunter-class frigates, Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels and Attack-class submarines as they come into service. The substantial expansion of the base will create significant sustainment and maintenance opportunities in the coming years.
As part of the AUKUS program announced in March 2023, HMAS Stirling will continue to be the home of Australian submarines. The base will be receiving frequent port visits from UK and US nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) from later this year, rotational presence from as early as 2027 and housing of Australia’s first SSN capability – the US Virginia class submarines from the early 2030s.
The Australian Government will invest up to $8 billion over the next decade to expand HMAS Stirling, creating around 3,000 direct jobs and in turn, supporting growth of the local economy. This includes wharf upgrades, operational maintenance, logistics and training facilities and other opportunities for supporting infrastructure outside of HMAS Stirling.
Rockingham has a strong and proud history of supporting the Defence Force and several high-profile Defence industry names are already based here including Leonardo, Saab Systems and Thales.
The Rockingham City Centre, South Metropolitan TAFE, Murdoch University Rockingham Campus and Rockingham Industrial Zone (RIZ), which is the premier industrial zone on the Western Trade Coast, are located adjacent to HMAS Stirling.
The proximity of HMAS Stirling in conjunction with pre-existing infrastructure, land ready for development, and established defence industry businesses, means there are great opportunities for developing a world class maritime training institute in the region. This would help to establish Rockingham as a modern centre of defence administration in Western Australia, supporting regional defence and maritime security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
City of Rockingham Mayor Deb Hamblin said Rockingham was an ideal location for Defence-related businesses to operate.
“The City is ready to collaborate and work with key strategic partners across Australia and throughout the world to help build a stronger more sustainable and internationally competitive Defence Industry,” Mayor Hamblin said.
“We want to attract increased Defence investment from both the public and private sectors, and help small and medium sized enterprises gain better access to local and global supply chain opportunities, in line with the City’s Economic Development Strategy 2020 – 2025.”
For more information on investment opportunities in Rockingham visit rockingham.wa.gov.au/your-city/business-and-investment.