Defence, Marine and ShipbuildingCockburn's strategic coastal location forms the foundation of our thriving Blue Economy.
Henderson is home to a $15 billion cluster of marine infrastructure that services a range of sectors from maritime to energy and more. It is the unrivalled centre for the Marine and Defence sector of Western Australia. For many of the national and multinational manufacturers operating there it is the preferred location over all others across Australia.
The long term planning and development of the Australian Marine Complex (AMC), delivers a beacon of innovation and advanced manufacturing.
We are home to servicing industries ranging from naval shipbuilding to the oil and gas, mining, and resource sectors, and housing major businesses such as Austal, BAE Systems, Civmec, and Luerssen Australia.
The AMC's instrumental role in Australia's defence projects, and its status for naval shipbuilding provides a world of opportunities for investors.
A key part of the City’s attention is the development of the Cockburn Blue Innovation Hub. This advanced research and innovation facility seeks to foster local supply chain capabilities, stimulate cutting-edge technology research, attract investment, and address skills gap shortages. This hub will further strengthen Cockburn’s reputation as the leader in Western Australia’s Blue Economy.
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Cockburn is located in close proximity to two regional hospitals, the only private mental health facility south of the river and three universities. The City is an expanding centre for allied health industries and is home to many specialist consultants, training and knowledge related services. The popularity of Cockburn for health professionals looking to invest, relocate or expand their services is clearly linked to:
- The central location in the southern corridor with a catchment area of over 1.2 million people
- The excellent transport links and infrastructure including two train lines and multiple bus routes
- The opportunities for collaboration with leading industry partners
- The large and skilled workforce
- The affordability of the area through diverse property offerings
- The active support by the City of Cockburn from the Business and Economic Development Business Unit.
Cockburn is on a fast track to becoming a significant and highly visible visitor location. The Perth Wave Park – due to open late 2025 adjacent to Cockburn central is conservatively estimating to attract one million visitors annually. As a facility that will be the largest of its type in the Southern hemisphere, it will join the Cockburn Ice Area, Adventure World, the Cockburn ARC all of which lay claim to additional unique visitor attributes for metro Perth and the state.
The City is home to 17 km of coastline enhanced with a beautiful vibrant marina inviting new accommodation investment, refurbished Ammo Jetty for fishing and swimming, and Western Australia’s most accessible diving and snorkelling site in the Omeo Wreck and Maritime trail.
Our pristine beaches attract world standard kite surfers, adjacent to kilometres of walking and bike trails and the WA Hospital in Bibra Lake Regional Park offers the most unique interactive and educational tours in the state with our native fauna.
The potential for new events, short stay developments, hospitality providers, outdoor activities, cultural and heritage offerings are all in demand here in Cockburn. And as tourism grows, so too does the need for supportive industries and infrastructure, providing a ripple effect of economic opportunities across various sectors.
Art and CultureThe City believes Cockburn is ideally placed to become a creative industries hub. The City is actively working to attract commercial investment, business development, and cultural tourism. Cockburn is positioned to become a centre of indigenous culture in the southern corridor. Through our the long established relationship with aboriginal elders there is a desire to promote Bibra Lake and other locations for their impact for our culture today and our understanding of the natural environment.
The City is championing the earliest colonial stories and history at Manning Park and Azelia Ley Museum. The City provides training and development, networking opportunities, access to spaces for cultural events, and funding to build and support the arts and cultural community in Cockburn.
Retail, Warehousing and Wholesale TradeAlready a major employment provider this sector is receiving significant investment with expansion of Cockburn Central to the estimated value in excess of $1billion by 2030.
Additionally, Jandakot and Bibra Lake Industrial precincts are attracting attention and fresh investment for fulfilment centres, warehousing and wholesale trade. The City’s unique location attributes of proximity to large population base, excellent transport networks and competitive property prices are supporting this demand.