Academy Award-winning visual effects company establishes permanent headquarters in Melbourne

Wētā FX, an Academy Award-winning visual effects company is expanding its Australian headquarters in Melbourne.The company has worked on blockbuster films including 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy; 'Avatar: The Way of Water'; and most recently 'Better Man' - the largest movie ever to be filmed in Victoria (which created almost 3,000 jobs and injected $142 million into the Victorian economy). 

Having initially set up a temporary facility in Melbourne while doing the visual effects for Better Man, Wētā FX were inspired to establish a permanent Australian headquarters in Melbourne.

With support from the Victorian Government, the Oscar award winning visual effects company will expand operations and jobs at their Abbotsford facility.

Wētā FX Melbourne Hub Manager Sharna Hackett added "The Victorian Government's recognition of the economic and cultural benefits of a strong screen industry, and their commitment to supporting its growth and innovation, was critical to our decision to invest further in Victoria."

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks notes "Wētā FX is one of the world's most acclaimed visual effects companies, and their decision to expand in Melbourne is a massive endorsement of Victoria's creative talent and industry capability.

"One of the many amazing outcomes of Better Man is that Wētā FX set up a visual effects facility in Melbourne for the film-and now, they're here to stay - creating jobs, attracting global productions, and reinforcing Victoria as a destination for world-class visual effects."

With their trailblazing work recognised in Hollywood including winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, Wētā FX has become hugely influential in the film and television industry. The expanded Melbourne hub is set to attract international productions to the state and grow the pipeline of Victorian and Australian-made productions.

Wētā FX's expansion will also increase local jobs in production and animation, highlighting Victoria as a destination for world-class post-production and visual effects.

The Victorian Government also recently supported Spanish production company Fever to establish its ANZ headquarters in Melbourne.

The State Government's screen strategy has also to date created 44,000 jobs for Victorians and generated $1.9 billion in direct economic expenditure across the state - backing local jobs and businesses.

The recently unveiled Economic Growth Statement will drive investment and unlock opportunities for economic growth, with key initiatives that will see national and international companies like Wētā FX expanding in Victoria.

Image. Scene from Lord of the Rings. Credit: Wētā FX