Perth’s Western Trade Coast: WA’s Leading Industrial Corridor for Heavy Industry and Export Growth

Perth’s Western Trade Coast (WTC) is one of Australia’s most strategically important industrial zones. Spanning approximately 3,900 hectares across Perth’s south-west metropolitan fringe, it brings together four major precincts: the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area, Latitude 32 Industry Zone, Rockingham Industry Zone, and the Australian Marine Complex. Collectively, they represent the heart of WA’s heavy industrial activity and are a core driver of state-level economic performance, export productivity, and resource sector innovation.

Situated just 30 km south of Perth CBD and directly connected to key ports, road corridors, and rail, the Western Trade Coast is home to some of the state’s largest processing, fabrication, and logistics businesses. In 2025, with Westport on the horizon and industrial land tightening across the metro area, the WTC is emerging as the key focus for long-term industrial expansion, investment attraction, and sovereign capability delivery.

The importance of the Western Trade Coast in 2025

The WTC’s competitive advantage lies in its industrial scale, zoning diversity, and infrastructure alignment. It is uniquely suited for:

• Heavy manufacturing and resource processing

• Marine and defence fabrication

• Bulk freight, logistics, and distribution

• Strategic export-led industries and global supply chain integration

• Industrial decarbonisation and ESG-compliant infrastructure

Key advantages include:

• Proximity to the Kwinana Bulk Terminal and Fremantle Outer Harbour

• Access to arterial road and freight rail networks

• Serviced and developable industrial land across multiple zones

• State-led planning support and structured precinct-level governance

• Close proximity to a skilled workforce, TAFE and technical colleges

With over 11,000 people employed directly across the region and a combined contribution of more than $15 billion annually to WA’s economy, the Western Trade Coast is more than a location — it’s the industrial engine room of the state.

Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area: Heavy industry and processing powerhouse

The Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) is WA’s premier location for heavy and strategic industry. Zoned specifically for large-scale, high-impact uses, Kwinana SIA is built for long-term, export-oriented operations with established separation buffers and deep access to infrastructure.

What makes Kwinana SIA unique:

• Heavy industrial zoning and long-term planning controls

• Direct road and freight links to Fremantle ports and intermodal terminals

• Existing infrastructure for power, gas, and water

• Co-location with major mineral processing and energy providers

Types of industries based in the precinct:

• Chemical and resource processing

• Energy generation and transition fuel production

• Fertiliser, ammonia, and hydrogen-related industry

• Alumina, lithium, and rare earths refining

• Emerging decarbonisation and clean industry clusters

Kwinana continues to attract local and global investment due to its scale, regulatory certainty, and established industrial ecosystem.

Latitude 32 Industry Zone: Perth’s next large-scale industrial release

Covering over 1,400 hectares, Latitude 32 is a master-planned industrial precinct set to deliver the next generation of Perth’s large-format industrial land supply. Located to the east of Kwinana SIA and adjacent to the planned Westport freight hub, it is one of the most strategically significant industrial zones in WA.

Key features:

• Multiple development stages offering flexibility in lot sizes

• Zoning for general, light, and special industry

• Close integration with proposed freight rail extensions and intermodal access

• Buffer zones and environmental controls already built into the structure plan

Latitude 32 is ideal for:

• Logistics, warehousing, and regional distribution

• Medium-scale manufacturers and advanced engineering

• Support services for heavy industry and marine operations

• Construction staging areas and large-format trade operations

As Perth’s inner-ring industrial zones reach saturation, Latitude 32 is well-positioned to accommodate scale users needing 5,000m²–50,000m² footprints with transport connectivity.

Rockingham Industry Zone: Industrial land with sustainability built in

The Rockingham Industry Zone (RIZ) covers over 1,100 hectares and provides a more balanced mix of light, general, and special industry land with a strong focus on sustainability, environmental management, and high-quality public realm outcomes. It sits directly between residential growth corridors and key port infrastructure.

Standout attributes:

• Industrial zoning matched with environmental and amenity controls

• Infrastructure upgrades and servicing ready for mid-sized users

• Home to logistics, equipment hire, and light manufacturing businesses

• Supports maritime trades, warehousing, and service commercial operations

Why RIZ matters:

• Offers a sustainable and lower-impact alternative to heavy zones

• Strategically positioned between Kwinana and Henderson precincts

• Flexible lot sizes that support strata, D&C, or leasehold arrangements

• Proven developer and tenant uptake across trade and service industries

It’s a logical choice for growing businesses who want proximity to the heavy trade sector without needing a heavy industrial buffer themselves.

Australian Marine Complex: National defence and marine hub

The Australian Marine Complex (AMC), located in Henderson, is WA’s flagship marine and defence industrial estate. It supports construction, sustainment, and engineering across defence, oil and gas, shipbuilding, and subsea technology sectors.

Precinct highlights:

• 400,000m² Common User Facility with major fabrication infrastructure

• Access to 12m-deep wharf, floating dock, and heavy lift capacity

• Multiple specialist precincts including Shipbuilding, Fabrication, Technology, and Support

• Custom-built large-scale warehouses, workshops, and marine yards

Businesses operating at AMC:

• Naval shipbuilding and sustainment

• Subsea pipeline and module assembly

• Defence contractor base with long-term leaseholds

• Energy engineering firms and marine logistics operators

As sovereign capability and defence infrastructure spending continues to expand, AMC remains a national priority site for defence industry growth.

Regional integration and shared infrastructure

All four precincts within the Western Trade Coast are interconnected via planned transport upgrades, port integration, and shared services. This creates unique synergies for businesses operating across precincts, including:

• Efficient logistics routing between manufacturing and export

• Common utility corridors for gas, power, and water

• Workforce clustering and access to common training providers

• Supplier and subcontractor base within minutes of major facilities

This level of integration means businesses can scale more easily, reduce risk, and take advantage of cross-precinct supply chains.

Investment appeal and current opportunities

In 2025, the Western Trade Coast is one of the few metropolitan industrial corridors in Australia offering:

• Serviced industrial land at scale with port and rail connectivity

• Zoning suitable for energy, manufacturing, and logistics

• Structured long-term land release strategies to manage supply and pricing

• Government investment into freight, port and road infrastructure

• Proximity to both inner-metro markets and global export routes

Available opportunities include:

• Multi-hectare sites for D&C or owner-occupier builds

• Strata development potential for medium-size trade and logistics users

• Leasehold warehouse and yard space within defence-secured zones

• Custom marine fabrication lots with direct water access

For long-term investors and developers, these estates offer unmatched industrial positioning and future-proof planning frameworks.

How we support Western Trade Coast marketing

We work across Kwinana, Latitude 32, Rockingham, and AMC precincts to support the sale, lease, or rollout of projects at every stage. Our services include:

• Aerial and ground 3D renders for proposed buildings and masterplans

• Visualisation of lots, roads, buffer zones, and infrastructure

• Leasing and sales brochures tailored to tenant or buyer types

• Interactive digital marketing materials for agent and investor use

• Precinct branding and messaging development for D&C campaigns

• Pre-title marketing assets to generate early interest and visibility

Whether you’re leasing out a fabrication yard, selling titled industrial land, or launching a strata trade centre — we help you package it professionally and strategically.

Let’s talk about your next Western Trade Coast project

If you’re developing, leasing, or marketing a project within Kwinana, Latitude 32, Rockingham, or the AMC, we can help you bring it to life with high-end visuals and professional rollout. With 20+ years’ experience visualising industrial precincts across WA, we know how to showcase scale, function, and strategic value in a way that converts.